Net neutral effects of a generalist vertebrate predator on seed production result from simultaneous suppression of plant antagonists and mutualists

Zhao, Jiyan; He, Kai; Peng, Yinghua; Wu, Xinwei; Sun, Shucun

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2015.11.003

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 43 publications

(71 reference statements)

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“…Further details on the climate can be found in previous studies (Zhao et al . ). The area of the Zoige peatland in Hongyuan County is about 492 km 2 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Soil drainage facilitates earthworm invasion and subsequent carbon loss from peatland soil

Cao

Wang

et al. 2017

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary 1. Human activities have been a significant driver of environmental changes with tremendous consequences for carbon dynamics. Peatlands are critical ecosystems because they store ~30% of the global soil organic carbon pool and are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic changes. The Zoige peatland on the eastern Tibet Plateau, as the largest alpine peatland in the world, accounts for 1‰ of global peat soil organic carbon storage. However, this peatland has experienced dramatic climate change including increased temperature and reduced precipitation in the past decades, which likely is responsible for a decline of the water table and facilitated earthworm invasion, two major factors reducing soil organic carbon (SOC) storage of peatlands. 2. Because earthworms are often more active in low- than in high- moisture peatlands, we hypothesized that the simultaneous occurrence of water table decline and earthworm invasion would synergistically accelerate the release of SOC from peatland soil. We conducted a field experiment with a paired split-plot design, i.e. presence vs. absence of the invasive earthworms (Pheretima aspergillum) nested in drained vs. undrained plots, respectively, for three years within the homogenous Zoige peatland. 3. Water table decline significantly decreased soil water content and bulk density, resulting in a marked reduction of SOC storage. Moreover, consistent with our hypothesis, earthworm presence dramatically reduced SOC in the drained but not in the undrained peatland through the formation of deep burrows and decreasing bulk density of the lower soil layer over three years. The variation in SOC likely was due to changes in aboveground plant biomass, root growth, and earthworm behavior induced by the experimental treatments. 4. Synthesis and applications. We suggest that incentive measures should be taken to prevent further water table decline and earthworm invasion for maintaining the soil C pool in Zoige peatland. Artificial filling of drainage canals should be implemented to increase the water table level, facilitating the recovery of drained peatlands. Moreover, the dispersal of earthworms and their cocoons attached to the roots of crop plants and tree saplings from low-lying areas to the Zoige region should be controlled and restricted.

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“…Further details on the climate can be found in previous studies (Zhao et al . ). The area of the Zoige peatland in Hongyuan County is about 492 km 2 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Soil drainage facilitates earthworm invasion and subsequent carbon loss from peatland soil

Cao

Wang

et al. 2017

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Predator Effects on Plant-Pollinator Interactions, Plant Reproduction, Mating Systems, and Evolution

Benoit

Kalisz

2020

Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst.

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Plants are the foundation of the food web and therefore interact directly and indirectly with myriad organisms at higher trophic levels. They directly provide nourishment to mutualistic and antagonistic primary consumers (e.g., pollinators and herbivores), which in turn are consumed by predators. These interactions produce cascading indirect effects on plants (either trait-mediated or density-mediated). We review how predators affect plant-pollinator interactions and thus how predators indirectly affect plant reproduction, fitness, mating systems, and trait evolution. Predators can influence pollinator abundance and foraging behavior. In many cases, predators cause pollinators to visit plants less frequently and for shorter durations. This decline in visitation can lead to pollen limitation and decreased seed set. However, alternative outcomes can result due to differences in predator, pollinator, and plant functional traits as well as due to altered interaction networks with plant enemies. Furthermore, predators may indirectly affect the evolution of plant traits and mating systems. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, Volume 51 is November 2, 2020. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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Net neutral effects of a generalist vertebrate predator on seed production result from simultaneous suppression of plant antagonists and mutualists

Cited by 2 publications

References 43 publications

Soil drainage facilitates earthworm invasion and subsequent carbon loss from peatland soil

Soil drainage facilitates earthworm invasion and subsequent carbon loss from peatland soil

Predator Effects on Plant-Pollinator Interactions, Plant Reproduction, Mating Systems, and Evolution

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