Self-Similarity, Leaf Litter Traits, and Neighborhood Predicting Fine Root Dynamics in a Common-Garden Forest

While individual tree genotypes are known to differ in their impacts on local soil development, the spatial genetic influence of surrounding neighboring trees is largely unknown. We examine the hypothesis that fine root dynamics of a focal tree is based on the genetics of the focal tree as well as t...

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Main Authors: Dylan G. Fischer, Brett G. Dickson, Thomas G. Whitham, Stephen C. Hart
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00142/full
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spelling doaj-db74c17201984e8c8b66ced49e0167a72020-11-25T02:13:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2019-09-01710.3389/fenvs.2019.00142458912Self-Similarity, Leaf Litter Traits, and Neighborhood Predicting Fine Root Dynamics in a Common-Garden ForestDylan G. Fischer0Brett G. Dickson1Brett G. Dickson2Thomas G. Whitham3Thomas G. Whitham4Stephen C. Hart5Stephen C. Hart6The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA, United StatesLab of Landscape Ecology and Conservation Biology, Landscape Conservation Initiative, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United StatesConservation Science Partners, Truckee, CA, United StatesDepartment of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United StatesMerriam-Powel Center for Environmental Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United StatesMerriam-Powel Center for Environmental Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United StatesSierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United StatesWhile individual tree genotypes are known to differ in their impacts on local soil development, the spatial genetic influence of surrounding neighboring trees is largely unknown. We examine the hypothesis that fine root dynamics of a focal tree is based on the genetics of the focal tree as well as the genetics of neighbor trees that together define litter inputs to soils of the focal tree. We used a common garden environment with clonal replicates of individual tree genotypes to analyze fine root production, turnover and allocation with respect to modeled neighborhood: (1) foliar mass, (2) foliar condensed tannins (CT), (3) genetic identity of trees, and (4) genetic dissimilarity of neighbors. In support of our central hypothesis, we found that the presence of genetically dissimilar trees and high leaf CT contributions to the soil predicted increased fine root production. In fact, the modeled effects of neighbors accounted for ~90% of the explanatory weight of all models predicting root production. Nevertheless, the ultimate fate of those roots in soil (turnover) and the balance of fine roots relative to aboveground tree mass were still more predictable based on the leaf traits and genetics of the individual focal trees (explaining 99% of the variation accounted for by models). Our data provide support for a method allowing a comparison of the relative effects of individuals vs. spatial neighborhood effects on soils in a genetic context. Such comparisons are important for placing plant-soil feedbacks in a genetic and evolutionary framework because neighbors can decouple feedbacks between an individual and the surrounding environment.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00142/fullecosystem geneticsgenes-to-ecosystemsroot productionPopuluscondensed tannins
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Dylan G. Fischer
Brett G. Dickson
Brett G. Dickson
Thomas G. Whitham
Thomas G. Whitham
Stephen C. Hart
Stephen C. Hart
spellingShingle Dylan G. Fischer
Brett G. Dickson
Brett G. Dickson
Thomas G. Whitham
Thomas G. Whitham
Stephen C. Hart
Stephen C. Hart
Self-Similarity, Leaf Litter Traits, and Neighborhood Predicting Fine Root Dynamics in a Common-Garden Forest
Frontiers in Environmental Science
ecosystem genetics
genes-to-ecosystems
root production
Populus
condensed tannins
author_facet Dylan G. Fischer
Brett G. Dickson
Brett G. Dickson
Thomas G. Whitham
Thomas G. Whitham
Stephen C. Hart
Stephen C. Hart
author_sort Dylan G. Fischer
title Self-Similarity, Leaf Litter Traits, and Neighborhood Predicting Fine Root Dynamics in a Common-Garden Forest
title_short Self-Similarity, Leaf Litter Traits, and Neighborhood Predicting Fine Root Dynamics in a Common-Garden Forest
title_full Self-Similarity, Leaf Litter Traits, and Neighborhood Predicting Fine Root Dynamics in a Common-Garden Forest
title_fullStr Self-Similarity, Leaf Litter Traits, and Neighborhood Predicting Fine Root Dynamics in a Common-Garden Forest
title_full_unstemmed Self-Similarity, Leaf Litter Traits, and Neighborhood Predicting Fine Root Dynamics in a Common-Garden Forest
title_sort self-similarity, leaf litter traits, and neighborhood predicting fine root dynamics in a common-garden forest
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
series Frontiers in Environmental Science
issn 2296-665X
publishDate 2019-09-01
description While individual tree genotypes are known to differ in their impacts on local soil development, the spatial genetic influence of surrounding neighboring trees is largely unknown. We examine the hypothesis that fine root dynamics of a focal tree is based on the genetics of the focal tree as well as the genetics of neighbor trees that together define litter inputs to soils of the focal tree. We used a common garden environment with clonal replicates of individual tree genotypes to analyze fine root production, turnover and allocation with respect to modeled neighborhood: (1) foliar mass, (2) foliar condensed tannins (CT), (3) genetic identity of trees, and (4) genetic dissimilarity of neighbors. In support of our central hypothesis, we found that the presence of genetically dissimilar trees and high leaf CT contributions to the soil predicted increased fine root production. In fact, the modeled effects of neighbors accounted for ~90% of the explanatory weight of all models predicting root production. Nevertheless, the ultimate fate of those roots in soil (turnover) and the balance of fine roots relative to aboveground tree mass were still more predictable based on the leaf traits and genetics of the individual focal trees (explaining 99% of the variation accounted for by models). Our data provide support for a method allowing a comparison of the relative effects of individuals vs. spatial neighborhood effects on soils in a genetic context. Such comparisons are important for placing plant-soil feedbacks in a genetic and evolutionary framework because neighbors can decouple feedbacks between an individual and the surrounding environment.
topic ecosystem genetics
genes-to-ecosystems
root production
Populus
condensed tannins
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00142/full
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