Improving intercropping: a synthesis of research in agronomy, plant physiology and ecology

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 206(1), P. 107 - 117

Published: Nov. 3, 2014

Summary Intercropping is a farming practice involving two or more crop species, genotypes, growing together and coexisting for time. On the fringes of modern intensive agriculture, intercropping important in many subsistence low‐input/resource‐limited agricultural systems. By allowing genuine yield gains without increased inputs, greater stability with decreased could be one route to delivering ‘sustainable intensification’. We discuss how recent knowledge from agronomy, plant physiology ecology can combined aim improving Recent advances agronomy include better understanding mechanisms interactions between genotypes species – example, enhanced resource availability through niche complementarity. Ecological context‐dependency interactions, behind disease pest avoidance, links above‐ below‐ground systems, role microtopographic variation coexistence. This improved guide approaches including breeding crops intercropping. Although such help improve we suggest that other topics also need addressing. These assessment wider benefits terms multiple ecosystem services, collaboration engineering, effective interdisciplinary research.

Language: Английский

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The spatial and temporal dynamics of species interactions in mixed-species forests: From pattern to process

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 312, P. 282 - 292

Published: Oct. 28, 2013

Language: Английский

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A Review of Processes Behind Diversity—Productivity Relationships in Forests

Current Forestry Reports, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 2(1), P. 45 - 61

Published: Feb. 3, 2016

Language: Английский

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Uses and misuses of meta‐analysis in plant ecology

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 102(4), P. 828 - 844

Published: June 23, 2014

Summary The number of published meta‐analyses in plant ecology has increased greatly over the last two decades. Meta‐analysis made a significant contribution to field, allowing review evidence for various ecological hypotheses and theories, estimation effects major environmental drivers (climate change, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, air pollution), assessment management conservation strategies, comparison across different temporal spatial scales, taxa ecosystems, as well research gap identification. We identified 322 field between 1996 2013 95 journals assessed their methodological reporting quality according standard criteria. Despite recent developments methodology meta‐analysis, was uneven showed little improvement time. found many cases imprecise inaccurate usage term ‘meta‐analysis’ ecology, particularly confusion meta‐analysis vote counting incorrect application statistical techniques designed primary studies meta‐analytical data, without recognition violation assumptions analyses. Methodological issues include incomplete search strategy used retrieve studies, failure test possible publication bias conduct sensitivity analysis robustness results, lack availability data set use is common community ecophysiology ecosystem but are more likely not meet criteria than papers other subdisciplines. Fewer have been conducted population ecology. Synthesis . Over past decades, ecologists embraced tool combine results much learned result. However, popularity grown, establishment standards, done disciplines, becomes increasingly important. In order improve future we suggest adoption checklist by synthesists, peer reviewers journal editors.

Language: Английский

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Temporal niche differentiation increases the land equivalent ratio of annual intercrops: A meta-analysis

Field Crops Research, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 184, P. 133 - 144

Published: Nov. 4, 2015

Language: Английский

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Facilitation as a ubiquitous driver of biodiversity

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 201(2), P. 403 - 416

Published: Sept. 17, 2013

Summary Models describing the biotic drivers that create and maintain biological diversity within trophic levels have focused primarily on negative interactions (i.e. competition), leaving marginal room for positive facilitation). We show facilitation to be a ubiquitous driver of biodiversity by first noting all species use resources thus change local or abiotic conditions, altering available multidimensional niches. This can cause shift in composition, which an increase beta, sometimes alpha, diversity. these increases are across ecosystems. These effects occur via broad host disparate direct indirect mechanisms. identify unify several facilitative mechanisms discuss why it has been easy underappreciate importance facilitation. net long history being considered ecologically evolutionarily unstable, we present recent evidence its potential stability. Facilitation goes well beyond common case stress amelioration probably gains as community complexity increases. While is, part, created exploiting many niches, niches exploit only because them. Contents 403 I. Introduction II. Facilitative increasing 405 III. evolutionary proximate 410 IV. Why just recently added ecological theory? 411 V. plant functional trait programme 412 VI. Predictability testability VII. Conservation, restoration management 413 VIII. Conclusions next steps Acknowledgements References 414

Language: Английский

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Facilitative plant interactions and climate simultaneously drive alpine plant diversity

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. 193 - 202

Published: Nov. 17, 2013

Abstract Interactions among species determine local‐scale diversity, but local interactions are thought to have minor effects at larger scales. However, quantitative comparisons of the importance biotic relative other drivers rarely made Using a data set spanning 78 sites and five continents, we assessed climate in determining plant diversity alpine ecosystems dominated by nurse‐plant cushion species. Climate variables related with water balance showed highest correlation richness global scale. Strikingly, although effect on was lower than that climate, its contribution still substantial. In particular, enhanced more systems inherently impoverished diversity. Nurse appear act as ‘safety net’ sustaining under harsh conditions, demonstrating should be integrated when predicting future biodiversity change.

Language: Английский

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Joint Species Distribution Modelling

Published: May 18, 2020

Joint species distribution modelling (JSDM) is a fast-developing field and promises to revolutionise how data on ecological communities are analysed interpreted. Written for both readers with limited statistical background, those expertise, this book provides comprehensive account of JSDM. It enables integrate abundances, environmental covariates, traits, phylogenetic relationships, the spatio-temporal context in which have been acquired. Step-by-step coverage full technical detail methods provided, as well advice interpreting results analyses broader modern community ecology theory. With advantage numerous example R-scripts, an ideal guide help graduate students researchers learn conduct interpret practice R-package Hmsc, providing fast starting point applying joint their own data.

Language: Английский

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The sudden collapse of pollinator communities

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 17(3), P. 350 - 359

Published: Jan. 6, 2014

Declines in pollinator populations may harm biodiversity and agricultural productivity. Little attention has, however, been paid to the systemic response of mutualistic communities global environmental change. Using a modelling approach merging network theory with on critical transitions, we show that scale nature transitions is likely be influenced by architecture networks. Specifically, collapse suddenly once drivers decline reach point. A high connectance and/or nestedness increases capacity persist under harsh conditions. However, tipping point reached, simultaneously. Recovering from this single community-wide requires relatively large improvement These findings have implications for our view sustainability services they provide.

Language: Английский

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Moving forward on facilitation research: response to changing environments and effects on the diversity, functioning and evolution of plant communities

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 90(1), P. 297 - 313

Published: April 29, 2014

Once seen as anomalous, facilitative interactions among plants and their importance for community structure functioning are now widely recognized. The growing body of modelling, descriptive experimental studies on facilitation covers a wide variety terrestrial aquatic systems throughout the globe. However, lack general theory linking different types organisms biomes responses to environmental changes prevents further advances in our knowledge regarding evolutionary ecological implications plant communities. Moreover, insights gathered from alternative lines inquiry may substantially improve understanding facilitation, but these have been largely neglected thus far. Despite over 15 years research debate this topic, there is no consensus degree which plant-plant change predictably along gradients (i.e. stress-gradient hypothesis), hinders ability predict how affect response communities ongoing global change. existing controversies across can be reconciled when clearly considering determining species-specificity response, functional or individual stress type, scale interest (pairwise community-level response). Here, we introduce theoretical framework do this, supported by multiple empirical evidence. We also discuss current gaps gradients. These include existence thresholds amount species-specific that benefactor alleviate, linearity non-linearity pairwise distance optimum beneficiary, need explore frequent species they environments. review latest topics provide new approaches fill knowledge. apply advance aspects relative comparison with other processes, maintaining ecosystem structure, dynamics. build links between related fields, such restoration, woody encroachment, invasion ecology, modelling biodiversity-ecosystem-functioning relationships. By identifying commonalities research, testable hypotheses role (positive) biotic maintenance biodiversity changes.

Language: Английский

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