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Phylogenetic conservatism in plant‐soil feedback and its implications for plant abundance
Author(s) -
Anacker Brian L.,
Klironomos John N.,
Maherali Hafiz,
Reinhart Kurt O.,
Strauss Sharon Y.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12378
Subject(s) - biology , abundance (ecology) , biota , ecology , soil biology , biodiversity , native plant , old field , plant community , plant ecology , species richness , botany , soil water , introduced species
We examined whether plant‐soil feedback and plant‐field abundance were phylogenetically conserved. For 57 co‐occurring native and exotic plant species from an old field in Canada, we collected a data set on the effects of three soil biota treatments on plant growth: net whole‐soil feedback (combined effects of mutualists and antagonists), feedback with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( AMF ) collected from soils of conspecific plants, and feedback with Glomus etunicatum , a dominant mycorrhizal fungus. We found phylogenetic signal in both net whole‐soil feedback and feedback with AMF of conspecifics; conservatism was especially strong among native plants but absent among exotics. The abundance of plants in the field was also conserved, a pattern underlain by shared plant responses to soil biota. We conclude that soil biota influence the abundance of close plant relatives in nature.