The role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands.

In arid ecosystems, recruitment dynamics are limited by harsh environmental conditions and greatly depend on the net outcome of the balance between facilitation and competition. This outcome can change as a consequence of degradation caused by livestock overgrazing. Also, distinct plant species may...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lopez, Dardo Ruben, Cavallero, Laura
Format: info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/2726
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X17300176
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2017.01.003
_version_ 1855035015094599680
author Lopez, Dardo Ruben
Cavallero, Laura
author_browse Cavallero, Laura
Lopez, Dardo Ruben
author_facet Lopez, Dardo Ruben
Cavallero, Laura
author_sort Lopez, Dardo Ruben
collection INTA Digital
description In arid ecosystems, recruitment dynamics are limited by harsh environmental conditions and greatly depend on the net outcome of the balance between facilitation and competition. This outcome can change as a consequence of degradation caused by livestock overgrazing. Also, distinct plant species may show a differential response to a common neighbour under the same environmental conditions. Therefore, ecosystem degradation could affect the net balance of plant-plant interactions, which can also depend on the functional traits of potential nurse species. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of alternative degradation states on (i) the density of seedlings of perennial species emerging in four microsite types, and on (ii) the relative interaction intensity (RII) between seedlings and potential nurses belonging to three functional types (deep- and shallow-rooted shrubs, and tussock grasses). During three years, we recorded seedling density of perennial species in four alternative degradation states in grassshrubby steppes from northwestern Patagonia. The density of emerged seedlings of perennial species decreased sharply as degradation increased, showing non-linear responses in most microsites. Seedling density underneath deep-rooted shrubs was higher than underneath shallow-rooted shrubs and tussock grasses. Also, deep-rooted shrubs were the only functional type that recorded seedling emergence in highly degraded states. Deep-rooted shrubs had facilitative effects on the seedlings emerging and surviving underneath them, independently of ecosystem degradation. In contrast, RII between shallowrooted shrubs and recently emerged seedlings, switched from positive effects in the less degraded states, to negative effects in the most degraded state. Tussock grasses recorded the weakest intensity of facilitative interactions with recently emerged seedlings, switching to competitive interactions as degradation increased. Our results suggest that species with key functional traits should be considered in management and restoration plans for rangelands with different degradation levels, since they have a strong influence in the net outcome of plant-plant interactions and in the recruitment dynamics of arid ecosystems.
format info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo
id INTA2726
institution Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA -Argentina)
language Inglés
publishDate 2018
publishDateRange 2018
publishDateSort 2018
record_format dspace
spelling INTA27262022-08-09T17:00:57Z The role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands. Lopez, Dardo Ruben Cavallero, Laura Ecosystems Arid Zones Environmental Control Environmental Iimpact Ecosistema Zona Arida Control Ambiental Impacto Ambiental Umbral Crítico In arid ecosystems, recruitment dynamics are limited by harsh environmental conditions and greatly depend on the net outcome of the balance between facilitation and competition. This outcome can change as a consequence of degradation caused by livestock overgrazing. Also, distinct plant species may show a differential response to a common neighbour under the same environmental conditions. Therefore, ecosystem degradation could affect the net balance of plant-plant interactions, which can also depend on the functional traits of potential nurse species. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of alternative degradation states on (i) the density of seedlings of perennial species emerging in four microsite types, and on (ii) the relative interaction intensity (RII) between seedlings and potential nurses belonging to three functional types (deep- and shallow-rooted shrubs, and tussock grasses). During three years, we recorded seedling density of perennial species in four alternative degradation states in grassshrubby steppes from northwestern Patagonia. The density of emerged seedlings of perennial species decreased sharply as degradation increased, showing non-linear responses in most microsites. Seedling density underneath deep-rooted shrubs was higher than underneath shallow-rooted shrubs and tussock grasses. Also, deep-rooted shrubs were the only functional type that recorded seedling emergence in highly degraded states. Deep-rooted shrubs had facilitative effects on the seedlings emerging and surviving underneath them, independently of ecosystem degradation. In contrast, RII between shallowrooted shrubs and recently emerged seedlings, switched from positive effects in the less degraded states, to negative effects in the most degraded state. Tussock grasses recorded the weakest intensity of facilitative interactions with recently emerged seedlings, switching to competitive interactions as degradation increased. Our results suggest that species with key functional traits should be considered in management and restoration plans for rangelands with different degradation levels, since they have a strong influence in the net outcome of plant-plant interactions and in the recruitment dynamics of arid ecosystems. EEA Manfredi Fil: López, Dardo R. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi. Campo Anexo Villa Dolores; Argentina Fil: Cavallero, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi. Campo Anexo Villa Dolores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tècnicas; Argentina 2018-07-04T15:12:34Z 2018-07-04T15:12:34Z 2017-02-16 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/2726 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X17300176 1146-609X 1873-6238 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2017.01.003 eng info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/CORDO/1262204/AR./Gestión de la innovación en el territorio del arco noroeste de la provincia de Córdoba. info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/PNPA/1126074/AR./Desarrollo, Integración y transferencia de tecnologías para manejo sustentable de servicios de la vegetación natural para fines ganaderos. info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/PNNAT/1128051/AR./Gestión de biodiversidad, servicios ecosistémicos, impactos y resiliencia socio agroambiental en sistemas productivos. info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/PNFOR/1104082/AR./Herramientas para contribuir al manejo y el uso múltiple sustentable de bosques nativos. info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/PNFOR/1104083/AR./Manejo de sistemas silvopastoriles en bosques nativos. info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/PNAGUA/1133023/AR./Tecnologías para la gestión del agua en cuencas rurales. info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/PNBIO/1131044/AR./Genómica aplicada a estudios de ecología molecular y diversidad genética. info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Acta Oecologica 79 : 70-80 (February 2017)
spellingShingle Ecosystems
Arid Zones
Environmental Control
Environmental Iimpact
Ecosistema
Zona Arida
Control Ambiental
Impacto Ambiental
Umbral Crítico
Lopez, Dardo Ruben
Cavallero, Laura
The role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands.
title The role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands.
title_full The role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands.
title_fullStr The role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands.
title_full_unstemmed The role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands.
title_short The role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands.
title_sort role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands
topic Ecosystems
Arid Zones
Environmental Control
Environmental Iimpact
Ecosistema
Zona Arida
Control Ambiental
Impacto Ambiental
Umbral Crítico
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/2726
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X17300176
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2017.01.003
work_keys_str_mv AT lopezdardoruben theroleofnursefunctionaltypesinseedlingrecruitmentdynamicsofalternativestatesinrangelands
AT cavallerolaura theroleofnursefunctionaltypesinseedlingrecruitmentdynamicsofalternativestatesinrangelands
AT lopezdardoruben roleofnursefunctionaltypesinseedlingrecruitmentdynamicsofalternativestatesinrangelands
AT cavallerolaura roleofnursefunctionaltypesinseedlingrecruitmentdynamicsofalternativestatesinrangelands