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Nonlinear plant–plant interactions modulate impact of extreme drought and recovery on a Mediterranean ecosystem
Author(s) -
Haberstroh Simon,
Caldeira Maria C.,
LobodoVale Raquel,
Martins Joana I.,
Moemken Julia,
Pinto Joaquim G.,
Werner Christiane
Publication year - 2021
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.17522
Subject(s) - quercus suber , shrub , ecosystem , mediterranean climate , environmental science , ecology , biology
Summary Interaction effects of different stressors, such as extreme drought and plant invasion, can have detrimental effects on ecosystem functioning and recovery after drought. With ongoing climate change and increasing plant invasion, there is an urgent need to predict the short‐ and long‐term interaction impacts of these stressors on ecosystems. We established a combined precipitation exclusion and shrub invasion ( Cistus ladanifer ) experiment in a Mediterranean cork oak ( Quercus suber ) ecosystem with four treatments: (1) Q. suber control; (2) Q. suber with rain exclusion; (3) Q. suber invaded by shrubs; and (4) Q. suber with rain exclusion and shrub invasion. As key parameter, we continuously measured ecosystem water fluxes. In an average precipitation year, the interaction effects of both stressors were neutral. However, the combination of imposed drought and shrub invasion led to amplifying interaction effects during an extreme drought by strongly reducing tree transpiration. Contrarily, the imposed drought reduced the competitiveness of the shrubs in the following recovery period, which buffered the negative effects of shrub invasion on Q. suber . Our results demonstrate the highly dynamic and nonlinear effects of interacting stressors on ecosystems and urges for further investigations on biotic interactions in a context of climate change pressures.