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Restoring phylogenetic diversity through facilitation
Author(s) -
NavarroCano Jose A.,
FerrerGallego Pablo P.,
Laguna Emilio,
Ferrando Inmaculada,
Goberna Marta,
ValienteBanuet Alfonso,
Verdú Miguel
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
restoration ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1526-100X
pISSN - 1061-2971
DOI - 10.1111/rec.12350
Subject(s) - facilitation , phylogenetic diversity , ecosystem , ecology , phylogenetic tree , biology , restoration ecology , biodiversity , disturbance (geology) , biochemistry , neuroscience , gene , paleontology
Phylogenetic diversity enhances ecosystem functioning but restoration ecology has not taken advantage of this knowledge. We propose plant facilitation as a mechanism to promote phylogenetic diversity in restoration practices. We planted three functionally different species ( Gypsophila struthium , Sedum album , and Limonium sucronicum ) in a degraded gypsum ecosystem in Spain and found that after 7 years, the species with nurse traits ( G. struthium ) survived longer and facilitated the establishment of new species forming phylogenetically diverse neighborhoods. These facilitation‐driven phylodiverse communities may potentially produce a cascade of benefits on ecosystem functioning.