Demystifying dominant species

Avolio, Meghan L.; Forrestel, Elisabeth J.; Chang, Cynthia; Pierre, Kimberly J. La; Burghardt, Karin T.; Smith, Melinda D.

doi:10.1111/nph.15789

Cited by 188 publications

(161 citation statements)

References 201 publications

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“…Here, the variable effects of drought on FDis ses can be explained by (a) mortality/senescence and reordering of dominant drought‐tolerant species (Smith, Knapp, & Collins, ) and (b) increases in the relative abundance of rare or subordinate drought escaping (or avoiding) species (Frenette‐Dussault et al, ; Kooyers, ). Species are considered dominant here if they have high abundance relative to other species in the community and have proportionate effects on ecosystem function (Avolio et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shifts in plant functional composition following long‐term drought in grasslands

et al. 2019

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Plant traits can provide unique insights into plant performance at the community scale. Functional composition, defined by both functional diversity and community‐weighted trait means (CWMs), can affect the stability of above‐ground net primary production (ANPP) in response to climate extremes. Further complexity arises, however, when functional composition itself responds to environmental change. The duration of climate extremes, such as drought, is expected to increase with rising global temperatures; thus, understanding the impacts of long‐term drought on functional composition and the corresponding effect that has on ecosystem function could improve predictions of ecosystem sensitivity to climate change. We experimentally reduced growing season precipitation by 66% across six temperate grasslands for 4 years and measured changes in three indices of functional diversity (functional dispersion, richness and evenness), community‐weighted trait means and phylogenetic diversity (PD). Specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and (at most sites) leaf turgor loss point (πTLP) were measured for species cumulatively representing ~90% plant cover at each site. Long‐term drought led to increased community functional dispersion in three sites, with negligible effects on the remaining sites. Species re‐ordering following the mortality/senescence of dominant species was the main driver of increased functional dispersion. The response of functional diversity was not consistently matched by changes in phylogenetic diversity. Community‐level drought strategies (assessed as CWMs) largely shifted from drought tolerance to drought avoidance and/or escape strategies, as evidenced by higher community‐weighted πTLP, SLA and LNC. Lastly, ecosystem drought sensitivity (i.e. relative reduction in ANPP in drought plots) was positively correlated with community‐weighted SLA and negatively correlated with functional diversity. Synthesis. Increased functional diversity following long‐term drought may stabilize ecosystem functioning in response to future drought. However, shifts in community‐scale drought strategies may increase ecosystem drought sensitivity, depending on the nature and timing of drought. Thus, our results highlight the importance of considering both functional diversity and abundance‐weighted traits means of plant communities as their collective effect may either stabilize or enhance ecosystem sensitivity to drought.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shifts in plant functional composition following long‐term drought in grasslands

et al. 2019

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“…Rare species typically have weak effects on ecosystem processes (except in the case of keystone species; Power et al, ). Common species have large effects on ecosystem processes if they are dominant in the community (Avolio et al, ), as predicted by the mass ratio hypothesis (Grime, ). Consequently, non‐random loss of rare versus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass ratio effects underlie ecosystem responses to environmental change

et al. 2020

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1. Random species loss has been shown experimentally to reduce ecosystem function, sometimes more than other anthropogenic environmental changes. Yet, controversy surrounds the importance of this finding for natural systems where species loss is non-random.2. We compiled data from 16 multi-year experiments located at a single native tallgrass prairie site. These experiments included responses to 11 anthropogenic environmental changes, as well as non-random biodiversity loss either the removal of uncommon/rare plant species or the most common (dominant) species.3. As predicted by the mass ratio hypothesis, loss of a dominant species had large impacts on productivity that were comparable to other anthropogenic drivers. In contrast, the loss of uncommon/rare species had small effects on productivity despite having the largest effects on species richness. 4. The anthropogenic drivers that had the largest effects on productivity nitrogen, irrigation, and fire experienced not only loss of species but also significant changes in the abundance and identity of dominant species. 5. Synthesis. These results suggest that mass ratio effects, rather than species loss per se, are an important determinant of ecosystem function with environmental change. K E Y W O R D S anthropogenic change, biodiversity, climate change, dominant species, ecosystem function and services, global change ecology, mass ratio hypothesis, non-random species loss 856 | Journal of Ecology SMITH eT al.

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“…While plant communities often have many common species, some ecosystems have pronounced inequality, producing one or a few dominant species. These dominant species are often responsible for the majority of ecosystem function (Avolio et al , 2019). For example, Andropogon gerardii and Bouteloua gracilis comprise up to 80% and 90% of production in tallgrass prairies and shortgrass steppes of the Central US, respectively (Milchunas et al , 1989; Smith & Knapp, 2003; Sasaki & Lauenroth, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and functional variation across regional and local scales is associated with climate in a foundational prairie grass

et al. 2020

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Summary Global change forecasts in ecosystems require knowledge of within‐species diversity, particularly of dominant species within communities. We assessed site‐level diversity and capacity for adaptation in Bouteloua gracilis, the dominant species in the Central US shortgrass steppe biome. We quantified genetic diversity from 17 sites across regional scales, north to south from New Mexico to South Dakota, and local scales in northern Colorado. We also quantified phenotype and plasticity within and among sites and determined the extent to which phenotypic diversity in B. gracilis was correlated with climate. Genome sequencing indicated pronounced population structure at the regional scale, and local differences indicated that gene flow and/or dispersal may also be limited. Within a common environment, we found evidence of genetic divergence in biomass‐related phenotypes, plasticity, and phenotypic variance, indicating functional divergence and different adaptive potential. Phenotypes were differentiated according to climate, chiefly median Palmer Hydrological Drought Index and other aridity metrics. Our results indicate conclusive differences in genetic variation, phenotype, and plasticity in this species and suggest a mechanism explaining variation in shortgrass steppe community responses to global change. This analysis of B. gracilis intraspecific diversity across spatial scales will improve conservation and management of the shortgrass steppe ecosystem in the future.

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Demystifying dominant species

Cited by 188 publications

References 201 publications

Shifts in plant functional composition following long‐term drought in grasslands

Shifts in plant functional composition following long‐term drought in grasslands

Mass ratio effects underlie ecosystem responses to environmental change

Genetic and functional variation across regional and local scales is associated with climate in a foundational prairie grass

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