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Weiskopf SR, Isbell F, Arce-Plata MI, Di Marco M, Harfoot M, Johnson J, Lerman SB, Miller BW, Morelli TL, Mori AS, Weng E, Ferrier S. Biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4354. [PMID: 38778013 PMCID: PMC11111688 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47872-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural ecosystems store large amounts of carbon globally, as organisms absorb carbon from the atmosphere to build large, long-lasting, or slow-decaying structures such as tree bark or root systems. An ecosystem's carbon sequestration potential is tightly linked to its biological diversity. Yet when considering future projections, many carbon sequestration models fail to account for the role biodiversity plays in carbon storage. Here, we assess the consequences of plant biodiversity loss for carbon storage under multiple climate and land-use change scenarios. We link a macroecological model projecting changes in vascular plant richness under different scenarios with empirical data on relationships between biodiversity and biomass. We find that biodiversity declines from climate and land use change could lead to a global loss of between 7.44-103.14 PgC (global sustainability scenario) and 10.87-145.95 PgC (fossil-fueled development scenario). This indicates a self-reinforcing feedback loop, where higher levels of climate change lead to greater biodiversity loss, which in turn leads to greater carbon emissions and ultimately more climate change. Conversely, biodiversity conservation and restoration can help achieve climate change mitigation goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Weiskopf
- U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science Center, Reston, VA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Forest Isbell
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | | | - Moreno Di Marco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mike Harfoot
- Vizzuality, 123 Calle de Fuencarral, 28010, Madrid, Spain
| | - Justin Johnson
- Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, 1994 Buford Ave, Saint Paul, MN, 55105, USA
| | | | - Brian W Miller
- U.S. Geological Survey North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Toni Lyn Morelli
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Akira S Mori
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Ensheng Weng
- Columbia University/NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, 2880 Broadway, New York, NY, 10025, USA
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2
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Kharouba HM. Shifting the paradigm: The role of introduced plants in the resiliency of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17319. [PMID: 38804095 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Current ecological communities are in a constant state of flux from climate change and from species introductions. Recent discussion has focused on the positive roles introduced species can play in ecological communities and on the importance of conserving resilient ecosystems, but not how these two ideas intersect. There has been insufficient work to define the attributes needed to support ecosystem resilience to climate change in modern communities. Here, I argue that non-invasive, introduced plant species could play an important role in supporting the resilience of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change. Using examples from multiple taxonomic groups and ecosystems, I discuss how introduced plants can contribute to ecosystem resilience via their roles in plant and insect communities, as well as their associated ecosystem functions. I highlight the current and potential contributions of introduced plants and where there are critical knowledge gaps. Determining when and how introduced plants are contributing to the resilience of ecosystems to climate change will contribute to effective conservation strategies.
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3
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Tao Z, Shen C, Qin W, Nie B, Chen P, Wan J, Zhang K, Huang W, Siemann E. Fluctuations in resource availability shape the competitive balance among non-native plant species. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e2795. [PMID: 36502292 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Fluctuating resource availability plays a critical role in determining non-native plant invasions through mediating the competitive balance between non-native and native species. However, the impact of fluctuating resource availability on interactions among non-native species remains largely unknown. This represents a barrier to understanding invasion mechanisms, particularly in habitats that harbor multiple non-native species with different responses to fluctuating resource availability. To examine the responses of non-native plant species to nutrient fluctuations, we compared the growth of each of 12 non-native species found to be common in local natural areas to nutrients supplied at a constant rate or supplied as a single large pulse in a pot experiment. We found that seven species produced more biomass with pulsed nutrients compared to constant nutrients (hereafter "benefitting species"), while the other five species did not differ between nutrient enrichment treatments (hereafter "non-benefitting species"). To investigate how nutrient fluctuations influence the interactions among non-native plant species, we established experimental non-native communities in the field with two benefitting and two non-benefitting non-native species. Compared with constant nutrient supply, the single large pulse of nutrient did not influence community biomass, but strongly increased the biomass and cover of the benefitting species and decreased those of the non-benefitting species. Furthermore, the benefitting species had higher leaf N content and greater plant height when nutrients were supplied as a single large pulse than at a constant rate, whereas the non-benefitting species showed no differences in leaf N content and were shorter when nutrients were supplied as a single large pulse than at a constant rate. Our results add to the growing evidence that the individual responses of non-native species to nutrient fluctuation are species-specific. More importantly, benefitting species were favored by nutrients coming in a pulse, while non-benefitting ones were favored by nutrients coming constantly when they grew together. This suggests that nutrient fluctuations can mediate the competitive balance among non-native plants and may thus determine their invasion success in a community harboring multiple non-native plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Tao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Changchao Shen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenchao Qin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Baoguo Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pengdong Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinlong Wan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaoping Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Evan Siemann
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
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4
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Effects of Invasive Plant Diversity on Soil Microbial Communities. DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14110992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Native plant communities can be invaded by different numbers of alien plant species or by the same number of alien plant species with different levels of evenness. However, little is known about how alien invasive plant species richness and evenness affect soil microbial communities. We constructed native herbaceous plant communities invaded by exotic plants with different richness (1, 2, 4 and 8 species) and evenness (high and low) and analyzed soil physico-chemical properties and the diversity and composition of soil fungal and bacterial communities by high-throughput Illumina sequencing. Overall, the species richness and evenness of invasive plants had no significant effect on bacterial and fungal alpha diversity (OTUs, Shannon, Simpson, Chao1 and ACE) or the soil physico-chemical properties. However, invasive species richness had a significant impact on the relative abundance of the most dominant fungi, Ascomycota and Bipolaris, and the dominant bacteria, Actinobacteriota, which increased with increasing invasive species richness. The relative abundance of the dominant microbial groups was significantly correlated with the relative abundance of some specific invasive plants in the community. This study sheds new light on the effects of plant co-invasion on soil microbial communities, which may help us understand the underlying mechanisms of multiple alien plant invasion processes from the perspective of soil microorganisms.
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Campbell C, Russo L, Albert R, Buckling A, Shea K. Whole community invasions and the integration of novel ecosystems. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010151. [PMID: 35671270 PMCID: PMC9173635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of invasion by a single non-native species on the function and structure of ecological communities can be significant, and the effects can become more drastic–and harder to predict–when multiple species invade as a group. Here we modify a dynamic Boolean model of plant-pollinator community assembly to consider the invasion of native communities by multiple invasive species that are selected either randomly or such that the invaders constitute a stable community. We show that, compared to random invasion, whole community invasion leads to final stable communities (where the initial process of species turnover has given way to a static or near-static set of species in the community) including both native and non-native species that are larger, more likely to retain native species, and which experience smaller changes to the topological measures of nestedness and connectance. We consider the relationship between the prevalence of mutualistic interactions among native and invasive species in the final stable communities and demonstrate that mutualistic interactions may act as a buffer against significant disruptions to the native community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Campbell
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics, University of Mount Union, Alliance, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Laura Russo
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Réka Albert
- Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Angus Buckling
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Katriona Shea
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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6
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Wang X, Wang J, Hu B, Zheng W, Li M, Shen Z, Yu F, Schmid B, Li M. Richness, not evenness, of invasive plant species promotes invasion success into native plant communities via selection effects. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wang
- Inst. of Wetland Ecology&Clone Ecology, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou Univ. Taizhou China
| | - Jiang Wang
- Inst. of Wetland Ecology&Clone Ecology, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou Univ. Taizhou China
| | - Bing Hu
- Inst. of Wetland Ecology&Clone Ecology, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou Univ. Taizhou China
| | - Wei‐Long Zheng
- Inst. of Wetland Ecology&Clone Ecology, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou Univ. Taizhou China
| | - Meng Li
- Inst. of Wetland Ecology&Clone Ecology, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou Univ. Taizhou China
| | - Zhi‐Xiang Shen
- Inst. of Wetland Ecology&Clone Ecology, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou Univ. Taizhou China
| | - Fei‐Hai Yu
- Inst. of Wetland Ecology&Clone Ecology, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou Univ. Taizhou China
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Dept of Geography, Remote Sensing Laboratories, Univ. of Zürich Zürich Switzerland
| | - Mai‐He Li
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Inst. WSL Birmensdorf Switzerland
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal Univ. Changchun China
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7
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Belluau M, Paquette A, Gravel D, Reich PB, Stefanski A, Messier C. Exotics are more complementary over time in tree biodiversity–ecosystem functioning experiments. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Belluau
- Centre d’étude de la forêt Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Montréal QC Canada
| | - Alain Paquette
- Centre d’étude de la forêt Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Montréal QC Canada
| | - Dominique Gravel
- Département de biologie Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke QC Canada
| | - Peter B. Reich
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment Western Sydney University Penrith NSW Australia
| | - Artur Stefanski
- Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA
| | - Christian Messier
- Centre d’étude de la forêt Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Montréal QC Canada
- Département des sciences naturelles and Institut des sciences de la forêt tempérée (ISFORT) Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) Ripon QC Canada
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8
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Teixeira CP, Fernandes CO, Ahern J, Honrado JP, Farinha-Marques P. Urban ecological novelty assessment: Implications for urban green infrastructure planning and management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 773:145121. [PMID: 33592466 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Urban areas are continuously subjected to anthropogenic transformations that result in the emergence of novel urban ecosystems. To prepare for and respond to contemporary negative environmental impacts (e.g., climate change, land-use change, biological invasions), it is increasingly urgent to plan and adapt cities' green infrastructure. Accordingly, the inclusion of the novel ecosystems concept in urban planning and management is pertinent and necessary. Nevertheless, identification or measurement of ecological novelty has been challenging and can be problematic without the appropriate methods. The objectives of this study are to 1) develop and test a methodology to assess novelty in urban ecosystems grounded on the combination of both human and biotic dimensions of the novel ecosystems concept, and 2) discuss the implications that urban ecological novelty assessment can have for future urban green infrastructure planning and management. In contrast to other proposed methods, this assessment considers the human dimension of the concept as equally important as the biotic dimension, once the human presence is pervasive and a fundamental component of urban landscapes. The proposed working methodology was tested in Porto, Portugal, in study sites with contrasting human-induced transformation pathways and plant species assemblages, thus theoretically representing different degrees of urban ecological novelty. The methodology developed in this work is straightforward and can be adjusted and replicated to other cities according to available data and tools. Above all, the assessment of urban ecological novelty can inform future urban planning and management and assist in investigating novel urban ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Patoilo Teixeira
- InBIO - Rede de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Geociências, Ambiente e Ordenamento do Território, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Oliveira Fernandes
- InBIO - Rede de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Geociências, Ambiente e Ordenamento do Território, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Jack Ahern
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-2901, USA.
| | - João Pradinho Honrado
- InBIO - Rede de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Paulo Farinha-Marques
- InBIO - Rede de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Geociências, Ambiente e Ordenamento do Território, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
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9
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Livingstone SW, Isaac ME, Cadotte MW. Invasive dominance and resident diversity: unpacking the impact of plant invasion on biodiversity and ecosystem function. ECOL MONOGR 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stuart W. Livingstone
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto OntarioM1C 1A4Canada
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto Toronto OntarioM5S 3B2Canada
| | - Marney E. Isaac
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto OntarioM1C 1A4Canada
| | - Marc W. Cadotte
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto Toronto OntarioM5S 3B2Canada
- Department of Biology University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto OntarioM1C 1A4Canada
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10
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Park DS, Willis CG, Xi Z, Kartesz JT, Davis CC, Worthington S. Machine learning predicts large scale declines in native plant phylogenetic diversity. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 227:1544-1556. [PMID: 32339295 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Though substantial effort has gone into predicting how global climate change will impact biodiversity patterns, the scarcity of taxon-specific information has hampered the efficacy of these endeavors. Further, most studies analyzing spatiotemporal patterns of biodiversity focus narrowly on species richness. We apply machine learning approaches to a comprehensive vascular plant database for the United States and generate predictive models of regional plant taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in response to a wide range of environmental variables. We demonstrate differences in predicted patterns and potential drivers of native vs nonnative biodiversity. In particular, native phylogenetic diversity is likely to decrease over the next half century despite increases in species richness. We also identify that patterns of taxonomic diversity can be incongruent with those of phylogenetic diversity. The combination of macro-environmental factors that determine diversity likely varies at continental scales; thus, as climate change alters the combinations of these factors across the landscape, the collective effect on regional diversity will also vary. Our study represents one of the most comprehensive examinations of plant diversity patterns to date and demonstrates that our ability to predict future diversity may benefit tremendously from the application of machine learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Park
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Harvard University Herbaria, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Charles G Willis
- Department of Biology Teaching and Learning, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Zhenxiang Xi
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - John T Kartesz
- Biota of North America Program, 9319 Bracken Lane, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA
| | - Charles C Davis
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Harvard University Herbaria, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Steven Worthington
- Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
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11
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Schittko C, Bernard-Verdier M, Heger T, Buchholz S, Kowarik I, von der Lippe M, Seitz B, Joshi J, Jeschke JM. A multidimensional framework for measuring biotic novelty: How novel is a community? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:4401-4417. [PMID: 32359002 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic changes in climate, land use, and disturbance regimes, as well as introductions of non-native species can lead to the transformation of many ecosystems. The resulting novel ecosystems are usually characterized by species assemblages that have not occurred previously in a given area. Quantifying the ecological novelty of communities (i.e., biotic novelty) would enhance the understanding of environmental change. However, quantification remains challenging since current novelty metrics, such as the number and/or proportion of non-native species in a community, fall short of considering both functional and evolutionary aspects of biotic novelty. Here, we propose the Biotic Novelty Index (BNI), an intuitive and flexible multidimensional measure that combines (a) functional differences between native and non-native introduced species with (b) temporal dynamics of species introductions. We show that the BNI is an additive partition of Rao's quadratic entropy, capturing the novel interaction component of the community's functional diversity. Simulations show that the index varies predictably with the relative amount of functional novelty added by recently arrived species, and they illustrate the need to provide an additional standardized version of the index. We present a detailed R code and two applications of the BNI by (a) measuring changes of biotic novelty of dry grassland plant communities along an urbanization gradient in a metropolitan region and (b) determining the biotic novelty of plant species assemblages at a national scale. The results illustrate the applicability of the index across scales and its flexibility in the use of data of different quality. Both case studies revealed strong connections between biotic novelty and increasing urbanization, a measure of abiotic novelty. We conclude that the BNI framework may help building a basis for better understanding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conrad Schittko
- Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Maud Bernard-Verdier
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Tina Heger
- Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Restoration Ecology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Sascha Buchholz
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Ecosystem Science/Plant Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingo Kowarik
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Ecosystem Science/Plant Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Moritz von der Lippe
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Ecosystem Science/Plant Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Seitz
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Ecosystem Science/Plant Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jasmin Joshi
- Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Landscape and Open Space, HSR Hochschule für Technik, Rapperswil, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan M Jeschke
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
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12
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Wilsey B, Xu X, Polley HW, Hofmockel K, Hall SJ. Lower soil carbon stocks in exotic vs. native grasslands are driven by carbonate losses. Ecology 2020; 101:e03039. [PMID: 32134498 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Global change includes invasion by exotic (nonnative) plant species and altered precipitation patterns, and these factors may affect terrestrial carbon (C) storage. We measured soil C changes in experimental mixtures of all exotic or all native grassland plant species under two levels of summer drought stress (0 and +128 mm). After 8 yr, soils were sampled in 10-cm increments to 100-cm depth to determine if soil C differed among treatments in deeper soils. Total soil C (organic + inorganic) content was significantly higher under native than exotic plantings, and differences increased with depth. Surprisingly, differences after 8 yr in C were due to carbonate and not organic C fractions, where carbonate was ~250 g C/m2 lower to 1-m soil depth under exotic than native plantings. Our results indicate that soil carbonate is an active pool and can respond to differences in plant species traits over timescales of years. Significant losses of inorganic C might be avoided by conserving native grasslands in subhumid ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Wilsey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Xia Xu
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - H Wayne Polley
- USDA-ARS, Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory, 808 East Blackland Road, Temple, Texas, 76502, USA
| | - Kirsten Hofmockel
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA
| | - Steven J Hall
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
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13
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Upton RN, Checinska Sielaff A, Hofmockel KS, Xu X, Polley HW, Wilsey BJ. Soil depth and grassland origin cooperatively shape microbial community co‐occurrence and function. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Racheal N. Upton
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames Iowa 50011 USA
| | | | - Kirsten S. Hofmockel
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames Iowa 50011 USA
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richmond Washington 99354 USA
| | - Xia Xu
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames Iowa 50011 USA
| | - H. Wayne Polley
- USDA‐Agricultural Research Service Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory Temple Texas 76502 USA
| | - Brian J. Wilsey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames Iowa 50011 USA
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Release from Above- and Belowground Insect Herbivory Mediates Invasion Dynamics and Impact of an Exotic Plant. PLANTS 2019; 8:plants8120544. [PMID: 31779143 PMCID: PMC6963668 DOI: 10.3390/plants8120544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The enemy-release hypothesis is one of the most popular but also most discussed hypotheses to explain invasion success. However, there is a lack of explicit, experimental tests of predictions of the enemy-release hypothesis (ERH), particularly regarding the effects of above- and belowground herbivory. Long-term studies investigating the relative effect of herbivores on invasive vs. native plant species within a community are still lacking. Here, we report on a long-term field experiment in an old-field community, invaded by Solidago canadensis s. l., with exclusion of above- and belowground insect herbivores. We monitored population dynamics of the invader and changes in the diversity and functioning of the plant community across eight years. Above- and belowground insects favoured the establishment of the invasive plant species and thereby increased biomass and decreased diversity of the plant community. Effects of invertebrate herbivores on population dynamics of S. canadensis appeared after six years and increased over time, suggesting that long-term studies are needed to understand invasion dynamics and consequences for plant community structure. We suggest that the release from co-evolved trophic linkages is of importance not only for the effect of invasive species on ecosystems, but also for the functioning of novel species assemblages arising from climate change.
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Sielaff AC, Polley HW, Fuentes-Ramirez A, Hofmockel K, Wilsey BJ. Mycorrhizal colonization and its relationship with plant performance differs between exotic and native grassland plant species. Biol Invasions 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-019-01950-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Craven D, Eisenhauer N, Pearse WD, Hautier Y, Isbell F, Roscher C, Bahn M, Beierkuhnlein C, Bönisch G, Buchmann N, Byun C, Catford JA, Cerabolini BEL, Cornelissen JHC, Craine JM, De Luca E, Ebeling A, Griffin JN, Hector A, Hines J, Jentsch A, Kattge J, Kreyling J, Lanta V, Lemoine N, Meyer ST, Minden V, Onipchenko V, Polley HW, Reich PB, van Ruijven J, Schamp B, Smith MD, Soudzilovskaia NA, Tilman D, Weigelt A, Wilsey B, Manning P. Multiple facets of biodiversity drive the diversity–stability relationship. Nat Ecol Evol 2018; 2:1579-1587. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0647-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Polley HW, Wilsey BJ. Variability in community productivity—mediating effects of vegetation attributes. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Wayne Polley
- USDA–Agricultural Research Service, Grassland, Soil & Water Research Laboratory Temple TX USA
| | - Brian J. Wilsey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal BiologyIowa State University Ames IA USA
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Interactions count: plant origin, herbivory and disturbance jointly explain seedling recruitment and community structure. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8288. [PMID: 28811574 PMCID: PMC5557803 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08401-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Herbivory and disturbance are major drivers of biological invasions, but it is unclear how they interact to determine exotic vs. native seedling recruitment and what consequences arise for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Previous studies neglected the roles of different, potentially interacting, guilds of generalist herbivores such as rodents and gastropods. We therefore set up a full-factorial rodent exclusion x gastropod exclusion x disturbance x seed-addition experiment in a grassland community in Central Germany and measured early seedling recruitment, as well as species richness, species composition and aboveground biomass. Gastropod herbivory reduced the positive effect of disturbance on seedling recruitment, particularly for exotic species. Rodent herbivory had weak positive effects on seedling recruitment at undisturbed sites, irrespective of species origin. This effect was likely driven by their strong negative effect on productivity. Interactive effects between both herbivore guilds became only evident for species richness and composition. How many species established themselves depended on disturbance, but was independent of species origin. The fewer exotic species that established themselves increased productivity to a stronger extent compared to native species. Our study highlights that joint effects of disturbance, herbivory and species origin shape early recruitment, while they only weakly affect biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
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Yahdjian L, Tognetti PM, Chaneton EJ. Plant functional composition affects soil processes in novel successional grasslands. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Yahdjian
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA) Facultad de Agronomía Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET Av. San Martín 4453 C1417DSE Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Pedro M. Tognetti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA) Facultad de Agronomía Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET Av. San Martín 4453 C1417DSE Buenos Aires Argentina
- Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos y Sistemas de Información Facultad de Agronomía Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Enrique J. Chaneton
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA) Facultad de Agronomía Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET Av. San Martín 4453 C1417DSE Buenos Aires Argentina
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Flombaum
- Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, and Depto de Ecología Genética y Evolución; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Univ. de Buenos Aires; Pab II Piso 2, Ciudad Universitaria. (1428) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Roxana Aragón
- Inst. de Ecología Regional; Univ. Nacional de Tucumán, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Yerba Buena Tucumán Argentina
| | - Enrique J. Chaneton
- Inst. de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA-CONICET) and Facultad de Agronomía; Univ. de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires Argentina
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Flombaum P, Yahdjian L, Sala OE. Global-change drivers of ecosystem functioning modulated by natural variability and saturating responses. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:503-511. [PMID: 27435939 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Humans are altering global environment at an unprecedented rate through changes in biodiversity, climate, nitrogen cycle, and land use. To address their effects on ecosystem functioning, experiments most frequently explore one driver at a time and control as many confounding factors as possible. Yet, which driver exerts the largest influence on ecosystem functioning and whether their relative importance changes among systems remain unclear. We analyzed experiments in the Patagonian steppe that evaluated the aboveground net primary production (ANPP) response to manipulated gradients of species richness, precipitation, temperature, nitrogen fertilization (N), and grazing intensity. We compared the effect on ANPP relative to ambient conditions considering intensity and direction of manipulations for each driver. The ranking of responses to drivers with comparable manipulation intensity was as follows: biodiversity>grazing>precipitation>N. For a similar intensity of manipulation, the effect of biodiversity loss was 4.0, 3.6, and 1.5, times larger than N deposition, decreased precipitation, and increased grazing intensity. We interpreted our results considering two hypotheses. First, the response of ANPP to changes in precipitation and biodiversity is saturating, so we expected larger effects when the driver was reduced, relative to ambient conditions, than when it was increased. Experimental manipulations that reduced ambient levels had larger effects than those that increased them. Second, the sensitivity of ANPP to each driver is inversely related to the natural variability of the driver. In Patagonia, the ranking of natural variability of drivers is as follows: precipitation>grazing>temperature>biodiversity>N. So, in general, the ecosystem was most sensitive to drivers that varied the least. Comparable results from Cedar Creek (MN) support both hypotheses and suggest that sensitivity to drivers varies among ecosystem types. Given the importance of understanding ecosystem sensitivity to predict global-change impacts, it is necessary to design new experiments located in regions with contrasting natural variability and that include the full range of drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Flombaum
- Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, and Departamento de Ecología Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II piso 2, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Laura Yahdjian
- Facultad de Agronomía, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura, and Cátedra de Ecología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Avenida San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires, C1417DSE, Argentina
| | - Osvaldo E Sala
- School of Life Sciences and School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4501, USA
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Delaney JT, Moranz RA, Debinski DM, Engle DM, Miller JR. Exotic-Dominated Grasslands Show Signs of Recovery with Cattle Grazing and Fire. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165758. [PMID: 27820838 PMCID: PMC5098731 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In grasslands, overgrazing by domestic livestock, fertilization, and introduction of exotic forage species leads to plant communities consisting of a mixture of native and exotic species. These degraded grasslands present a problem for land managers, farmers, and restoration ecologists concerned with improving biodiversity while continuing to use the land for livestock production. Here we assessed the response of butterfly and plant community composition to the use of fire and moderate grazing by domestic cattle on degraded grasslands dominated by exotic plants. We evaluated change by comparing experimental pastures to two reference sites that were grasslands dominated by native plants. We used two burning and grazing treatments: 1) patch-burn graze, a heterogeneously managed treatment, where one third of the pasture is burned each year and cattle have free access to the entire pasture, and 2) graze-and-burn, a homogenously managed treatment, where the entire pasture is grazed each year and burned in its entirety every three years. We tested for change in the butterfly and plant community composition over seven years using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity measures. Over the course of seven years, degraded pastures in both treatments became more similar to reference sites with respect to the butterfly and plant communities. Only two butterfly species and two plant functional guilds exhibited significant linear trends over time, with varying responses. Compositional changes in both the butterfly and plant communities indicate that the use of moderate grazing and fire may shift butterfly and plant communities of exotic-dominated grasslands to be more similar to reference tallgrass prairies over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T. Delaney
- Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Raymond A. Moranz
- Natural Resource Ecology & Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Diane M. Debinski
- Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - David M. Engle
- Natural Resource Ecology & Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - James R. Miller
- Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
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Funabashi M. Synecological farming: Theoretical foundation on biodiversity responses of plant communities. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY (TOKYO, JAPAN) 2016; 33:213-234. [PMID: 31274987 PMCID: PMC6565939 DOI: 10.5511/plantbiotechnology.16.0219a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A novel farming method, namely synecological farming (synecoculture in short), based on theory and observation of synecology has been proposed as total optimization of productivity, product quality, environmental load and adaptation capacity to climate change. Synecoculture is designed on a variety of environmental responses within ecological optimum in high-density mixed polyculture where various edible species were intentionally introduced. The whole methodology can be considered as anthropogenic augmentation of ecosystem functioning that promotes dynamic biodiversity-productivity relationship prevalent in natural ecosystems. In this review we summarize the theoretical foundation to provide a systematic definition of synecoculture and clarify the relationship with existing farming methods. We also collate previously reported analyses of organic and mineral components in farm products, and outline their physiological characteristics and functions in response to culture environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Funabashi
- Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc., Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022, Japan
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27
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Wilson LR, Gibson DJ, Baer SG, Johnson LC. Plant community response to regional sources of dominant grasses in grasslands restored across a longitudinal gradient. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laurel R. Wilson
- Department of Plant Biology; Center for Ecology; Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale Illinois 62901-6509 USA
| | - David J. Gibson
- Department of Plant Biology; Center for Ecology; Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale Illinois 62901-6509 USA
| | - Sara G. Baer
- Department of Plant Biology; Center for Ecology; Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale Illinois 62901-6509 USA
| | - Loretta C. Johnson
- Division of Biology; Kansas State University; Manhattan Kansas 66506 USA
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28
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Abom R, Schwarzkopf L. Short-term responses of reptile assemblages to fire in native and weedy tropical savannah. Glob Ecol Conserv 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Bremm C, Carvalho PCF, Fonseca L, Amaral GA, Mezzalira JC, Perez NB, Nabinger C, Laca EA. Diet Switching by Mammalian Herbivores in Response to Exotic Grass Invasion. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150167. [PMID: 26919613 PMCID: PMC4769132 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasion by exotic grasses is a severe threat to the integrity of grassland ecosystems all over the world. Because grasslands are typically grazed by livestock and wildlife, the invasion is a community process modulated by herbivory. We hypothesized that the invasion of native South American grasslands by Eragrostis plana Nees, an exotic tussock-forming grass from Africa, could be deterred by grazing if grazers switched dietary preferences and included the invasive grass as a large proportion of their diets. Bos taurus (heifers) and Ovis aries (ewes) grazed plots with varying degrees of invasion by E. plana in a replicated manipulative experiment. Animal positions and species grazed were observed every minute in 45-min grazing session. Proportion of bites and steps in and out of E. plana tussocks were measured and used to calculate several indices of selectivity. Both heifers and ewes exhibited increasing probability of grazing E. plana as the proportion of area covered by tussocks increased, but they behaved differently. In agreement with expectations based on the allometry of dietary preferences and morphology, ewes consumed a low proportion of E. plana, except in areas that had more than 90% E. plana cover. Heifers consumed proportionally more E. plana than ewes. Contrary to our hypothesis, herbivores did not exhibit dietary switching towards the invasive grass. Moreover, they exhibited avoidance of the invasive grass and preference for short-statured native species, both of which should tend to enhance invasion. Unless invasive plants are highly palatable to livestock, the effect of grazing to deter the invasion is limited, due to the inherent avoidance of the invasive grass by the main grazers in the ecosystem, particularly sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Bremm
- Grazing Ecology Research Group, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Paulo C. F. Carvalho
- Grazing Ecology Research Group, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lidiane Fonseca
- Grazing Ecology Research Group, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Glaucia A. Amaral
- Grazing Ecology Research Group, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jean C. Mezzalira
- Grazing Ecology Research Group, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Nabinger
- Grazing Ecology Research Group, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Emilio A. Laca
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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Daly AJ, Baetens JM, De Baets B. The impact of initial evenness on biodiversity maintenance for a four-species in silico bacterial community. J Theor Biol 2015; 387:189-205. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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31
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Delaney JT, Jokela KJ, Debinski DM. Seasonal succession of pollinator floral resources in four types of grasslands. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es15-00218.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Kuebbing SE, Classen AT, Sanders NJ, Simberloff D. Above- and below-ground effects of plant diversity depend on species origin: an experimental test with multiple invaders. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2015; 208:727-35. [PMID: 26053089 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Although many plant communities are invaded by multiple nonnative species, we have limited information on how a species' origin affects ecosystem function. We tested how differences in species richness and origin affect productivity and seedling establishment. We created phylogenetically paired native and nonnative plant communities in a glasshouse experiment to test diversity-productivity relationships and responsible mechanisms (i.e. selection or complementarity effects). Additionally, we tested how productivity and associated mechanisms influenced seedling establishment. We used diversity-interaction models to describe how species' interactions influenced diversity-productivity relationships. Communities with more species had higher total biomass than did monoculture communities, but native and nonnative communities diverged in root : shoot ratios and the mechanism responsible for increased productivity: positive selection effect in nonnative communities and positive complementarity effect in native communities. Seedling establishment was 46% lower in nonnative than in native communities and was correlated with the average selection effect. Interspecific interactions contributed to productivity patterns, but the specific types of interactions differed between native and nonnative communities. These results reinforce findings that the diversity-productivity mechanisms in native and nonnative communities differ and are the first to show that these mechanisms can influence seedling establishment and that different types of interactions influence diversity-productivity relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Kuebbing
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996-1610, USA
| | - Aimée T Classen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996-1610, USA
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nathan J Sanders
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996-1610, USA
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Simberloff
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996-1610, USA
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Korell L, Schmidt R, Bruelheide H, Hensen I, Auge H. Mechanisms driving diversity-productivity relationships differ between exotic and native communities and are affected by gastropod herbivory. Oecologia 2015; 180:1025-36. [PMID: 26235964 PMCID: PMC4819496 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3395-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Biodiversity experiments have shown that productivity usually increases with plant species richness. However, most of those studies disregarded the importance of trophic interactions to the diversity-productivity relationship, and focused on the loss of native species while ignoring invasions by exotic species. Yet, as functional complementarity and the impact of plant antagonists are likely to differ between native and exotic communities, the diversity-productivity relationship may change when native communities are invaded by exotic species. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to test how diversity effects, evenness, and productivity differed between exotic and native assemblages of grassland plants, and how these communities were influenced by slug herbivory. In line with other experiments, we found higher productivity in exotic than in native communities. However, different mechanisms (complementarity vs. selection effect) contributed to the positive diversity-productivity relationships in exotic vs. native communities. Against expectations, native communities showed much lower evenness and a greater selection effect, suggesting that competitive dominance among native species may be even stronger than among exotic species. Slug herbivory decreased productivity independently of species origin and species diversity. However, exotic communities showed a threefold higher complementarity effect than native communities in the absence of slugs, which was mainly driven by differences in the responses of native and exotic legumes and nonleguminous herbs. Our results imply that underlying mechanisms for the positive diversity-productivity relationship differ between native and exotic communities in the early stages of community development, and that differential responses of plant functional groups to generalist herbivory can contribute to this pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotte Korell
- Institute of Biology, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany. .,Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120, Halle, Germany. .,Institute of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 8, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Robin Schmidt
- Institute of Biology, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany.,Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Isabell Hensen
- Institute of Biology, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Harald Auge
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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Martin LM, Harris MA, Wilsey BJ. Phenology and temporal niche overlap differ between novel, exotic- and native-dominated grasslands for plants, but not for pollinators. Biol Invasions 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-015-0901-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Martin LM, Wilsey BJ. Differences in beta diversity between exotic and native grasslands vary with scale along a latitudinal gradient. Ecology 2015; 96:1042-51. [DOI: 10.1890/14-0772.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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36
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Wilsey BJ, Barber K, Martin LM. Exotic grassland species have stronger priority effects than natives regardless of whether they are cultivated or wild genotypes. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2015; 205:928-37. [PMID: 25252271 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
During community assembly, early arriving exotic species might suppress other species to a greater extent than do native species. Because most exotics were intentionally introduced, we hypothesize there was human selection on regeneration traits during introduction. This could have occurred at the across- or within-species level (e.g. during cultivar development). We tested these predictions by seeding a single species that was either native, exotic 'wild-type' (from their native range), or exotic 'cultivated' using 28 grassland species in a glasshouse experiment. Priority effects were assessed by measuring species' effect on establishment of species from a seed mix added 21 d later. Exotic species had higher germination and earlier emergence dates than native species, and differences were found in both 'wild' and 'cultivated' exotics. Exotic species reduced biomass and species diversity of later arriving species much more than native species, regardless of seed source. Results indicate that in situations in which priority effects are likely to be strong, effects will be greater when an exotic species arrives first than when a native species arrives first; and this difference is not merely a result of exotic species cultivation, but might be a general native-exotic difference that deserves further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Wilsey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, 253 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
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Tilman D, Isbell F, Cowles JM. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2014. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 937] [Impact Index Per Article: 93.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Tilman
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108; , ,
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
| | - Forest Isbell
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108; , ,
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Jane M. Cowles
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108; , ,
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Cook-Patton SC, Agrawal AA. Exotic plants contribute positively to biodiversity functions but reduce native seed production and arthropod richness. Ecology 2014; 95:1642-50. [PMID: 25039228 DOI: 10.1890/13-0782.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Although exotic plants comprise a substantial portion of floristic biodiversity, their contributions to community and ecosystem processes are not well understood. We manipulated plant species richness in old-field communities to compare the impacts of native vs. exotic species on plant biomass, seed production, and arthropod community structure. Plants within diverse communities, regardless of whether they were native or exotic, had higher biomass and seed production than in monocultures and displayed positive complementarity. Increasing native or exotic plant richness also enhanced the richness of arthropods on plants, but exotics attracted fewer arthropod species for a given arthropod abundance than did natives. Additionally, when exotic and native plants grew together, exotics suppressed seed production of native species. Thus, exotic plants appear to contribute positively to some biodiversity functions, but may impact native communities over longer time frames by reducing native seed production and recruiting fewer arthropod species.
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Polley HW, Derner JD, Jackson RB, Wilsey BJ, Fay PA. Impacts of climate change drivers on C4 grassland productivity: scaling driver effects through the plant community. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2014; 65:3415-3424. [PMID: 24501178 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eru009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Climate change drivers affect plant community productivity via three pathways: (i) direct effects of drivers on plants; (ii) the response of species abundances to drivers (community response); and (iii) the feedback effect of community change on productivity (community effect). The contribution of each pathway to driver-productivity relationships depends on functional traits of dominant species. We used data from three experiments in Texas, USA, to assess the role of community dynamics in the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) response of C4 grasslands to two climate drivers applied singly: atmospheric CO2 enrichment and augmented summer precipitation. The ANPP-driver response differed among experiments because community responses and effects differed. ANPP increased by 80-120g m(-2) per 100 μl l(-1) rise in CO2 in separate experiments with pasture and tallgrass prairie assemblages. Augmenting ambient precipitation by 128mm during one summer month each year increased ANPP more in native than in exotic communities in a third experiment. The community effect accounted for 21-38% of the ANPP CO2 response in the prairie experiment but little of the response in the pasture experiment. The community response to CO2 was linked to species traits associated with greater soil water from reduced transpiration (e.g. greater height). Community effects on the ANPP CO2 response and the greater ANPP response of native than exotic communities to augmented precipitation depended on species differences in transpiration efficiency. These results indicate that feedbacks from community change influenced ANPP-driver responses. However, the species traits that regulated community effects on ANPP differed from the traits that determined how communities responded to drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Wayne Polley
- USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Grassland, Soil & Water Research Laboratory, Temple, Texas, 76502, USA
| | - Justin D Derner
- USDA-Agricultural Research Service, High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009, USA
| | - Robert B Jackson
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - Brian J Wilsey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Philip A Fay
- USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Grassland, Soil & Water Research Laboratory, Temple, Texas, 76502, USA
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Sagerman J, Enge S, Pavia H, Wikström SA. Divergent ecological strategies determine different impacts on community production by two successful non-native seaweeds. Oecologia 2014; 175:937-46. [PMID: 24728943 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-2938-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The consequences of plant introductions into ecosystems are frequently reported from terrestrial environments, but little is known about the effects on ecosystem functioning caused by non-native primary producers in marine systems. In this study we explored the effects of the invasion by the two filamentous red algae Heterosiphonia japonica and Bonnemaisonia hamifera on the primary production of seaweed communities by using single and mixed cultures of non-native and native red algae. The experiments were conducted both in the presence and absence of herbivores. Biomass production of the invaded community increased more than four times in mixed cultures with H. japonica, while introduction by B. hamifera had no significant effect. The different impact on community production could be explained by differences in life history strategies between the invaders; H. japonica grew considerably faster than the native seaweeds which directly increased the community production, while B. hamifera showed a relatively slow growth rate and therefore had no effect. From previous studies it is known that B. hamifera produces a highly deterrent, but also costly, chemical defence. The assessment of survival and growth of a native generalist herbivore further corroborated that the biomass produced by B. hamifera constitutes a very low-quality food, whereas the performance of herbivores on a diet of H. japonica was comparable to that on native algal diets. In summary, this study demonstrates that successful invaders belonging to the same functional group (filamentous red algae) may have distinctly different impacts on productivity in the recipient community, depending on their specific life history traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefin Sagerman
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden,
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41
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Vaness BM, Wilson SD, MacDougall AS. Decreased root heterogeneity and increased root length following grassland invasion. Funct Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brenda M. Vaness
- Department of Biology; University of Regina; Regina SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Scott D. Wilson
- Department of Biology; University of Regina; Regina SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Andrew S. MacDougall
- Department of Integrative Biology; University of Guelph; Guelph ON N1G 2W1 Canada
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42
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Martin LM, Polley HW, Daneshgar PP, Harris MA, Wilsey BJ. Biodiversity, photosynthetic mode, and ecosystem services differ between native and novel ecosystems. Oecologia 2014; 175:687-97. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-2911-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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43
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Beans CM. The case for character displacement in plants. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:852-65. [PMID: 24683467 PMCID: PMC3967910 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 12/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The evidence for character displacement as a widespread response to competition is now building. This progress is largely the result of the establishment of rigorous criteria for demonstrating character displacement in the animal literature. There are, however, relatively few well-supported examples of character displacement in plants. This review explores the potential for character displacement in plants by addressing the following questions: (1) Why aren't examples of character displacement in plants more common? (2) What are the requirements for character displacement to occur and how do plant populations meet those requirements? (3) What are the criteria for testing the pattern and process of character displacement and what methods can and have been used to address these criteria in the plant literature? (4) What are some additional approaches for studying character displacement in plants? While more research is needed, the few plant systems in which character displacement hypotheses have been rigorously tested suggest that character displacement may play a role in shaping plant communities. Plants are especially amenable to character displacement studies because of the experimental ease with which they can be used in common gardens, selection analyses, and breeding designs. A deeper investigation of character displacement in plants is critical for a more complete understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes that permit the coexistence of plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn M Beans
- Department of Biology, University of VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia
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Spirito F, Yahdjian L, Tognetti PM, Chaneton EJ. Soil ecosystem function under native and exotic plant assemblages as alternative states of successional grasslands. ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2012.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Wilsey BJ, Daneshgar PP, Hofmockel K, Polley HW. Invaded grassland communities have altered stability-maintenance mechanisms but equal stability compared to native communities. Ecol Lett 2013; 17:92-100. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Revised: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 10/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian J. Wilsey
- Department of Ecology; Evolution and Organismal Biology; Iowa State University; 253 Bessey Hall Ames IA 50011 USA
| | - Pedram P. Daneshgar
- Department of Biology; Monmouth University; 400 Cedar Avenue West Long Branch NJ 07764 USA
| | - Kirsten Hofmockel
- Department of Ecology; Evolution and Organismal Biology; Iowa State University; 253 Bessey Hall Ames IA 50011 USA
| | - H. Wayne Polley
- Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory; USDA-ARS; Temple TX 76502 USA
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McGranahan DA, Engle DM, Wilsey BJ, Fuhlendorf SD, Miller JR, Debinski DM. Grazing and an invasive grass confound spatial pattern of exotic and native grassland plant species richness. Basic Appl Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2012.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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47
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Lannes LS, Bustamante MMC, Edwards PJ, Venterink HO. Alien and endangered plants in the Brazilian Cerrado exhibit contrasting relationships with vegetation biomass and N : P stoichiometry. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2012; 196:816-823. [PMID: 22998613 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04363.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2012] [Accepted: 08/31/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Although endangered and alien invasive plants are commonly assumed to persist under different environmental conditions, surprisingly few studies have investigated whether this is the case. We examined how endangered and alien species are distributed in relation to community biomass and N : P ratio in the above-ground community biomass in savanna vegetation in the Brazilian Cerrado. For 60 plots, we related the occurrence of endangered (Red List) and alien invasive species to plant species richness, vegetation biomass and N : P ratio, and soil variables. Endangered plants occurred mainly in plots with relatively low above-ground biomass and high N : P ratios, whereas alien invasive species occurred in plots with intermediate to high biomass and low N : P ratios. Occurrences of endangered or alien plants were unrelated to extractable N and P concentrations in the soil. These contrasting distributions in the Cerrado imply that alien species only pose a threat to endangered species if they are able to invade sites occupied by these species and increase the above-ground biomass and/or decrease the N : P ratio of the vegetation. We found some evidence that alien species do increase above-ground community biomass in the Cerrado, but their possible effect on N : P stoichiometry requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciola S Lannes
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Peter J Edwards
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Harry Olde Venterink
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland
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Cook-Patton SC, Bauerle TL. Potential benefits of plant diversity on vegetated roofs: a literature review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2012; 106:85-92. [PMID: 22575204 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2011] [Revised: 03/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/01/2012] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Although vegetated green roofs can be difficult to establish and maintain, they are an increasingly popular method for mitigating the negative environmental impacts of urbanization. Most green roof development has focused on maximizing green roof performance by planting one or a few drought-tolerant species. We present an alternative approach, which recognizes green roofs as dynamic ecosystems and employs a diversity of species. We draw links between the ecological and green roof literature to generate testable predictions about how increasing plant diversity could improve short- and long-term green roof functioning. Although we found few papers that experimentally manipulated diversity on green roofs, those that did revealed ecological dynamics similar to those in more natural systems. However, there are many unresolved issues. To improve overall green roof performance, we should (1) elucidate the links among plant diversity, structural complexity, and green roof performance, (2) describe feedback mechanisms between plant and animal diversity on green roofs, (3) identify species with complementary traits, and (4) determine whether diverse green roof communities are more resilient to disturbance and environmental change than less diverse green roofs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan C Cook-Patton
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, E145 Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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49
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Weißhuhn K, Prati D, Fischer M, Auge H. Regional adaptation improves the performance of grassland plant communities. Basic Appl Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2012.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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50
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Do priority effects benefit invasive plants more than native plants? An experiment with six grassland species. Biol Invasions 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-012-0257-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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