Evolution of nutrient acquisition: when space matters

Bornhofen, Stefan; Boudsocq, Simon; Raynaud, Xavier; Loeuille, Nicolas

doi:10.1111/1365-2435.12494

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…In the same habitat, there is competition among different plants in resources, how to reasonably obtain the related resources and minimize the restriction of a certain environmental factor on its growth is an important survival strategy for plants (Barot et al, 2014;Sebastien et al, 2016;Falster et al, 2017). Based on the correlation analysis of water sources, stoichiometry, and the salt content between soil and plant, the survival strategies of three types of halophytes were found.…”

Section: Correlations Of Water Salt and Stoichiometry In Plant And Soil Respectivelymentioning

confidence: 99%

Halophytes Differ in Their Adaptation to Soil Environment in the Yellow River Delta: Effects of Water Source, Soil Depth, and Nutrient Stoichiometry

Tian

Sun

2021

Front. Plant Sci.

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The Yellow River Delta is water, salt, and nutrient limited and hence the growth of plants depend on the surrounding factors. Understanding the water, salt, and stoichiometry of plants and soil systems from the perspective of different halophytes is useful for exploring their survival strategies. Thus, a comprehensive investigation of water, salt, and stoichiometry characteristics in different halophytes and soil systems was carried out in this area. Results showed that the oxygen isotopes (δ18O) of three halophytes were significantly different (P < 0.05). Phragmites communis primarily used rainwater and soil water, while Suaeda salsa and Limonium bicolor mainly used soil water. The contributions of rainwater to three halophytes (P. communis, S. salsa, and L. bicolor) were 50.9, 9.1, and 18.5%, respectively. The carbon isotope (δ13C) analysis showed that P. communis had the highest water use efficiency, followed by S. salsa and L. bicolor. Na+ content in the aboveground and underground parts of different halophytes was all followed an order of S. salsa > L. bicolor > P. communis. C content and N:P in leaves of P. communis and N content of leaves in L. bicolor were significantly positively correlated with Na+. Redundancy analysis (RDA) between plants and each soil layer showed that there were different correlation patterns in the three halophytes. P. communis primarily used rainwater and soil water with low salt content in 60–80 cm, while the significant correlation indexes of C:N:P stoichiometry between plant and soil were mainly in a 20–40 cm soil layer. In S. salsa, the soil layer with the highest contribution of soil water and the closest correlation with the C:N:P stoichiometry of leaves were both in 10–20 cm layers, while L. bicolor were mainly in 40–80 cm soil layers. So, the sources of soil water and nutrient of P. communis were located in different soil layers, while there were spatial consistencies of soils in water and nutrient utilization of S. salsa and L. bicolor. These results are beneficial to a comprehensive understanding of the adaptability of halophytes in the Yellow River Delta.

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Section: Correlations Of Water Salt and Stoichiometry In Plant And Soil Respectivelymentioning

confidence: 99%

Halophytes Differ in Their Adaptation to Soil Environment in the Yellow River Delta: Effects of Water Source, Soil Depth, and Nutrient Stoichiometry

Tian

Sun

2021

Front. Plant Sci.

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“…Here, we used two maize genotypes Huangmaya (HMY) and Xianyu335 (XY335) that had been selected in low and high soil fertility environments, respectively. Due to the distinct selection environments, the two genotypes may have contrasting P-capture strategies (Barot et al 2016): species from nutrient-rich habitats have high root proliferation capacity, especially in the P-patch zones (Grime 1994), whereas species from nutrient-poor habitats may have the capacity to adapt to the P-limited conditions with functional root traits (such as enhanced rhizosphere processes). The two maize genotypes were grown in monoculture and mixture, with homogeneous or heterogeneous P supply as inorganic or organic forms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competition between Zea mays genotypes with different root morphological and physiological traits is dependent on phosphorus forms and supply patterns

Zhang

Wang

et al. 2018

Plant Soil

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Background and Aims Each genotype within species has a particular combination of root morphological and/or physiological traits to adapt to a phosphorus-limited environment, which can lead to its unique plant fitness and competitive ability. Yet, how the various phosphorus environments affect the competition between genotypes remains obscure.Methods Two maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes (XY335 and HMY, bred in nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor environments, respectively) were grown in monoculture and mixture in phosphorus-limited soil with homogeneous or heterogeneous supply patterns and inorganic (P inorg ) or organic phosphorus (P org ) forms. ResultsIn the homogeneous P inorg and P org environments, XY335 had higher root length and surface area, but lower mycorrhizal colonization and the acid phosphatase and phytase activities in the rhizosphere, than HMY. In the heterogeneous phosphorus environments, XY335 had higher root proliferation than HMY. The root trait divergence influenced the competition in the mixture: XY335 had a competitive advantage compared to HMY under heterogeneous phosphorus conditions, whereas HMY exhibited a stronger competitive ability in the homogeneous phosphorus treatments; these reverse trends were more significant in the P org than P inorg treatments. ConclusionsThe results suggested the importance of root physiological traits in homogeneous phosphorus-limited soil environments, whereas P acquisition strategy based on the morphological root traits favours heterogeneous phosphorus supply.

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“…This is more in agreement with the Lamto savanna case, as grasses are known to inhibit nitrification while trees stimulate it (Lata et al, 2004; Srikanthasamy et al, 2018). The limitation of N in the Lamto savanna (Abbadie et al, 2006) has induced the evolution of different strategies: a conservative strategy for grasses through the BNI capacity and an acquisitive strategy for trees through the stimulation of nitrification (Barot et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, tree clumps are generally considered as nutrient‐rich patches (Mordelet et al, 1993) and this higher soil fertility under the tree canopy is partly due to the horizontal soil exploration by tree roots in the open, as it improves nutrient transfers between the open and tree clumps (Konaré et al, 2021). Although spatial heterogeneity tends to foster niche partitioning (Amarasekare, 2003), horizontal fluxes can minimize the impact of this heterogeneity by homogenizing the availability of NH 4 + and NO 3 − between the two patches (Barot et al, 2014, 2015). Therefore, this could be influential for predictions of tree–grass coexistence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial heterogeneity of nitrification contributes to tree–grass coexistence in West African savannas

Konaré,

Koffi,

Boudsocq

et al. 2023

Journal of Ecology

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In savannas, the coexistence between trees and grasses is determined by complex mechanisms based on water partitioning and disturbances. But little is known about the contribution of other resources, such as soil nitrogen (N). In West African savannas, nitrification inhibition by grasses and nitrification stimulation by trees create spatial heterogeneity in nitrification fluxes and N stocks. Savanna trees can also extend part of their roots in the surrounding open area to absorb N. To investigate the role of the spatial heterogeneity of nitrification in tree–grass coexistence, we used a two‐patch model that simulates N dynamics between an open patch (without trees) and a tree clump patch (trees with grasses under their canopy). The open patch was characterized by a low nitrification rate, while the tree clump patch was characterized by a high nitrification rate. Both patches were connected through horizontal fluxes due to soil horizontal exploration by tree roots. We tested coexistence for different spatial tree distributions, as they are known to strongly influence savanna dynamics. Our results show that the spatial heterogeneity of nitrification induces spatial partitioning between ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) promoting tree–grass coexistence. As nitrification inhibition by grasses leads to high NH4+ availability in the open, the possibilities of coexistence are optimized when trees have different preferences in the open versus under their canopy. Thus, tree–grass coexistence is observed when grasses prefer NH4+, while trees prefer NH4+ in the open and NO3− under their canopy. Contrary to random tree distribution, tree clumping enhances tree–grass coexistence. Intraspecific aggregation strengthens the effect of spatial heterogeneity, which decreases interspecific competition and favours tree–grass coexistence. On the contrary, increasing the surface explored by tree roots in the open tends to increase tree–grass competition. This enhances the competitive ability of trees for N acquisition and consequently favours tree invasion. Synthesis. This study shows that this new coexistence mechanism based on mineral N partitioning into NH4+ and NO3− can be determinant in the functioning of West African humid savannas. This mechanism likely interacts with mechanisms based on disturbances, but such interactions should be studied using new models.

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Evolution of nutrient acquisition: when space matters

Cited by 11 publications

References 58 publications

Halophytes Differ in Their Adaptation to Soil Environment in the Yellow River Delta: Effects of Water Source, Soil Depth, and Nutrient Stoichiometry

Halophytes Differ in Their Adaptation to Soil Environment in the Yellow River Delta: Effects of Water Source, Soil Depth, and Nutrient Stoichiometry

Competition between Zea mays genotypes with different root morphological and physiological traits is dependent on phosphorus forms and supply patterns

Spatial heterogeneity of nitrification contributes to tree–grass coexistence in West African savannas

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