High soil moisture triggers negative plant–soil feedbacks in a tropical forest

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 14, 2025

Abstract Plant‐microbial interactions help stabilize coexistence and shape ecological communities. These are sensitive to abiotic conditions, but how they may be affected by environmental change is unknown. Variation in water availability particularly important as it impacts both plant microbial physiology. Local naturally fluctuates terrestrial ecosystems, climate predicted accentuate this variation. For example, environments that experience seasonal rainfall, such Central American tropical forests, expected drier dry seasons wetter wet seasons. To explore the consequences of altered moisture regimes for plant‐microbial interactions, we conducted a plant–soil feedback experiment central Panama which inoculated seedlings from six shade‐tolerant tree species with soil communities associated either conspecific or heterospecific adults sterilized grew them under two different regimes: 50% 100% total holding capacity (WHC). At WHC, seedling survival growth were unaffected source inoculum. was reduced sterile treatment biomass highest grown soil. Soil modified strength feedbacks. Plant–soil feedbacks negative at high (100% WHC) disappeared low (50% WHC). Our work extends growing body research on effects North prairie tropics, shows their implications stabilizing context dependent seedlings. As result, phenomena reduce moisture, forest fragmentation, could diversity assemblages weakening Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Precipitation changes alter plant dominant species and functional groups by changing soil salinity in a coastal salt marsh

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 368, P. 122235 - 122235

Published: Aug. 18, 2024

Language: Английский

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A risk assessment framework for the future of forest microbiomes in a changing climate

Nature Climate Change, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(5), P. 448 - 461

Published: April 29, 2024

Language: Английский

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Why are graminoid species more dominant? Trait‐mediated plant–soil feedbacks shape community composition

Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 105(6)

Published: May 9, 2024

Abstract Species traits may determine plant interactions along with soil microbiome, further shaping plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs). However, how modulate PSFs and, consequently, the dominance of functional groups remains unclear. We used a combination field surveys and two‐phase PSF experiment to investigate whether forbs graminoids differed in their trait–PSF associations. When grown forb‐conditioned soils, experienced stronger negative feedbacks, while positive feedbacks. Graminoid‐conditioned resulted neutral for both types. Forbs thin roots small seeds showed more‐negative than those thick large seeds. Conversely, acquisitive root leaf (i.e., leaves) demonstrated greater tough leaves. By distinguishing overall biota‐mediated PSFs, we found that associations between within were mainly mediated by biota. A simulation model such differences could lead over natural communities, which might explain why dominate grasslands. Our study provides new insights into differentiation adaptation life‐history strategies under selection pressures imposed

Language: Английский

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Increasing aridity strengthens the core bacterial rhizosphere associations in the pan-palaeotropical C4 grass, Themeda triandra

Applied Soil Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 201, P. 105514 - 105514

Published: June 30, 2024

Understanding belowground plant-microbial interactions is fundamental to predicting how plant species respond climate change, particularly in global drylands. However, these are poorly understood, especially for keystone grass like the pan-palaeotropical Themeda triandra. Here, we used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing characterise microbiota rhizospheres and bulk soils associated with T. We applied this method eight native sites across a 3-fold aridity gradient (aridity index range = 0.318 0.903 87 % distribution) southern Australia. By examining relative contributions of climatic, edaphic, ecological, host specific phenotypic traits, identified ecological drivers core triandra-associated microbiota. show that had strongest effect on shaping microbiotas, report greater proportion bacterial taxa were from rhizosphere microbiomes also differentially abundant more arid triandra regions. These results suggest naturally growing under conditions have reliance than plants wetter conditions. Our study underscores likely importance targeted recruitment bacteria into by grassland species, such as triandra, when This soil expected become even important change.

Language: Английский

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Soil legacies of genotypic diversity enhance population resistance to water stress

Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 106(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Abstract While the positive relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem functioning is frequently observed often attributed to direct plant–plant interactions, it remains unclear whether how effects of endure through soil legacy effects, particularly at level genotypic diversity. We manipulated Scirpus mariqueter tested its on a conspecific phytometer under low‐ high‐water availability conditions. found that enhanced productivity legacies, with stronger low‐water conditions, improving resistance water stress. Moreover, this effect was association asexual sexual reproductive strategies by increasing ramet number ensure survival promoting reproduction escape The were primarily associated increased levels microbial biomass in soils trained populations diverse genotypes. Our findings highlight importance modulating legacies call for management measures promote genetic make ecosystems sustainable face climate change.

Language: Английский

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Inconsistent Variations in Components of Functional Stability Under Heterogeneous Conditions: A Case Study from the Maolan Karst Forest Ecosystems in Guizhou Province, Southwest of China

Forests, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(2), P. 304 - 304

Published: Feb. 9, 2025

Human-induced environmental changes threaten the functional stability of natural forest ecosystems. Understanding dominant factors influencing both space and in extremely heterogeneous environments is crucial for elucidating Here, 30 dynamic plots were established along successional pathway Maolan National Nature Reserve Southwest China. By measuring 15,725 stems across 286 distinct species’ six key plant traits, we constructed traits quantified redundancy (FR) vulnerability (FV) to represent stability, further utilized line model multiple linear regression explore biotic/abiotic indicators degraded karst forests. Additionally, as unfolded, contribution overall increased, from 59.85% 66.64%. These included specific leaf area (SLA), dry matter content (LDMC), thickness (LT) nitrogen (LNC), which played a role driving space. With increasing species richness (FR), entities (p < 0.001) FR while FV 0.01) decreased. The results also demonstrated higher forests (FR > 2). However, over 51% FEs consisted single species, with majority clustered into few (FEs), indicating an elevated level Soil nutrient availability significantly influences ecosystem’s explaining 87% variability 100% variability. Finally, rich SR could provide sufficient insurance effects; soil pH available potassium (AK) enhance resilience, exchangeable calcium (Eca), total phosphorus (TP) (TK) indicate resistance This study highlights complex mechanisms extreme habitat conditions, thereby deepening our understanding ecosystem function maintenance.

Language: Английский

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Higher Plant Diversity Does Not Moderate the Influence of Changing Rainfall Regimes on Plant–Soil Feedback of a Semi‐Arid Grassland

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of severe droughts, but it remains unclear whether soil biotic conditioning by plant communities with varying species richness or functional group diversity moderate plant-soil feedback (PSF)-an important ecosystem process driving community dynamics-under altered rainfall regimes. We conducted a two-phase PSF experiment test how affects under different In Phase 1, we set up mesocosms 15 assemblages composed two grasses, forbs and nitrogen-fixing legumes [one, two, three, six from one, three group(s)] common semi-arid eastern Eurasian Steppe. Mesocosms were subjected amounts (ambient, 50% reduction) crossed frequencies for growing season (~3 months). Conditioned each mesocosm was then used in 2 inoculate (7% v/v) sterilised planted same as 1 grown 8 weeks. Simultaneously, calculate based on biomass measured at end 2. Feedback effects differed amongst assemblages, not significantly reduced treatments within any assemblage. This suggests that examined interactions between microbial resistant simulated reductions increasing did Moreover, lessen magnitude differences ambient treatments. Collectively, these findings advance our understanding diversity's potential mitigate climate PSF, showing grasslands, higher may responses regimes highlighting importance considering species-specific traits interaction stability.

Language: Английский

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Plant–soil feedbacks contribute to coexistence when considering multispecies assemblages over a soil depth gradient

Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 106(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Abstract Plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs) may determine plant–species coexistence. They stabilize coexistence, but frequently destabilize it by increasing fitness differences between species. Most studies focus on pairwise models in greenhouses. Thus, whether PSFs favor or deter coexistence is still unclear, especially multispecies field contexts. We analyzed and over a hydric gradient semiarid grassland. Using PSF strength estimates 17 species, we measured stability all species pairs, built possible communities to test computationally they were stabilized PSFs. probability diminishes with richness, as previously hypothesized. Because change environmental conditions, investigated their contribution overall diversity maintenance the gradient. Strong increased differences, hindering As expected, that an assemblage was stable diminished its largest community containing 12 of However, coexisted others at least one assemblage, highlighting importance analyses. Positive promoted analyses, associated species‐poor communities. Contrastingly, negative predominated species‐rich associations, perhaps due indirect positive interactions (an “enemy my enemy friend” scenario) are known maintain this Changes density different predicted from PSF‐stabilized matched observations nature. This seems promote turnover thus along such, interplay conditions be important driver diversity. Our results emphasize need move beyond models. In systems, crucial arise. The environment under provide insights into

Language: Английский

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Drought legacy influences plant invasion through plant–soil feedback dependent on the origin and lifespan of conditioning species

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 28, 2025

Abstract Alien plant invasion is one of the key factors global change. Soil legacies from previous species can affect alien plants that are later introduced. Moreover, it suggested drought, as a common environmental factor, often influences plant–soil interactions. However, little known about how drought and feedback jointly growth subsequent native different lifespans. We conducted two‐phase experiment. Firstly, we conditioned soil using each 32 (eight annuals, eight perennials, annuals perennials) with or without treatment. Thereafter, 20 were grown on their conspecific heterospecific soils to test various legacy effects. Plants grew better in than legacies. The perennial exhibited superior compared annual plants. perennials achieved relatively best drought‐treated all other species. less negatively affected when by species, particularly perennials. Our study suggests have an advantage coping negative effects complex This may accelerate process communities ecosystems dominated under conditions. Read free Plain Language Summary for this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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