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Fine‐scale environmental heterogeneity and spatial niche partitioning among spring‐flowering forest herbs
Author(s) -
Beck Jared J.,
Givnish Thomas J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/ajb2.1593
Subject(s) - biology , anemone , ecology , spatial heterogeneity , niche differentiation , temperate forest , evergreen , temperate rainforest , intraspecific competition , spatial ecology , interspecific competition , herbaceous plant , niche segregation , niche , ecological niche , temperate climate , ecosystem , habitat
PREMISE Environmental heterogeneity influences plant distributions and diversity at several spatial scales. In temperate forests, fine‐scale environmental variation may promote local coexistence among herbaceous species by allowing plants to spatially partition microsites within forest stands. Here we argue that shallow soils, low soil water‐holding capacity and fertility, and reduced light near tree boles should favor short, shallow‐rooted, evergreen species like Anemone acutiloba with low moisture, nutrient, and light requirements. Farther from trees, richer, deeper soils should favor taller, deeper‐rooted herbs with greater moisture and nutrient demands, such as Sanguinaria canadensis and Trillium flexipes . METHODS We tested these hypotheses by mapping the fine‐scale distributions of Anemone , Sanguinaria , and Trillium individuals within a 50 × 50 m plot, comparing local species’ distributions with respect to soil depth and proximity to neighboring trees, and characterizing intraspecific and interspecific spatial associations. RESULTS Local plant distributions were consistent with our predictions based on leaf height, physiology, and phenology. Anemone was found in microsites on shallower soils and closer to trees than either Sanguinaria or Trillium . In all three species, individual plants were spatially aggregated within 2 m, but spatially segregated from individuals of the other species beyond 2 m. CONCLUSIONS Differential plant responses to fine‐scale environmental heterogeneity and observed spatial associations suggest that local species‐environment associations could facilitate coexistence. These findings illustrate how fine‐scale environmental heterogeneity coupled with phenological and physiological differences likely contribute to spatial niche partitioning among spring‐flowering forest herbs and maintain high local plant diversity within temperate forests.