A long-term experimental test of the dynamic equilibrium model of species diversity

Laliberté, Étienne; Lambers, Hans; Norton, David A.; Tylianakis, Jason M.; Huston, Michael A.

doi:10.1007/s00442-012-2417-6

Cited by 26 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…In addition, our study showed stronger evidence for limiting similarity under lower grazing intensity, where competition for light is also expected to be higher because grazing can suppress competitive dominance (Grime ; Laliberté et al. ). Our results are consistent with those of Mason et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

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Contrasting effects of productivity and disturbance on plant functional diversity at local and metacommunity scales

Laliberté

Norton

Scott³

2013

J Vegetation Science

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Questions Is trait convergence more intense when soil resource availability and disturbance constrain productivity and limit above‐ground competition? Do the effects of productivity and disturbance on functional diversity differ between the local and metacommunity scales? Location Semi‐arid grasslands in New Zealand (43°59′ S, 170°27′ E). Methods We measured trait convergence and divergence in grasslands along gradients of primary productivity and disturbance at local (i.e. 1 m × 1 m) and metacommunity (8 m × 50 m) scales, using long‐term (27‐yr) manipulations of soil resource availability and grazing intensity. We compared trait dispersion metrics to those expected under different null models. Results At the metacommunity scale, we found stronger trait convergence with increasing productivity and grazing intensity, where all short, slow‐growing species were excluded from the potential species pool. However, once this broad‐scale filter on species pool was taken into account, we found that at the local scale, abundance‐weighted functional dispersion of co‐occurring species was stronger than expected under our null model, thereby suggesting limiting similarity. Moreover, trait divergence became stronger at higher productivity and lower grazing intensity, where size‐asymmetric competition for light is likely to have been more intense. Conclusions At the metacommunity scale, environmental filtering led to species with particular traits being excluded from the species pool. In contrast, at the local community scale where individuals interact, there was evidence of limiting similarity. Our results suggest that environmental filtering and limiting similarity are not mutually exclusive and jointly determine community structure, but can operate at different spatial scales.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…Grazing intensity was measured as the proportion of ANPP consumed (or destroyed) by sheep over the 18‐mo sampling period (Laliberté & Tylianakis ; Laliberté et al. ). Details of these measurements are available elsewhere (Laliberté & Tylianakis ; Laliberté et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting effects of productivity and disturbance on plant functional diversity at local and metacommunity scales

Laliberté

Norton

Scott³

2013

J Vegetation Science

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“…More recently, Laliberté et al. () showed consistent changes in species richness with DEM predictions using a long‐term factorial manipulation of soil resources and grazing intensity. However, the same patterns do not necessarily hold for other diversity indices since they may not all be driven by the same underlying processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…In addition, thick stubble and litter layers associated with quick regrowth may prevent individual recruitment in productive grasslands (Laliberté et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Complex plant community responses to modifications of disturbance and nutrient availability in productive permanent grasslands

Louault¹,

Pottier²,

Note³

et al. 2017

J Vegetation Science

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Question Do the effects of grazing and fertilization on taxonomic and functional diversity follow the dynamic equilibrium model? Location Long‐term permanent upland grasslands, Massif‐central, France. Methods Over 8 yr, we monitored vegetation changes in 24 experimental plots in two productive grasslands after modification of grazing intensity (including abandonment) or fertilization regime (including cessation of fertilization). Botanical surveys and plant trait measurements (LDMC, SLA and reproductive plant height) were performed within each plot. We analysed taxonomic responses using PRC and functional responses from observed temporal changes of CWM traits and Rao index. Results Grazing abandonment led to significant reductions in species richness and functional convergence toward taller plants with higher LDMC in both grasslands. Intermediate and high grazing pressure did not differ but showed strong variations in taxonomic diversity between years. Changes in functional vegetation structure were mostly driven by species turnover and weakly influenced by intraspecific trait variability. Community responses to modified fertilization regime were more complex, with strong differences between the two mown grasslands. Species richness did not change significantly although species evenness decreased in the highly fertilized treatments (NPK), particularly in the most productive grassland. Here, functional changes were largely driven by intraspecific trait variability. Both functional divergence and convergence were found for different traits. In NPK, grassland assemblages converged toward taller plants while SLA diverged. Conclusions In our upland study system the different components of grassland diversity responded differently, in terms of direction or rate of change and mostly under extreme modifications of management. Following abandonment, the observed patterns suggest a prominent and consistent role of competitive exclusion, as expected under the DEM. However, our findings also suggest the role of additional processes, especially the importance of niche differentiation, for our mown grassland under NPK. Timing and net effects of these combined assembly drivers were sensitive to even slight differences in initial productivity and species composition.

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Experimental disturbance and productivity gradients drive community diversity in aquatic mesocosms

Hart

Jenkins

2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Combined effects of disturbance and productivity on ecological diversity have been considered for decades as the dynamic equilibrium model (DEM) but are rarely tested together. Instead, most studies focus on either the intermediate disturbance hypothesis or sometimes the intermediate productivity hypothesis. In addition, most analyses of disturbance and productivity effects have relied on nonexperimental patterns, limited sample sizes, inaccurate proxies for productivity, and/or simple measures of diversity. The DEM operates at regional and local scales; here, we conducted a year‐long experiment at local scales using submersed aquatic vegetation in outdoor mesocosms with a factorial combination of physical disturbance and productivity treatments. We evaluated diversity in several ways, directly measured productivity, and compared alternative hypotheses using model selection. The DEM was supported for effective diversity; both productivity and disturbance effects were clear, though productivity effects were stronger. Other diversity measures for the simple communities in the mesocosms did not clearly reflect treatments. The DEM is a valuable general framework for understanding disturbance and productivity effects on ecological systems and is made more general by minor conceptual adjustments here.

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A long-term experimental test of the dynamic equilibrium model of species diversity

Cited by 26 publications

References 58 publications

Contrasting effects of productivity and disturbance on plant functional diversity at local and metacommunity scales

Contrasting effects of productivity and disturbance on plant functional diversity at local and metacommunity scales

Complex plant community responses to modifications of disturbance and nutrient availability in productive permanent grasslands

Experimental disturbance and productivity gradients drive community diversity in aquatic mesocosms

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