Root-shoot competition interactions cause diversity loss after fertilization: a field experiment in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau

Li, Wei; Wen, Shujun; Hu, Wenxiang; Du, Guozhen

doi:10.1093/jpe/rtq031

Cited by 50 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Competition from established vege tation was found to have little effect on large‐seeded or tall‐stature species (McConnaughay and Bazzaz 1987, Reader 1993). Our finding is consistent with theoretical predictions and with empirical data showing that large‐seeded or tall‐stature species have an advantage under conditions of deep litter and dense shade (Moles and Westoby 2004, Li et al 2011a).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effects of grazing and fertilization on the relationship between species abundance and functional traits in an alpine meadow community on the Tibetan Plateau

Li¹,

Tian²,

Ren³

et al. 2012

Nordic Journal of Botany

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Trait‐based approaches can provide a useful tool for linking plant attributes to community structure and ecosystem function. Seed mass and plant height play important roles in the dynamics of plant communities, but few empirical community level studies have tested this, especially in stressful environments. The aim of the present study was to determine if there is a relationship between functional traits (seed mass and plant height) and changes in species relative abundance (SRA) in response to grazing and fertilization. We measured SRA and plant functional traits for 40 common species in a Tibetan Plateau alpine meadow. In the fertilized meadow, seed mass and plant height was significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance of the species. In the grazed meadow, these variables were significantly negatively correlated. Our results demonstrates that plant functional traits can be used to predict the change of SRA in plant community. Grazing promotes the dominance of small‐seeded and short‐stature species, and fertilization facilitates the occurrence of large‐seeded and tall‐stature species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effects of grazing and fertilization on the relationship between species abundance and functional traits in an alpine meadow community on the Tibetan Plateau

Li¹,

Tian²,

Ren³

et al. 2012

Nordic Journal of Botany

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“…Empirical evidence is fully consistent with this prediction, showing that whenever both fertilization and shading were manipulated independently in order to test their effects on species richness, fertilization reduced species richness while shading did not (Rajaniemi ; Dickson & Foster ; Li et al . ). This pattern was obtained even if both treatments (fertilization and shading) reduced the amount of light to the same level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Light asymmetry explains the effect of nutrient enrichment on grassland diversity

2016

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One of the most ubiquitous patterns in plant ecology is species loss following nutrient enrichment. A common explanation for this universal pattern is an increase in the size asymmetry of light partitioning (the degree to which large plants receive more light per unit biomass than smaller plants), which accelerates the rates of competitive exclusions. This 'light asymmetry hypothesis' has been confirmed by mathematical models, but has never been tested in natural communities due to the lack of appropriate methodology for measuring the size asymmetry of light partitioning in natural communities. Here, we use a novel approach for quantifying the asymmetry of light competition which is based on measurements of the vertical distribution of light below the canopy. Using our approach, we demonstrate that an increase in light asymmetry is the main mechanism behind the negative effect of nutrient enrichment on species richness. Our results provide a possible explanation for one of the main sources of contemporary species loss in terrestrial plant communities.

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“…; Li et al. ), but shows that these effects are productivity‐dependent. Nevertheless, this trend disappeared when we considered changes 5 yrs after land‐use changes were introduced.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effects of land‐use changes on plant functional and taxonomic diversity along a productivity gradient in wet meadows

Janeček

Bello

Horník

et al. 2013

J Vegetation Science

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Questions To what extent do changes in management (abandonment and fertilization) affect plant functional and taxonomic diversity in wet meadow communities? To what extent do the changes in functional and taxonomic diversity depend on site productivity? Location Železné hory Mts., Czech Republic. Methods Experimental plots were established on 21 wet meadows differing in productivity and species composition. In each meadow, in 2007, four 1 × 1 m plots were established, representing a full factorial design with abandonment and fertilization as the factors. In each plot, the number of species present was recorded in 100 subplots (0.1 × 0.1 m) in the years 2007, 2009 and 2011. Different indicators of functional diversity (functional richness, functional evenness, and Rao′s quadratic entropy) were calculated using five functional traits (SLA, LDMC, seed mass, plant height and clonality). Both abundance‐weighted and non‐weighted diversity indices were calculated. Randomization tests (conducted with PERMANOVA) were used to assess the effect of site productivity and management on both α‐ and β‐diversity components. Results Meadows along the productivity gradient differed in functional and taxonomic diversity. Both abandonment and fertilization decreased taxonomic diversity. Whereas fertilization decreased functional richness and Rao′s quadratic entropy, abandonment decreased functional evenness. The changes in both taxonomic and functional diversity caused by abandonment and fertilization occurred faster in more productive meadows. Conclusions The increased dominance of tall species with abandonment and fertilization, followed by the loss of species and the decrease in various indicators of functional diversity, suggest that increased competition for light resulted in increased trait convergence among co‐existing species. In addition, many processes occurring after abandonment and fertilization depend on meadow productivity. Results suggest that abundance‐ and non‐abundance‐weighted diversity indices give complementary insights on community structure. These results imply that changes are needed in current meadow management and conservation.

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Root-shoot competition interactions cause diversity loss after fertilization: a field experiment in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau

Cited by 50 publications

References 59 publications

Effects of grazing and fertilization on the relationship between species abundance and functional traits in an alpine meadow community on the Tibetan Plateau

Effects of grazing and fertilization on the relationship between species abundance and functional traits in an alpine meadow community on the Tibetan Plateau

Light asymmetry explains the effect of nutrient enrichment on grassland diversity

Effects of land‐use changes on plant functional and taxonomic diversity along a productivity gradient in wet meadows

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