The importance of shrub cover for four cactus species differing in growth form in an Andean semi-desert

López, Ramiro Pablo; Valdivia, Sergio

doi:10.1658/1100-9233(2007)18[263:tioscf]2.0.co;2

Cited by 9 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…Thus, an experimental approach is particularly needed in this area of research to gain an understanding of seedling and sapling tolerances of these cactus growth forms. However, differential tolerances of cactus growth forms to open ground and its associated microclimatic conditions have been documented (e.g., Smith et al 1984;Godínez-Á lvarez et al 2003, López andValdivia 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Empirical data on the factors that determine community structure and dynamics in the subtropical, hot semideserts of the Andes are scarce (see: de Viana et al 2001;Larrea-Alcázar et al 2005;Schlumpberger and Badano 2005;López and Valdivia 2007). In this study, we conducted a first assessment of the possible incidence of facilitation among shrub juveniles of an arid Andean semi-desert.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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The role of nurse plants in the establishment of shrub seedlings in the semi-arid subtropical Andes

et al. 2007

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In the nurse plant syndrome, or nurse association, seedlings (beneficiaries) are associated with adult shrubs/trees (benefactors). This phenomenon has been documented in several regions of the planet. Abiotic stress amelioration (one mechanism of facilitation) is one of the causes of this association. Most of the studies addressing the nurse syndrome have been conducted on spatial scales of a few hectares and have focused on only one or a few species. Moreover, there is an almost complete lack of studies addressing the incidence and characteristics of the nurse phenomenon in the arid Andes of South America. We undertook a first approximation to the study of facilitation in these ecosystems. The study was conducted at local and regional scales and involved the assessment of the spatial distribution of juveniles (seedlings and saplings) of 51 populations of 16 shrub and 12 cactus species in relation to shrub cover at 20 localities of the Prepuna (subtropical Andes of Bolivia and Argentina, 20-26 degrees S). In terms of spatial distribution, the juveniles of most of the populations of shrubs studied were distributed both under the shrubs and in open spaces, thereby showing an apparent indifference to microhabitat. Globose and opuntioid cacti were preferentially distributed below the canopies of shrubs and were usually more associated with the dominant shrub species, which stood out as better potential nurses. The pattern was consistent throughout the region, including the more mesic and arid localities. The fact that Prepuna woody species are capable of establishing in open spaces would confer this region a greater resilience. Our findings further suggest that community dynamics in arid and semi-arid environments are more variable than previously thought.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

The role of nurse plants in the establishment of shrub seedlings in the semi-arid subtropical Andes

et al. 2007

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“…How nurse cushion plants facilitate the establishment and growth of other species has been relatively well studied (Butterfield and Briggs 2011), as has how facilitation can benefit diversity and drive patterns in composition (Cavieres et al 2014). More recently research has examined the functional traits of nurse plants and those they facilitate to better understand why some species, and not others, benefit from facilitation (Lopez and Valdivia 2007;Butterfield and Briggs 2011;Schöb et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shrub facilitation has been more commonly assessed in other habitats such as in arid or semi-arid ecosystems including Mediterranean forest (Gómez-Aparicio et al 2004;Smit et al 2009) and deserts (Silvertown and Wilson 1994;Brittingham and Walker 2000;Lopez and Valdivia 2007) and, to some extent, in tundra or steppe (Raffaele and Veblen 1998;Olofsson 2004). In the alpine areas of Australasia including in Papua New Guinea (Körner et al 1983) and Australia (McDougall and Wright 2004;Venn et al 2009) shrubs may play an important role in enhancing biodiversity by facilitating the establishment and growth of other species (McDougall and Wright 2004;Venn et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shrub facilitation is an important driver of alpine plant community diversity and functional composition

Ballantyne

Pickering

2015

Biodivers Conserv

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Facilitation often occurs in environments where extreme climatic factors favour positive rather than negative species interactions. This includes larger 'nurse' cushion plants in some alpine environments that shelter other species from abiotic filters such as abrasive winds and low temperatures. This type of facilitation can contribute to higher alpha (within habitat), beta (between habitats) and gamma diversity (across the community), by facilitating species with less stress tolerant but more competitive functional traits otherwise excluded from these communities. We assess whether shrubs play a similar role in facilitation, using the dominant prostrate shrub Epacris gunnii in a high conservation value plant community along the highest ridgeline in the Australian Alps. Differences in alpha and beta diversity, species and functional composition were compared in and out of shrubs using point sampling and quadrats. Shrub habitat enhanced alpha (species richness per plot) and beta diversity resulting in greater gamma diversity for the community as a whole, with twice as many species associated with the shrub than open quadrats. There were also differences in functional composition with vegetation in shrub quadrats being taller with larger leaves. It seems that E. gunnii creates micro-refugia that assist in the range expansion of more productive but less stress-tolerant species, including some endemics, in the community. Alpine shrubs can therefore occupy a similar facilitative role to that of cushion plants in alpine plant communities and therefore may also be important drivers of diversity and functional composition.

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“…Observational studies suggest that the genus Opuntia is dependent on nurse plants, while Cylindropuntia is a less dependent genus (López and Valvidia, 2007;Reyes-Olivas et al, 2002). Although experimental studies have been conducted to test the importance of nurse shrubs on genet establishment in some Opuntia species (Mandujano et al, 1998;Vargas-Mendoza and González-Espinosa, 1992), little is known about the role that nurse plants play in the establishment of genets of Cylindropuntia species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recruiting mechanisms of Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (Cactaceae) in the Southern Chihuahuan Desert

Flores‐Torres

Montaña

2012

Journal of Arid Environments

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The importance of shrub cover for four cactus species differing in growth form in an Andean semi-desert

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

The role of nurse plants in the establishment of shrub seedlings in the semi-arid subtropical Andes

The role of nurse plants in the establishment of shrub seedlings in the semi-arid subtropical Andes

Shrub facilitation is an important driver of alpine plant community diversity and functional composition

Recruiting mechanisms of Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (Cactaceae) in the Southern Chihuahuan Desert

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