Abstract. The ability of some plant species to dominate communities in new biogeographical ranges has been attributed to an innate higher competitive ability and release from co-evolved specialist enemies. Specifically, invasive success in the new range might be explained by release from biotic negative soilfeedbacks, which control potentially dominant species in their native range. To test this hypothesis, we grew individuals from sixteen phylogenetically paired European grassland species that became either invasive or naturalized in new ranges, in either sterilized soil or in sterilized soil with unsterilized soil inoculum from their native home range. We found that although the native members of invasive species generally performed better than those of naturalized species, these native members of invasive species also responded more negatively to native soil inoculum than did the native members of naturalized species. This supports our hypothesis that potentially invasive species in their native range are held in check by negative soil-feedbacks. However, contrary to expectation, negative soil-feedbacks in potentially invasive species were not much increased by interspecific competition. There was no significant variation among families between invasive and naturalized species regarding their feedback response (negative vs. neutral). Therefore, we conclude that the observed negative soil feedbacks in potentially invasive species may be quite widespread in European families of typical grassland species.Key words: biotic interactions; enemy release; invasive species; native range; naturalized species; plant invasions; plant-soil feedbacks; soil inoculation; soil sterilization.
The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of predicted N use efficiency (PNUE) and N losses (PNL) as proxies of N use and loss for Holstein cows. Furthermore, we have assessed approximate genetic correlations between PNUE, PNL, and dairy production, health, longevity, and conformation traits. These traits are considered important in many countries and are currently evaluated by the International Bull Evaluation Service (Interbull). The values of PNUE and PNL were obtained by using the combined milk midinfrared (MIR) spectrum, parity, and milk yield-based prediction equations on test-day MIR records with days in milk (DIM) between 5 and 50 d. After editing, the final data set comprised 46,163 records of 21,462 cows from 154 farms in 5 countries. Each trait was divided into primiparous and multiparous (including second to fifth parity) groups. Genetic parameters and breeding values were estimated by using a multitrait (2-trait, 2-parity classes) repeatability model. Herd-year-season of calving, DIM, age of calving, and parity were used as fixed effects. Random effects were defined as parity (within-parity permanent environment), nongenetic cow (across-parity permanent environment), additive genetic animal, and residual effects. The estimated heritability of PNUE and PNL in the first and later parity were 0.13, 0.12, 0.14, and 0.13, and the repeatability values were 0.49, 0.40, 0.55, and 0.43, respectively. The estimated approximate genetic correlations between PNUE and PNL were negative and high (from −0.89 to −0.53), whereas the phenotypic correlations were also negative but relatively low (from −0.45 to −0.11). At a level of reliability of more than 0.30 for all novel traits, a total of 504 bulls born after 1995 had also publishable Interbull multiple-trait across-country estimated breeding values (EBV). The approximate genetic correlations between PNUE and the other 30 traits of interest, estimated as corrected correlations between EBV of bulls, ranged from −0.46 (udder depth) to 0.47 (milk yield). Obtained results showed the complex genetic relationship between efficiency, production, and other traits: for instance, more efficient cows seem to give more milk, which is linked to deeper udders, but seem to have lower health, fertility, and longevity. Additionally, the approximate genetic correlations between PNL, lower values representing less loss of N, and the 30 other traits, were from −0.32 (angularity) to 0.57 (direct calving ease). Even if further research is needed, our results provided preliminary evidence that the PNUE and PNL traits used as proxies could be included in genetic improvement programs in Holstein cows and could help their management.
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