Dominant plant species shift their nitrogen uptake patterns in response to nutrient enrichment caused by a fungal fairy in an alpine meadow

Xu, Xingliang; Ouyang, Hao; Cao, Guangmin; Richter, Andreas; Wanek, Wolfgang; Kuzyakov, Yakov

doi:10.1007/s11104-010-0662-1

Cited by 78 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…5). The proportion was the same as the findings in two temperate grassland species (10 to 32 %) (Weigelt et al 2005) and in alpine meadow (2 to 24 %) (Xu et al 2011a). However, this result was lower than that of the temperate grassland (32 to 52 %) (Bardgett et al 2003) and alpine wetlands (20 to 40 %) (Gao et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Nitrogen acquisition strategies used by Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis in temperate steppes

Tian

Ouyang

et al. 2016

Biol Fertil Soils

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Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis are two important plant species of temperate steppes in Inner Mongolia of North China. They differ in their life forms, e.g., L. chinensis is a type of rhizomatous clonal grass, whereas S. grandis is a type of tussock grass. Here we hypothesize that both plant species possess distinct nitrogen (N) acquisition strategies for their growth and survival. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a four-factor experimental field study using a short-term (three hours) 15 N labeling technique in two plant communities mono-dominated by L. chinensis and S. grandis of the temperate steppes over two months (July and August) and at two soil depths. In both of communities, L. chinensis and S. grandis directly absorbed all three of the common forms of N, including substantial portions of N-derived from glycine (organic and inorganic forms) ranged from 2.7 to 17.8 %, although they absorbed more inorganic N. Nitrogen uptake rates showed significant effects of communities, months, soil depths, and N forms. The uptake rate was higher in August than in July and at 0-5 cm than at 5-15 cm soil depths. L. chinensis and S. grandis showed different preference on N form across months. L. chinensis shifted its uptake pattern from more nitrate (NO 3 − ) in July to more ammonium (NH 4 + ) in August, whereas S. grandis took up comparable NH 4 + and NO 3 − in both months. In general, L. chinensis showed a more flexible N acquisition strategy and S. grandis performed a more concentrated and relatively more stable N acquisition strategy. The distinct N acquisition strategies used by L. chinensis and S. grandis varied greatly across different months and soil depths. These findings are more helpful in further understanding the plasticity of nutrient utilization issues of different plant species in response to N-limited conditions of grassland ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Nitrogen acquisition strategies used by Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis in temperate steppes

Tian

Ouyang

et al. 2016

Biol Fertil Soils

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“…Soil glycine concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (Waters 515, Waters Inc., USA) on the same extracts (Näsholm et al 1987). (McKane et al 2002;Xu et al 2011). The contribution of each N form was estimated as its percentage of total uptake for all three N forms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Clarifying this question will be beneficial for a better understanding of the consequence of its evolutionary and ecological signifNumerous studies have suggested that plants have various foraging strategies to access patchy resources more efficiently, e.g., spreading their roots through different soil layers to maximize access to resources (Cahill et al 2010) or associating with microbial symbionts to access different forms of nutrients (Reynolds et al 2003;Bever et al 2010;Simonsen et al 2014). Such strategies have been observed for interspecific pairings which often reduce the competition through consuming different nitrogen (N) forms (McKane et al 2002;Xu et al 2011). This is called Bresource partitioning^ (Cheplick and Kane 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under N-limited conditions, plants have to compete strongly for available N for survival. Numerous studies have suggested that N partitioning contributes to species coexistence in grasslands (McKane et al 2002;Xu et al 2011;Gao et al 2014). Therefore, N is an ideal nutrient used to examine root interactions when the same species plants grow together.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Kin selection or resource partitioning for growing with siblings: implications from measurements of nitrogen uptake

et al. 2015

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Aims Kin selection and resource partitioning have been proposed to explain interactions between plants growing with siblings (from the same mother). These mechanisms have been examined by measurements of fitness, phenotype or allocation traits, but have seldom been tested with N acquisition traits. Methods We determine if kin selection and resource partitioning are occurring using two annual species (Sorghum vulgare and Glycine max) with a short-term 15 N experiment. A mixture of ammonium, nitrate and glycine (1:1:1) was injected into soils around plants after they grew for 47 days. Only one nitrogen (N) form was 15 N labeled in each labeling solution. Results S. vulgare increased root allocation when growing with strangers (from the different mother), but not increase their N uptake. Although G. max strangers did not increase their root allocation, they significantly increased uptake of total N and the most abundant N form (nitrate) and decreased uptake of the least abundant (glycine). Conclusions G. max siblings reduced competition due to chemical resource partitioning while S. vulgare showed kin selection. We concluded that processes related to kin selection and resource partitioning can occur simultaneously, resulting in different competitive ability. These findings can improve our understanding of plants growing with siblings or strangers.

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“…Some of studies showed that in short-term experiments, microbes took up more 15 NH 4 + and 15 NO 3 − than plants in some of ecosystems such as in the arctic tundra (Marion et al 1982;Schimel and Chapin 1996) and annual grasslands (Jackson et al 1989), and some of studies proved that plants took up more inorganic N than soil microbes (Kaye and Hart 1997;Jaeger et al 1999;Schimel and Bennett 2004;Bardgett et al 2003;Harrison et al 2007Harrison et al , 2008. In the past three decades, organic N in the form of amino acids were found that could be directly acquired by plants from the soil, which is a significant portion of the total soluble N pool and an important N source for plants of alpine and subalpine grasslands (Raab et al 1996(Raab et al , 1999Owen and Jones 2001;Xu et al 2006Xu et al , 2011aGao et al 2014). A large number of studies conducted in the field or laboratory have emphasized on the utilization of available N by plants and microbes (Schimel and Chapin 1996;Bardgett et al 2002Bardgett et al , 2003Kuzyakov and Xu 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen competition between three dominant plant species and microbes in a temperate grassland

et al. 2016

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Background and aims To test the hypothesis that dominant plant species could acquire different nitrogen (N) forms over a spatial scale and they also have the ability to compete for available N with microbes. Conclusions Dominant plant species in the temperate grassland have different patterns in acquisition of N added to soil in organic form and absorption of inorganic N, and microbes were more effectively than plants at competing for N in a short-term period.

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Dominant plant species shift their nitrogen uptake patterns in response to nutrient enrichment caused by a fungal fairy in an alpine meadow

Abstract: Niche partitioning by time,

Cited by 78 publications

References 49 publications

Nitrogen acquisition strategies used by Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis in temperate steppes

Nitrogen acquisition strategies used by Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis in temperate steppes

Kin selection or resource partitioning for growing with siblings: implications from measurements of nitrogen uptake

Nitrogen competition between three dominant plant species and microbes in a temperate grassland

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