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Spatial heterogeneity of plant–soil feedback affects root interactions and interspecific competition
Author(s) -
Hendriks Marloes,
Ravenek Janneke M.,
SmitTiekstra Annemiek E.,
Paauw Jan Willem,
Caluwe Hannie,
Putten Wim H.,
Kroon Hans,
Mommer Liesje
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.13394
Subject(s) - interspecific competition , competition (biology) , biomass (ecology) , biota , spatial heterogeneity , grassland , soil biology , plant ecology , ecology , spatial distribution , plant community , biology , agronomy , environmental science , soil water , ecological succession , geography , remote sensing
Summary Plant–soil feedback is receiving increasing interest as a factor influencing plant competition and species coexistence in grasslands. However, we do not know how spatial distribution of plant–soil feedback affects plant below‐ground interactions. We investigated the way in which spatial heterogeneity of soil biota affects competitive interactions in grassland plant species. We performed a pairwise competition experiment combined with heterogeneous distribution of soil biota using four grassland plant species and their soil biota. Patches were applied as quadrants of ‘own’ and ‘foreign’ soils from all plant species in all pairwise combinations. To evaluate interspecific root responses, species‐specific root biomass was quantified using real‐time PCR . All plant species suffered negative soil feedback, but strength was species‐specific, reflected by a decrease in root growth in own compared with foreign soil. Reduction in root growth in own patches by the superior plant competitor provided opportunities for inferior competitors to increase root biomass in these patches. These patterns did not cascade into above‐ground effects during our experiment. We show that root distributions can be determined by spatial heterogeneity of soil biota, affecting plant below‐ground competitive interactions. Thus, spatial heterogeneity of soil biota may contribute to plant species coexistence in species‐rich grasslands.