Introduced ungulate herbivore alters soil processes after fire

Stritar, Michelle L.; Schweitzer, Jennifer A.; Hart, Stephen C.; Bailey, Joseph K.

doi:10.1007/s10530-009-9624-z

Cited by 32 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…We quantified soil pH, texture (i.e., particle size), microbial biomass carbon (C) and N pools, and extracellular enzyme activity for each of the field soils following protocols recently utilized in Stritar et al (2010;Appendix: Table A1). Air-dried soil from each site was used to determine soil pH using the 0.1 mol/L CaCl 2 method (Hendershot et al 1993); additionally, we measured particle sizes of the field soils by determining soil texture using the hydrometer method (Gee and Bauder 1986).…”

Section: Seed Population and Soil Collectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil biota drive expression of genetic variation and development of population‐specific feedbacks in an invasive plant

Felker‐Quinn

Bailey

Schweitzer

2011

Ecology

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Abstract. Invasive plant species alter soils in ways that may affect the success of subsequent generations, creating plant-soil feedbacks. Ailanthus altissima is an invasive tree introduced two centuries ago to North America. We hypothesized that geographically distinct populations of A. altissima have established feedbacks specific to their local environment, due to soil communities cultivated by A. altissima. We collected seeds and soils from three populations in the eastern United States, and in the greenhouse reciprocally planted all families in all collected soils as well as in a control mixed soil, and in soils that had been irradiated for sterilization. There were positive plant-soil feedbacks for two populations in the live field-collected soils, but strong negative feedbacks for the third population. There were no population-level performance differences or feedbacks in the sterilized population locale soils, supporting a soil biotic basis for feedbacks and for the expression of genetic differentiation in A. altissima. If populations of Ailanthus altissima vary in the extent to which they benefit from and promote these plant-soil biota feedbacks, the interaction between invader and invaded community may be more important in determining the course of invasion than are the characteristics of either alone.

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Section: Seed Population and Soil Collectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil biota drive expression of genetic variation and development of population‐specific feedbacks in an invasive plant

Felker‐Quinn

Bailey

Schweitzer

2011

Ecology

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“…Utilizing the elk exclosures described above in P. tremuloides ecosystem in northern Arizona, Stritar et al (2009) found that reductions in plant biomass due to herbivory (and possibly trampling by elk) resulted in significant differences in soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in soils, across a time since fire chronosequence. When averaged over sites, pools of organic C, total N and microbial biomass N were 22, 23 and 37% higher (respectively) in the absence of herbivory (i.e.…”

Section: Indirect Effects Of Herbivory On Ecosystem Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of plant resistance and tolerance to herbivory in mediating the effects of introduced herbivores

Bailey

Schweitzer

2009

Biol Invasions

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While the generally negative consequences of introduced species are well known, little is appreciated on the role of the evolutionary history of plants with herbivores in mediating the indirect impacts of herbivory. We examined how variation in plant resistance and tolerance traits can mediate the effects of herbivory and can have differential indirect impacts on other species and processes. We used two examples of a native and an introduced herbivore, Castor canadensis (American beaver) and Cervus elaphus (Rocky Mountain elk) with Populus spp. to test a conceptual model regarding possible outcomes of species interactions with native and exotic mammalian herbivores. Using these two herbivore test cases, we make two predictions to create testable hypotheses across systems and taxa: First, adaptive traits of tolerance or resistance to herbivory will be fewer when exotic species feed on plant species with which they have no evolutionary history. Second, historical constraints of species interactions will allow for negative feedbacks to stabilize the effects of herbivory by a native species. Overall, these two case studies illustrate that plant resistance and tolerance traits can mediate the indirect consequences of herbivory on associated interacting species. Specifically, when there is no evolutionary history between the plants and herbivores, which is often the case with species introductions, the effects of herbivory are more likely to reduce genetic variation and habitat mosaics, thus indirectly affecting associated species.

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“…Naturally, changes in tree seedling community can alter the future structure of adult tree communities. However, deer browsing activity also modifies the flow of energy and nutrients in forest ecosystems (Hairston et al 1960, Pastor et al 1993, McNeil and Cushman 2005, Pastor et al 2006, Stritar et al 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

White‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) positively affect the growth of mature northern red oak (Quercus rubra) trees

et al. 2013

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White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) positively affect the growth of mature northern red oak (Quercus rubra) trees.Ecosphere 4(7):84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES13-00036.1Abstract. Understanding and predicting the effects of deer (Cervidae) on forest ecosystems present significant challenges in ecosystem ecology. Deer herbivory can cause large changes in the biomass and species composition of forest understory plant communities, including early life-cycle trees (i.e., seedlings and saplings). Such changes can impact juvenile to adult transitions and the future age structure and species composition of mature forests. Changes to understory vegetation also impact flow of energy and nutrients in forest ecosystems. Studies examining the influence of deer on mature trees, however, are rare and rely on extrapolating effects from early life cycle stages of trees. We tested the hypothesis that the absence of deer would result in an increase in the growth rate of mature trees by examining the impact of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on mature canopy trees. We examined incremental growth in individuals of Quercus rubra, an important component of temperate deciduous forests in North America, inside and outside 16-year deer exclosures in eastern U.S. deciduous forests. We found that adult trees inside exclosures grew less than those directly exposed to deer. Our findings highlight the indirect effects of white-tailed deer on the growth of adult individuals of Q. rubra in a way opposite of what would be expected from previous studies based on immature or understory tree populations. We suggest the increased growth of adult trees in the presence of deer may be explained by increased nutrient inputs through deer fecal and urine deposits and the alteration of the competitive environment belowground through the reduction of understory vegetation by browsing. Underscoring the ecological and demographic importance of adult trees in forest ecosystems, results from this study suggest the direct and indirect effects of deer on mature trees should not be overlooked.

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Introduced ungulate herbivore alters soil processes after fire

Cited by 32 publications

References 61 publications

Soil biota drive expression of genetic variation and development of population‐specific feedbacks in an invasive plant

Soil biota drive expression of genetic variation and development of population‐specific feedbacks in an invasive plant

The role of plant resistance and tolerance to herbivory in mediating the effects of introduced herbivores

White‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) positively affect the growth of mature northern red oak (Quercus rubra) trees

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