Abstract
Much is known about facilitation, but virtually nothing about the underlying genetic and evolutionary consequences of this important interaction. We assessed the potential of phenotypic differences in facilitative effects of a foundation species to determine the composition of an Alpine community in Arizona. Two phenotypes of Geum rossii occur along a gradient of disturbance, with 'tight' competitive cushions in stable conditions and 'loose' facilitative cushions in disturbed conditions. A common-garden study suggested that field-based traits may have a genetic basis. Field experiments showed that the reproductive fitness of G. rossii cushions decreased with increasing facilitation. Finally, using a dual-lattice model we showed that including the cost and benefit of facilitation may contribute to the co-occurrence of genotypes with contrasting facilitative effects. Our results indicate that changes in community composition due to phenotypic differences in facilitative effects of a foundation species may in turn affect selective pressures on the foundation species.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 433-443 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Ecology Letters |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2011 |
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Keywords
- Common-garden experiment
- Community feedbacks
- Community genetics
- Cost of facilitation
- Dual-lattice model
- Facilitation
- Foundation species
- Physical disturbance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cite this
Phenotypic variation in nurse traits and community feedbacks define an alpine community. / Michalet, Richard; Xiao, Sa; Touzard, Blaise; Smith, David S.; Cavieres, Lohengrin A.; Callaway, Ragan M.; Whitham, Thomas G.
In: Ecology Letters, Vol. 14, No. 5, 05.2011, p. 433-443.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Phenotypic variation in nurse traits and community feedbacks define an alpine community
AU - Michalet, Richard
AU - Xiao, Sa
AU - Touzard, Blaise
AU - Smith, David S.
AU - Cavieres, Lohengrin A.
AU - Callaway, Ragan M.
AU - Whitham, Thomas G
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Much is known about facilitation, but virtually nothing about the underlying genetic and evolutionary consequences of this important interaction. We assessed the potential of phenotypic differences in facilitative effects of a foundation species to determine the composition of an Alpine community in Arizona. Two phenotypes of Geum rossii occur along a gradient of disturbance, with 'tight' competitive cushions in stable conditions and 'loose' facilitative cushions in disturbed conditions. A common-garden study suggested that field-based traits may have a genetic basis. Field experiments showed that the reproductive fitness of G. rossii cushions decreased with increasing facilitation. Finally, using a dual-lattice model we showed that including the cost and benefit of facilitation may contribute to the co-occurrence of genotypes with contrasting facilitative effects. Our results indicate that changes in community composition due to phenotypic differences in facilitative effects of a foundation species may in turn affect selective pressures on the foundation species.
AB - Much is known about facilitation, but virtually nothing about the underlying genetic and evolutionary consequences of this important interaction. We assessed the potential of phenotypic differences in facilitative effects of a foundation species to determine the composition of an Alpine community in Arizona. Two phenotypes of Geum rossii occur along a gradient of disturbance, with 'tight' competitive cushions in stable conditions and 'loose' facilitative cushions in disturbed conditions. A common-garden study suggested that field-based traits may have a genetic basis. Field experiments showed that the reproductive fitness of G. rossii cushions decreased with increasing facilitation. Finally, using a dual-lattice model we showed that including the cost and benefit of facilitation may contribute to the co-occurrence of genotypes with contrasting facilitative effects. Our results indicate that changes in community composition due to phenotypic differences in facilitative effects of a foundation species may in turn affect selective pressures on the foundation species.
KW - Common-garden experiment
KW - Community feedbacks
KW - Community genetics
KW - Cost of facilitation
KW - Dual-lattice model
KW - Facilitation
KW - Foundation species
KW - Physical disturbance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79953874239&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79953874239&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01605.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01605.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21366815
AN - SCOPUS:79953874239
VL - 14
SP - 433
EP - 443
JO - Ecology Letters
JF - Ecology Letters
SN - 1461-023X
IS - 5
ER -