Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community

Rolhauser, Andrés G.; Pucheta, Eduardo

doi:10.1111/jvs.12335

Cited by 29 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…5b). These results are in line with our manipulative experiment and other studies and meta-analyses (Liancourt et al 2005, He et al 2012, Rolhauser and Pucheta 2016. They could indicate a greater relative importance of positive S shrub effects than that of negative ones on the distribution and persistence of less drought tolerant grasses in harsh environments.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Do species' strategies and type of stress predict net positive effects in an arid ecosystem?

Graff

Aguiar

2017

Ecology

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A proposed refinement to the stress-gradient hypothesis requires consideration of the strategies of the interacting species and the characteristics of the stress factors. While the strength and direction of these interactions can be predicted for different ecosystems, this idea remains largely untested in the field. We performed a manipulative field experiment complemented with a descriptive study to test the predictions in a natural setting that represents the extreme end of a precipitation gradient. There, wind driven desiccation and water availability are the main stressors (non-resource and resource-based stresses, respectively). We evaluated the interaction between the shrub and grasses that are dominant in the Patagonian steppe. The species had differences in morpho-functional traits and drought tolerance that fit into the C-S axis of Grime's strategies. We experimentally separated root zones to limit direct competition for soil moisture and reduce the resource-based stress on grasses. We also manipulated the distance to shrubs to evaluate non-resource stress amelioration by canopies (e.g., sun and wind) on grasses. Finally, we evaluated the distribution of naturally established C and S grasses in the neighborhood of C and S shrubs to infer process-pattern relationships. Our growth data coincide to a large degree to the predictions. We found positive effects on the growth of beneficiaries when stress was non-resource based and when strategies differed (i.e., C -S and S -C ). We also found strong negative effects when the abiotic stress was driven by water, particularly on C grasses. Additionally, shrubs only increased the survival of grasses when strategies differed (i.e., C -S and S -C ). Our manipulative and descriptive study supported previous results that showed that stress-tolerant species are important for the persistence of competitive species at high stress. While the applicability and generality of these predictions remains to be tested with more field experiments, some ecological factors, such as stress types and species traits, can explain much of the variation in how dominant shrubs and grasses interact in this extreme arid environment. Moreover, this framework could be extended to specifically test the importance of facilitation under different levels of stress.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Do species' strategies and type of stress predict net positive effects in an arid ecosystem?

Graff

Aguiar

2017

Ecology

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“…While other experimental studies have focused on shrub effects on herbs (e.g. Liczner, Sotomayor, Filazzola, & Lortie, ; Rolhauser & Pucheta, ) or short‐term seedling survival (Leiva, Mancilla‐Leytón, & Martín Vicente, ; Sthultz, Gehring, & Whitham, ), our data provide strong experimental evidence of the long‐term facilitative effect of shrubs on other woody species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Shrub facilitation drives tree establishment in a semiarid fog‐dependent ecosystem

Macek

Schöb

Núñez‐Ávila

et al. 2017

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions:The exceptional occurrence of tall rain forest patches on foggy coastal mountaintops, surrounded by extensive xerophytic shrublands, suggests an important role of plant-plant interactions in the origin and persistence of these patches in semiarid Chile. We asked whether facilitation by shrubs can explain the growth and survival of rain forest tree species, and whether shrub effects depend on the identity of the shrub species itself, the drought tolerance of the tree species and the position of shrubs in regard to wind direction. Location: Open area-shrubland-forest matrix, Fray Jorge Forest National Park, Chile. Methods: We recorded survival after 12 years of a ~3600 tree saplings plantation (originally ~30-cm tall individuals) of Aextoxicon punctatum, Myrceugenia correifolia and Drimys winteri placed outside forests, beneath the shrub Baccharis vernalis, and in open (shrub-free) areas. We assessed the effects of neighbouring shrubs and soil humidity on survival and growth along a gradient related to the direction of fog movement. Results: B. vernalis had a clear facilitative effect on tree establishment and survival since, after ~12 years, saplings only survived beneath the shrub canopy. Long-term survival strongly depended on tree species identity, drought tolerance and position along the soil moisture gradient, with higher survival of A. punctatum (>35%) and M.correifolia (>14%) at sites on wind-and fog-exposed shrubland areas. Sites occupied by the shrub Aristeguietia salvia were unsuitable for trees, presumably due to drier conditions than under B. vernalis. Conclusions:Interactions between shrubs and fog-dependent tree species in dry areas revealed a strong, long-lasting facilitation effect on planted tree's survival and growth.Shrubs acted as benefactors, providing sites suitable for tree growth. Sapling mortality in the shrubland interior was caused by lower soil moisture, the consequence of lower fog loads in the air and thus insufficient facilitation. While B. vernalis was a key ecosystem engineer (nurse) and intercepted fog water that dripped to trees planted underneath, drier sites with A. salvia were unsuitable for trees. Consequently, nurse effects related to water input are strongly site and species specific, with facilitation by shrubs providing a plausible explanation for the initiation of forest patches in this semi-arid landscape.Nomenclature: Marticorena et al. (2001) Fray Jorge Forest National Park is located in the semi-arid zone of the Chilean coast (30°38′S, 71°40′W). Annual rainfall averages 127 mm , with 95% of the rain falling in the austral winter (i.e. K E Y W O R D SAextoxicon punctatum, Baccharis vernalis, drought stress gradient, ecosystem engineers, facilitation, fragmented rain forest, landscape patchiness, plant-plant interactions, succession

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“…). Recent attempts to examine the interaction outcomes as a function of plant strategies have found that plants with acquisitive attributes such as high SLA and LA (Rolhauser & Pucheta ) or taller plants at maturity (Butterfield & Briggs ; Soliveres et al . ) are more liable to be involved in facilitative interactions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introducing resprouters to enhance Mediterranean forest resilience: importance of functional traits to select species according to a gradient of pine density

Gavinet

Prévosto

Fernandez

2016

Journal of Applied Ecology

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International audienceResprouter species are important for Mediterranean ecosystem resilience, but they are scarce in landscapes dominated by pioneer pines. Sound knowledge of resprouter seedling functional responses and establishment success across different pine habitats would help guide forest restoration efforts. Four broadleaved resprouter species, that is two shrubs - Arbutus unedo and Pistacia terebinthus - and two trees - Fraxinus ornus and Sorbus domestica - were planted under an experimentally created gradient of pine cover from totally open conditions to dense pine cover. Seedling survival and growth were monitored for 5years. Phenological, physiological and morphological traits were measured to gain insight into the mechanisms of pine-seedling interaction. Interaction outcomes varied according to species identity, pine cover treatment and time. Light-to-moderate pine cover induced greater height growth and little or no effects on diameter and survival of the two trees. Competition was always detected for shrubs, whereas competition and facilitation were noted for trees. Within pine stands, negative interactions increased with tree cover, making dense stands the most limiting. Interactions were only detectable after 2-3years, but increased in intensity with time. Functional responses to increasing pine cover indicated a seedling strategy of carbon gain optimization in the shade (increased specific leaf area and leaf area, decreased leaf dry matter content), particularly in tree species seedlings. Increasing pine cover induced higher water stress, but lower photochemical stress. The deciduous species had a longer vegetation season under pine canopies, whereas the evergreen shrub Arbutus unedo showed a lower polycyclism rate and flower production.Synthesis and applications. Moderate pine cover facilitates the establishment of deciduous trees at the expense of shrubs. This pattern can be attributed to a higher shade tolerance of the trees than the shrubs combined with a low tolerance of trees to photoinhibition. We therefore recommend using evergreen shrubs for the restoration of open land and high-specific-leaf-area deciduous trees for pine stand diversification. However, in dense forests, thinning is needed to increase light availability prior to seedling introduction. Moderate pine cover facilitates the establishment of deciduous trees at the expense of shrubs. This pattern can be attributed to a higher shade tolerance of the trees than the shrubs combined with a low tolerance of trees to photoinhibition. We therefore recommend using evergreen shrubs for the restoration of open land and high-specific-leaf-area deciduous trees for pine stand diversification. However, in dense forests, thinning is needed to increase light availability prior to seedling introduction

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Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community

Cited by 29 publications

References 42 publications

Do species' strategies and type of stress predict net positive effects in an arid ecosystem?

Do species' strategies and type of stress predict net positive effects in an arid ecosystem?

Shrub facilitation drives tree establishment in a semiarid fog‐dependent ecosystem

Introducing resprouters to enhance Mediterranean forest resilience: importance of functional traits to select species according to a gradient of pine density

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