The importance of soil microorganisms for maintaining diverse plant communities in tallgrass prairie

Fitzsimons, Michael S.; Miller, R. M.

doi:10.3732/ajb.0900237

Cited by 53 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(65 reference statements)

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“…There are both positive and negative soil community feedback activities playing crucial roles in the establishment of plant population structure. Some studies have demonstrated the inevitable role of certain endosymbionts (either arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi or diazotrophs) in the initial establishment of species in a new environment or community conversion due to positive feedback, but likely leading to exotic species dominance instead of establishing a diverse plant community (Rejmanek and Richardson, 1996;Larson and Siemann, 1998;Klironomos, 2002;Fitzsimons and Miller, 2010). However, this positive feedback will have a potential role to play in an agricultural system, where single monoculture crops are used instead of a diverse species population.…”

Section: Alteration In Root Secretionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In contrast, through negative feedback, the remnant whole-soil microbial communities from native ecosystems can help achieve the restoration of native plant communities. The plant diversity was well restored in a tallgrass prairie by microbia-mediated negative feedback from native plant soil (Fitzsimons and Miller, 2010). However, a separate study explored the microbial community structure and composition (Rosenzweig et al, 2013), and there were no connective studies between the soil microbiome and ecological restoration projects.…”

Section: Alteration In Root Secretionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are some interesting pieces of evidence showing the significant contribution of the soil microbiome to plant community dynamics through a negative feedback mechanism (Janzen-Connell effect), leading to the coexistence of strong and diverse competitors in close proximity sharing an ecological niche (Bever, 2003;Fitzsimons and Miller, 2010). This effect comes from the negative impact of soil-borne pathogens and predators, which limits the establishment of a diverse plant community, whereas the positive feedback is from host mutualists, thus delineating both effects originating at the multidimensional cost of virulence and mutualism (Bever et al, 2012).…”

Section: Alteration In Root Secretionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Functional Soil Microbiome: Belowground Solutions to an Aboveground Problem

2014

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There is considerable evidence in the literature that beneficial rhizospheric microbes can alter plant morphology, enhance plant growth, and increase mineral content. Of late, there is a surge to understand the impact of the microbiome on plant health. Recent research shows the utilization of novel sequencing techniques to identify the microbiome in model systems such as Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and maize (Zea mays). However, it is not known how the community of microbes identified may play a role to improve plant health and fitness. There are very few detailed studies with isolated beneficial microbes showing the importance of the functional microbiome in plant fitness and disease protection. Some recent work on the cultivated microbiome in rice (Oryza sativa) shows that a wide diversity of bacterial species is associated with the roots of field-grown rice plants. However, the biological significance and potential effects of the microbiome on the host plants are completely unknown. Work performed with isolated strains showed various genetic pathways that are involved in the recognition of host-specific factors that play roles in beneficial host-microbe interactions. The composition of the microbiome in plants is dynamic and controlled by multiple factors. In the case of the rhizosphere, temperature, pH, and the presence of chemical signals from bacteria, plants, and nematodes all shape the environment and influence which organisms will flourish. This provides a basis for plants and their microbiomes to selectively associate with one another. This Update addresses the importance of the functional microbiome to identify phenotypes that may provide a sustainable and effective strategy to increase crop yield and food security.

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Section: Alteration In Root Secretionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Alteration In Root Secretionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Alteration In Root Secretionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Functional Soil Microbiome: Belowground Solutions to an Aboveground Problem

2014

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“…Soil microbes have been considered as drivers of plant diversity and productivity in terrestrial ecosystems (van der Heijden et al 2008). Although much of the work on plant/microbe interactions has been carried out in herb-dominated ecosystems (e.g., McCulley and Burke 2004, Kaye et al 2005, Fitzsimons and Miller 2010, Marshall et al 2011), increasingly such studies are being carried out also in forests (Eisenlord and Zak 2010). Eisenhauer et al (2011) found significant positive relationships between soil biota and herb layer diversity of a temperate hardwood forest in Canada; however, they did so by assessing only microbial biomass and basal metabolism, neither examining microbial community composition nor employing multivariate ordination techniques.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in vegetation and microbial linkages with slope aspect in a montane temperate hardwood forest

Gilliam¹,

Hédl²,

Chudomelová³

et al. 2014

Ecosphere

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Abstract. Plant ecologists have long been interested in aspect-related contrasts of montane forests. Few studies have assessed correlation (linkage) among vegetation strata; fewer have included soil microbial communities. This study assessed contrasts in overstory, spring herbaceous, and soil microbial communities between northeast (NE) -and southwest (SW) -facing slopes in a second-growth West Virginia hardwood forest. We addressed three questions: (1) how do soil microbial, herbaceous layer, and overstory communities vary with slope aspect? (2) do forest vegetation strata and soil microbial communities exhibit linkage? (3) do biotic relationships and linkage vary with slope aspect? Moisture, organic matter, pH, soil NO 3 À , and net nitrification were significantly higher in NE soils; soil NH 4 þ was significantly higher in SW soils, and net N mineralization was virtually identical between aspects. Vegetation communities markedly differed between the slopes. Overall, 29 tree and 118 herbaceous species were encountered, with overstory dominated by sugar maple and sweet buckeye on NE slopes and white oak on SW slopes. The herb layer of the NE aspect was characterized by forbs with fewer graminoids, whereas higher diversity and importance of graminoids were typical for SW slopes. Important microbial groups for NE soils were Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; SW soils were dominated by fungal groups and Gram-negative bacteria associated with environmental stress. Linkage was detected between soil microbes and overstory on the NE slope and between soil microbes and herb layer on the SW slope. We suggest that higher net radiation to the SW slope has created more weathered soil conditions, selecting for microbial groups both adapted to, and maintaining, low N availability (bottom-up control). This has resulted in dominance of NO 3 À in less weathered NE soils and NH 4 þ in more weathered SW soils. Other differences arose from contrasts in humus formation, driven by overstory species composition and maintained by soil moisture (top-down control). Higher moisture of NE soils is more conducive to humus formation, supporting different microbial communities than the SW slopes with drier and often exposed mineral soil. Thus, plants and microbes can form biotic linkages in forest ecosystems which can vary among vegetation strata and with slope aspect.

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“…Similarly, field-scale experiments have shown that cultivated fields undergoing restoration can benefit greatly by inoculation with soil collected from established native prairie [49,50]. This technique first appeared in the literature at the time prairie restoration was nearly complete at Glacial Ridge, and therefore not attempted.…”

Section: Nearby Prairie Remnantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Talking Big: Lessons Learned from a 9000 Hectare Restoration in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie

et al. 2012

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Large tracts (>1000 ha) of prairie are essential to the sustainability of grassland ecosystem services, yet in many ecoregions only small fragments remain. Glacial Ridge is among the largest prairie-wetland restorations ever attempted. Started in 2000, the 9000 ha project in northwest Minnesota, USA, was initiated to reconnect 14 small tallgrass prairie remnants. In all, 15,200 ha of contiguous habitat comprise the project's direct accomplishment. We created a partnership of more than 30 organizations, filled 177 km of drainage ditch, restored 1240 ha of wetland, and replanted 8100 ha. Flooding has been mitigated, water quality improved, and native vegetation reestablished. Animals not documented for decades have again occupied the site. Despite these accomplishments, the project would have been unnecessary if the land had been purchased in the 1970s, prior to conversion to agriculture, at one-tenth the restoration cost. Our challenges related to funding, differences in partners' restoration philosophy, community concerns about floods and tax losses, difficulties in obtaining seed, and follow-up management of invasive weeds. We summarize the restoration process and share basic principles that will help others to develop large-scale prairie restoration projects in the future. OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2012, 4 3067

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The importance of soil microorganisms for maintaining diverse plant communities in tallgrass prairie

Cited by 53 publications

References 54 publications

Functional Soil Microbiome: Belowground Solutions to an Aboveground Problem

Functional Soil Microbiome: Belowground Solutions to an Aboveground Problem

Variation in vegetation and microbial linkages with slope aspect in a montane temperate hardwood forest

Talking Big: Lessons Learned from a 9000 Hectare Restoration in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie

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