Effects of traits, species identity and local environmental conditions on the assessment of interactions: insights from an alpine meadow community

Chu, Chengjin; Wang, Youshi; Li, Qi; Zhao, Luqiang; Ren, Zhengwei; Xiao, Sa; Yuan, Jing; Wang, Gang

doi:10.1093/jpe/rtp014

Cited by 20 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In addition, individual tillers may change their internal resource allocation in response to neighbour removal23629. In line with these studies2361529, we found that the leaf length of all target species was reduced when neighbours were removed, which implies a positive facilitative shelter effect of the neighbours against severe climatic conditions such as high solar radiation, strong wind and low temperature3. Our result reported a lower night soil temperature when neighbours were removed, which increased the risk of freezing injury.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Previous studies in high altitude grasslands have found that both competition and facilitation between individual plants in alpine habitats are common due to the multiple microclimatic effects provided by neighbouring vegetation31529. In addition, individual tillers may change their internal resource allocation in response to neighbour removal23629.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our result reported a lower night soil temperature when neighbours were removed, which increased the risk of freezing injury. Additionally, the leaf number of the selected species was increased when neighbours were removed, showing a negative shading effect of neighbours on the growth of leaf buds30 and a competition effect for soil nutrients2329. The growth of the leaf bud is sensitive to light intensity30, but shading may be considerable at high altitude due to frequent cloudy conditions31.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Different responses of alpine plants to nitrogen addition: effects on plant-plant interactions

Wang

Luo

Mou

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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The different responses of plant species to resource stress are keys to understand the dynamics of plant community in a changing environment. To test the hypothesis that nitrogen (N) increase would benefit N competitive species, rather than N stress-tolerant species, to compete with neighbours, we conducted an experiment with neighbour removal, N addition and soil moisture as treatments in an alpine grassland on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Both growths and competitive-response abilities (CRA, the ability to tolerate the inhibitory effects of neighbors) of Kobresia macrantha, Polygonum viviparum and Potentilla anserine in wet site were facilitated by N addition, conversely, both growths and CRA of Taraxacum mongolicum and Ligularia virgaurea were suppressed by N addition, indicating that the responses of CRA of target species under N addition were consistent with the N utilization strategies of them. Moreover, the facilitative effects of N addition on competitive-response abilities of Kobresia macrantha and Polygonum viviparum were not found at the dry site, illustrating that soil moisture can alter the changes of neighbour effects caused by N addition. Life strategy of dominant species in plant community on the undisturbed southeastern Tibetan Plateau may shift from N stress-tolerant to N competitive, if the N increases continuously.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Different responses of alpine plants to nitrogen addition: effects on plant-plant interactions

Wang

Luo

Mou

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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“…Previous research and conceptual models have shown that interspecific interactions may shift from competitive to facilitative dynamics as an environment becomes more stressful (Tewksbury and Lloyd 2001;Bruno et al 2003;Graff et al 2007;Bagousse-Pinguet et al 2011). The consistent pattern of positive species associations in grazed plots may be indicative of such a shift to facilitation, as has been shown in grazed areas when neighboring species act as biotic refuges (through physical barriers such as spines) or provide associational avoidance (Graff et al 2007;Chu et al 2009;Bagousse-Pinguet et al 2011). In addition, grazed plots housed more short stature plants, and the associations observed may be due to the relationship between plant height and light availability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Grazer exclusion alters plant spatial organization at multiple scales, increasing diversity

Zhang

Gilbert

Wang

et al. 2013

Ecology and Evolution

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Grazing is one of the most important factors influencing community structure and productivity in natural grasslands. Understanding why and how grazing pressure changes species diversity is essential for the preservation and restoration of biodiversity in grasslands. We use heavily grazed subalpine meadows in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to test the hypothesis that grazer exclusion alters plant diversity by changing inter- and intraspecific species distributions. Using recently developed spatial analyses combined with detailed ramet mapping of entire plant communities (91 species), we show striking differences between grazed and fenced areas that emerged at scales of just one meter. Species richness was similar at very small scales (0.0625 m2), but at larger scales diversity in grazed areas fell below 75% of corresponding fenced areas. These differences were explained by differences in spatial distributions; intra- and interspecific associations changed from aggregated at small scales to overdispersed in the fenced plots, but were consistently aggregated in the grazed ones. We conclude that grazing enhanced inter- and intraspecific aggregations and maintained high diversity at small scales, but caused decreased turnover in species at larger scales, resulting in lower species richness. Our study provides strong support to the theoretical prediction that inter- and intraspecific aggregation produces local spatial patterns that scale-up to affect species diversity in a community. It also demonstrates that the impacts of grazing can manifest through this mechanism, lowering diversity by reducing spatial turnover in species. Finally, it highlights the ecological and physiological plant processes that are likely responding to grazing and thereby altering aggregation patterns, providing new insights for monitoring, and mediating the impacts of grazing.

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“…In the long run, the importance of positive interaction has been ignored in ecology . It is only in recent decades that it has been recognized again and widely discussed . The transition from positive to negative interactions within plant populations occurred not gradually but sharply, i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant architecture, plasticity, and adaptation strategies of two oat genotypes under different competition intensities

Yan

et al. 2015

J Sci Food Agric

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With increasing density and strengthening intraspecific competition, Manotick reduced aboveground biomass allocation, leading to lower yield, while Oa1316-1 decreased allocation to the roots, but increased allocation to the panicles under an increasingly competitive environment. These adjustments were mechanically derived from negative and positive interactions, ensuring greater yield in the prostrate type. Our findings provided a novel rationale for a planting strategy based on plant type selections.

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Effects of traits, species identity and local environmental conditions on the assessment of interactions: insights from an alpine meadow community

Cited by 20 publications

References 27 publications

Different responses of alpine plants to nitrogen addition: effects on plant-plant interactions

Different responses of alpine plants to nitrogen addition: effects on plant-plant interactions

Grazer exclusion alters plant spatial organization at multiple scales, increasing diversity

Plant architecture, plasticity, and adaptation strategies of two oat genotypes under different competition intensities

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