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Priority effects caused by plant order of arrival affect below‐ground productivity
Author(s) -
Weidlich Emanuela W. A.,
Gillhaussen Philipp,
Max Johannes F. J.,
Delory Benjamin M.,
Jablonowski Nicolai D.,
Rascher Uwe,
Temperton Vicky M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.452
H-Index - 181
eISSN - 1365-2745
pISSN - 0022-0477
DOI - 10.1111/1365-2745.12829
Subject(s) - sowing , dominance (genetics) , grassland , agronomy , affect (linguistics) , field experiment , productivity , biology , environmental science , economics , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , macroeconomics , gene
Plant species that arrive first in the system can affect assembly (priority effects). However, effects of order of arrival of different plant functional groups (PFGs) on root development have not yet been investigated under field conditions. We measured standing and fine root length density in the first and third year of a grassland field experiment. We wanted to know if manipulating PFG order of arrival would affect root development, and if priority effects are modulated by soil type. Sowing legumes first created a priority effect that was found in the first and third year, with a lower standing root length density in this treatment, even though the plant community composition was different in each of the studied years. Fine root length density was not affected by order of arrival, but changed according to the soil type. Synthesis . We found strong evidence that sowing legumes first created a priority effect below‐ground that was found in the first and third year of this field experiment, even though the functional group dominance was different in each of the studied years.