Genotypic diversity of an invasive plant species promotes litter decomposition and associated processes

Following studies that showed negative effects of species loss on ecosystem functioning, newer studies have started to investigate if similar consequences could result from reductions of genetic diversity within species. We tested the influence of genotypic richness and dissimilarity (plots containi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oecologia 2014-03, Vol.174 (3), p.993-1005
Main Authors: Wang, Xiao-Yan, Miao, Yuan, Yu, Shuo, Chen, Xiao-Yong, Schmid, Bernhard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acari
Analysis
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Biodiversity
Biological and medical sciences
Biological diversity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
China
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Community ecology - Original research
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Ecology
Ecosystem
Ecosystems
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Genetic Variation
Genotype
Genotypes
Hydrology/Water Resources
Introduced Species
Invasive species
Life Sciences
Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking
Plant Leaves - chemistry
Plant litter
Plant Sciences
Plants
Soil - parasitology
Soil fauna
Soil resources
Soil samples
Solidago - chemistry
Solidago - genetics
Solidago canadensis
Species diversity
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Summary:Following studies that showed negative effects of species loss on ecosystem functioning, newer studies have started to investigate if similar consequences could result from reductions of genetic diversity within species. We tested the influence of genotypic richness and dissimilarity (plots containing one, three, six or 12 genotypes) in stands of the invasive plant Solidago canadensis in China on the decomposition of its leaf litter and associated soil animals over five monthly time intervals. We found that the logarithm of genotypic richness was positively linearly related to mass loss of C, N and P from the litter and to richness and abundance of soil animals on the litter samples. The mixing proportion of litter from two sites, but not genotypic dissimilarity of mixtures, had additional effects on measured variables. The litter diversity effects on soil animals were particularly strong under the most stressful conditions of hot weather in July: at this time richness and abundance of soil animals were higher in 12-genotype litter mixtures than even in the highest corresponding one-genotype litter. The litter diversity effects on decomposition were in part mediated by soil animals: the abundance of Acarina, when used as covariate in the analysis, fully explained the litter diversity effects on mass loss of N and P. Overall, our study shows that high genotypic richness of S. canadensis leaf litter positively affects richness and abundance of soil animals, which in turn accelerate litter decomposition and P release from litter.
ISSN:0029-8549
1432-1939
DOI:10.1007/s00442-013-2816-3