Underground Niche Separation in Successional Plants

Parrish, J. A. D.; Bazzaz, F. A.

doi:10.2307/1935052

Cited by 227 publications

(141 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Spatial and temporal partitioning of belowground resources has been predicted to be a method by which species may alleviate interspecific competition (Parrish and Bazzaz 1976, Berendse 1979, 1982, Aarssen 1983; C. S. Brown and K. J. Rice, unpublished data ).…”

Section: Belowground Resource Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Competition on Resource Availability and Growth of a California Bunchgrass

Dyer

Rice

1999

Ecology

116

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Abstract. In California, little is known about the sensitivity of native bunchgrasses to competition or to changes in resource availability. We investigated the effect of nonnative annual vegetation on resource availability and growth of a native bunchgrass, Nassella pulchra, in a pair of factorial field experiments that incorporated effects of both interspecific and intraspecific competition as well as variation in soil depth. Plots of differing target densities and neighborhoods were used to assess changes in aboveground (light) and belowground (water) resource availability over multiple seasons in two sites with differing soil depth. N. pulchra grown without interspecific competitors grew larger and produced more culms at all planting densities compared to plants in plots with interspecific competitors. Intraspecific competition significantly influenced growth only in the absence of interspecific competition. Reproductive effort, as measured by flowering culm production, was more sensitive than vegetative growth to both forms of competition. Light availability and variability at the soil surface was greatly reduced by the nonnative annual neighborhood. As expected, soil moisture was rapidly depleted by annuals to 30 cm in all plots. In deepsoil plots, soil moisture was reduced at 60-150 cm depths only when annual vegetation was removed, and depletion was correlated with N. pulchra basal area. This result suggests that the interspecific neighborhood reduced root growth in N. pulchra and its subsequent ability to use deep moisture. Within California's inland grasslands, nonnative annual vegetation has changed seasonal patterns of resource availability. We conclude that (1) increased competition for light during the spring, when growth of annuals is most rapid, suppresses growth and reproduction of N. pulchra; (2) by suppressing bunchgrass growth, annual grasses reduce access to belowground resources by competitive interference; and (3) the loss of perennial grasses in California grasslands and the general dominance by nonnative annual species results in the relative underutilization of deep soil resources. These conclusions suggest that the dominance of California grasslands by nonnative annual vegetation has shifted the primary limiting resource from soil moisture to light and the timing of resource limitation from summer to winter and spring.

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Section: Belowground Resource Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Competition on Resource Availability and Growth of a California Bunchgrass

Dyer

Rice

1999

Ecology

116

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“…Most studies considering mecha-of the annual species they studied exhibited nearnisms of competition for soil resources have focused dichotomously branched root systems, which in on differences in allocation pattern (see Tilman, earlier studies Fitter (1987) had suggested would be 1988; Gleeson&Tilman, 1990) or rooting depth and advantageous in high resource environments. In density (Parrish & Bazzaz, 1976;Berendse, 1982; contrast, the perennials had a herringbone archi Caldwell, 1987). However, species differences in tecture which is predicted to be more efficient when root system morphology and architecture (pattern of resource levels are low (Fitter, 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seedling growth and root morphology of plants with different life‐histories

1992

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SUMMARYDifferences among plant species in morphology and patterns of growth are assumed to influence their ability to acquire resources and, consequently, their competitive ability. Despite the acknowledged importance of belowground resources for plant growth, our knowledge of species differences in root morphology of non-agricultural plants is limited. Comparisons of root morphology, growth rate and topology of seedlings of 12 herbaceous plant species that occur in early to mid-successional fields revealed significant differences among species that were largely related to life history. Annuals grew faster and produced longer and more branched roots than did biennials and perennials. Only among the annuals was there a positive correlation between seed mass and root growth. The grasses allocated proportionately more biomass to roots than the dicots, but did not differ in root length or branching pattern. As seedlings, all 12 species exhibited a herringbone topology; although after 10 d there were significant differences in topology between annuals and perennials indicating that the annuals had begun to develop a more dichotomously branched root system. The possible effects of early differences in root morphology among life-history types in acquiring soil resources in heterogeneous and successional environments are discussed.

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“…The roots system structure reflected the biocenosis development and successional advance, saturation and plant competition being low at the initial stages of the succession and high in ecosystems rich in plant species such these mountain meadows. The lower plant competition at the initial stages of the succession in old fields than at equilibrium on prairie, followed by lower niche overlap, were suggested by Parrish and Bazzaz (1976). With increasing number of species, niches of the subordinate species become narrower, what can facilitate their coexistence with dominant species (von Felten et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Soil physicochemical properties and floristic composition of two ecosystems differing in plant diversity: fallows and meadows

2016

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Background and aims European farmland has been abandoned at an unprecedented rate over the last few decades, resulting in an increase of the area of fallows and a decrease in plant diversity in meadows. This work was aimed at determining whether differences in the persistence and plant diversity of the two ecosystem types, similar in plant biomass and geographical location, resulted in changes in soil physicochemical properties. Methods Soil physicochemical properties and floristic composition were studied in six fallows at the initial stage of secondary succession and six fresh meadows with high plant diversity.Results Fallow soils had several-fold higher content of available phosphorus, potassium and nitrates. Meadow soils had a slightly higher C:N ratio and water-holding capacity (WHC), what suggest more humus in meadow soil. Conclusions The main differences in soil properties between meadows and fallows were after-effects of agricultural management, most probably previous fertilization. The difference in the C:N ratio and WHC can be attributed to ecosystem ages. Abandoned farmlands had relatively good nutrient supply but low species diversity. Meadows, though depleted in available nutrients, showed high floristic richness. The legumes, which were more abundant in meadows, might have supplemented this ecosystem with the limiting N.

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Underground Niche Separation in Successional Plants

Cited by 227 publications

References 30 publications

Effects of Competition on Resource Availability and Growth of a California Bunchgrass

Effects of Competition on Resource Availability and Growth of a California Bunchgrass

Seedling growth and root morphology of plants with different life‐histories

Soil physicochemical properties and floristic composition of two ecosystems differing in plant diversity: fallows and meadows

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