Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community

Autores
Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo; Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl
Año de publicación
2016
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Question: For a desert where winter is the driest, harshest season we asked: does the effect of dominant shrubs (Bulnesia retama) on annual species depend on (1) the functional traits of the latter, (2) the season of the year, or (3) the activity of livestock? Location: A low-density goat farm in central-northern Monte Desert, Argentina. Methods: We estimated the effect of shrubs using a log response ratio based on annual species population sizes underneath shrub canopies and in open spaces. We collected density data of annual species in 18 visits between Aug 2010 and Apr 2013 in permanent 50-cm square areas laid out according to a split-plot design, in which the activity of livestock (fenced and unfenced; plots were 10-m squares) was the main factor, and microsite type (shrub and open) was the subordinate factor, with 20 replicates for each combination. We also gathered data on eight functional traits (characterizing whole plants, leaves, roots and seeds) from annual plants collected in the study site following standardized protocols. Results: Annual species with acquisitive attributes (high specific leaf area, intermediate-to-low leaf dry matter content, large leaves and high specific root volume) were more benefited by shrubs compared to species with the opposite, relatively conservative attributes. Facilitative influences of shrubs were pervasive during winter, while competitive influences increased in frequency during summer, when total plant density was higher. This pattern was not affected by livestock. Conclusions: The outcome of species interactions depended on the interplay between plant strategies and abiotic stress: facilitated species were mostly acquisitive, and shrub facilitation was more important during the harshest season (winter). Specific root volume, along with widely used functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf size) delineated such strategies. This underlines the importance of considering below-ground traits when studying plant-plant interactions. Single traits achieved superior explanatory power of shrub effects than composite ones (i.e. principal component axes based on single traits), reinforcing the idea that single functional traits are themselves meaningful indicators of complex physiological trade-offs that ultimately affect community structure and dynamics. Whether functional traits determine species' abundance within a given community remains unresolved. We show that ecological strategies of desert annuals determined their abundance in relation to dominant shrubs: acquisitive species were facilitated, whereas conservative ones were repelled. Specific root volume, along with widely used functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, and leaf size) delineated such annual-plant strategies.
Fil: Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. ; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina
Fil: Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina
Materia
Abiotic Stress
Arid Environment
Competition
Dryland
Facilitation
Monte Desert
Nurse Plant
Plant Strategies
Plant-Plant Interaction
Specific Root Volume
Stress-Gradient Hypothesis
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/51520

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oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/51520
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert communityRolhauser, Andrés GuillermoPucheta, Eduardo RaúlAbiotic StressArid EnvironmentCompetitionDrylandFacilitationMonte DesertNurse PlantPlant StrategiesPlant-Plant InteractionSpecific Root VolumeStress-Gradient Hypothesishttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1Question: For a desert where winter is the driest, harshest season we asked: does the effect of dominant shrubs (Bulnesia retama) on annual species depend on (1) the functional traits of the latter, (2) the season of the year, or (3) the activity of livestock? Location: A low-density goat farm in central-northern Monte Desert, Argentina. Methods: We estimated the effect of shrubs using a log response ratio based on annual species population sizes underneath shrub canopies and in open spaces. We collected density data of annual species in 18 visits between Aug 2010 and Apr 2013 in permanent 50-cm square areas laid out according to a split-plot design, in which the activity of livestock (fenced and unfenced; plots were 10-m squares) was the main factor, and microsite type (shrub and open) was the subordinate factor, with 20 replicates for each combination. We also gathered data on eight functional traits (characterizing whole plants, leaves, roots and seeds) from annual plants collected in the study site following standardized protocols. Results: Annual species with acquisitive attributes (high specific leaf area, intermediate-to-low leaf dry matter content, large leaves and high specific root volume) were more benefited by shrubs compared to species with the opposite, relatively conservative attributes. Facilitative influences of shrubs were pervasive during winter, while competitive influences increased in frequency during summer, when total plant density was higher. This pattern was not affected by livestock. Conclusions: The outcome of species interactions depended on the interplay between plant strategies and abiotic stress: facilitated species were mostly acquisitive, and shrub facilitation was more important during the harshest season (winter). Specific root volume, along with widely used functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf size) delineated such strategies. This underlines the importance of considering below-ground traits when studying plant-plant interactions. Single traits achieved superior explanatory power of shrub effects than composite ones (i.e. principal component axes based on single traits), reinforcing the idea that single functional traits are themselves meaningful indicators of complex physiological trade-offs that ultimately affect community structure and dynamics. Whether functional traits determine species' abundance within a given community remains unresolved. We show that ecological strategies of desert annuals determined their abundance in relation to dominant shrubs: acquisitive species were facilitated, whereas conservative ones were repelled. Specific root volume, along with widely used functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, and leaf size) delineated such annual-plant strategies.Fil: Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. ; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaWiley Blackwell Publishing, Inc2016-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/51520Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo; Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl; Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community; Wiley Blackwell Publishing, Inc; Journal of Vegetation Science; 27; 1; 1-2016; 60-681100-9233CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1111/jvs.12335info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jvs.12335info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-09-29T09:50:19Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/51520instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-09-29 09:50:19.753CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community
title Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community
spellingShingle Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community
Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo
Abiotic Stress
Arid Environment
Competition
Dryland
Facilitation
Monte Desert
Nurse Plant
Plant Strategies
Plant-Plant Interaction
Specific Root Volume
Stress-Gradient Hypothesis
title_short Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community
title_full Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community
title_fullStr Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community
title_full_unstemmed Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community
title_sort Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo
Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl
author Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo
author_facet Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo
Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl
author_role author
author2 Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl
author2_role author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Abiotic Stress
Arid Environment
Competition
Dryland
Facilitation
Monte Desert
Nurse Plant
Plant Strategies
Plant-Plant Interaction
Specific Root Volume
Stress-Gradient Hypothesis
topic Abiotic Stress
Arid Environment
Competition
Dryland
Facilitation
Monte Desert
Nurse Plant
Plant Strategies
Plant-Plant Interaction
Specific Root Volume
Stress-Gradient Hypothesis
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Question: For a desert where winter is the driest, harshest season we asked: does the effect of dominant shrubs (Bulnesia retama) on annual species depend on (1) the functional traits of the latter, (2) the season of the year, or (3) the activity of livestock? Location: A low-density goat farm in central-northern Monte Desert, Argentina. Methods: We estimated the effect of shrubs using a log response ratio based on annual species population sizes underneath shrub canopies and in open spaces. We collected density data of annual species in 18 visits between Aug 2010 and Apr 2013 in permanent 50-cm square areas laid out according to a split-plot design, in which the activity of livestock (fenced and unfenced; plots were 10-m squares) was the main factor, and microsite type (shrub and open) was the subordinate factor, with 20 replicates for each combination. We also gathered data on eight functional traits (characterizing whole plants, leaves, roots and seeds) from annual plants collected in the study site following standardized protocols. Results: Annual species with acquisitive attributes (high specific leaf area, intermediate-to-low leaf dry matter content, large leaves and high specific root volume) were more benefited by shrubs compared to species with the opposite, relatively conservative attributes. Facilitative influences of shrubs were pervasive during winter, while competitive influences increased in frequency during summer, when total plant density was higher. This pattern was not affected by livestock. Conclusions: The outcome of species interactions depended on the interplay between plant strategies and abiotic stress: facilitated species were mostly acquisitive, and shrub facilitation was more important during the harshest season (winter). Specific root volume, along with widely used functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf size) delineated such strategies. This underlines the importance of considering below-ground traits when studying plant-plant interactions. Single traits achieved superior explanatory power of shrub effects than composite ones (i.e. principal component axes based on single traits), reinforcing the idea that single functional traits are themselves meaningful indicators of complex physiological trade-offs that ultimately affect community structure and dynamics. Whether functional traits determine species' abundance within a given community remains unresolved. We show that ecological strategies of desert annuals determined their abundance in relation to dominant shrubs: acquisitive species were facilitated, whereas conservative ones were repelled. Specific root volume, along with widely used functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, and leaf size) delineated such annual-plant strategies.
Fil: Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. ; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina
Fil: Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina
description Question: For a desert where winter is the driest, harshest season we asked: does the effect of dominant shrubs (Bulnesia retama) on annual species depend on (1) the functional traits of the latter, (2) the season of the year, or (3) the activity of livestock? Location: A low-density goat farm in central-northern Monte Desert, Argentina. Methods: We estimated the effect of shrubs using a log response ratio based on annual species population sizes underneath shrub canopies and in open spaces. We collected density data of annual species in 18 visits between Aug 2010 and Apr 2013 in permanent 50-cm square areas laid out according to a split-plot design, in which the activity of livestock (fenced and unfenced; plots were 10-m squares) was the main factor, and microsite type (shrub and open) was the subordinate factor, with 20 replicates for each combination. We also gathered data on eight functional traits (characterizing whole plants, leaves, roots and seeds) from annual plants collected in the study site following standardized protocols. Results: Annual species with acquisitive attributes (high specific leaf area, intermediate-to-low leaf dry matter content, large leaves and high specific root volume) were more benefited by shrubs compared to species with the opposite, relatively conservative attributes. Facilitative influences of shrubs were pervasive during winter, while competitive influences increased in frequency during summer, when total plant density was higher. This pattern was not affected by livestock. Conclusions: The outcome of species interactions depended on the interplay between plant strategies and abiotic stress: facilitated species were mostly acquisitive, and shrub facilitation was more important during the harshest season (winter). Specific root volume, along with widely used functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf size) delineated such strategies. This underlines the importance of considering below-ground traits when studying plant-plant interactions. Single traits achieved superior explanatory power of shrub effects than composite ones (i.e. principal component axes based on single traits), reinforcing the idea that single functional traits are themselves meaningful indicators of complex physiological trade-offs that ultimately affect community structure and dynamics. Whether functional traits determine species' abundance within a given community remains unresolved. We show that ecological strategies of desert annuals determined their abundance in relation to dominant shrubs: acquisitive species were facilitated, whereas conservative ones were repelled. Specific root volume, along with widely used functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, and leaf size) delineated such annual-plant strategies.
publishDate 2016
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2016-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/51520
Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo; Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl; Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community; Wiley Blackwell Publishing, Inc; Journal of Vegetation Science; 27; 1; 1-2016; 60-68
1100-9233
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/51520
identifier_str_mv Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo; Pucheta, Eduardo Raúl; Annual plant functional traits explain shrub facilitation in a desert community; Wiley Blackwell Publishing, Inc; Journal of Vegetation Science; 27; 1; 1-2016; 60-68
1100-9233
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1111/jvs.12335
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jvs.12335
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Wiley Blackwell Publishing, Inc
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Wiley Blackwell Publishing, Inc
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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