Genetic variation within a dominant shrub species determines plant species colonization in a coastal dune ecosystem

The diversity and structure of plant communities is often determined by the presence and identity of competitively dominant species. Recent studies suggest that intraspecific variation within dominants may also have important community-level consequences. In a coastal dunes ecosystem of northern Cal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology (Durham) 2010-04, Vol.91 (4), p.1237-1243
Main Authors: Crutsinger, Gregory M, Strauss, Sharon Y, Rudgers, Jennifer A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ammophila arenaria
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Architecture
Baccharis
Baccharis - anatomy & histology
Baccharis - genetics
Baccharis - physiology
Baccharis pilularis
Biological and medical sciences
Biomass
Coastal ecology
community genetics
dioecy
Dunes
dunes ecosystem
Ecological genetics
Ecology
Ecosystem
Ecosystems
Flowers & plants
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Genetic Variation
Genetics
invasion resistance
plant architecture
Plants
Poaceae - physiology
Polymorphism
Soil
Species
Synecology
Temperature
Understory
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Summary:The diversity and structure of plant communities is often determined by the presence and identity of competitively dominant species. Recent studies suggest that intraspecific variation within dominants may also have important community-level consequences. In a coastal dunes ecosystem of northern California, we use a decade-old common garden experiment to test the effects of a genetically based architectural dimorphism within a dominant native shrub, Baccharis pilularis , on plant colonization success and understory plant diversity. We found that erect Baccharis morphs had higher richness and cover of colonizing plant species (both native and exotic species) compared to prostrate morphs, as well as higher biomass of a dominant exotic dune grass ( Ammophila arenaria ). Trait differences between architectural morphs influenced the abiotic understory environment (light availability, soil surface temperature, and litter depth) and were associated with species colonization success. Taken together, our results demonstrate that incorporating within-species variation, particularly within dominant species, into community ecological research can increase the ability to predict patterns of species diversity and assembly within communities.
ISSN:0012-9658
1939-9170
DOI:10.1890/09-0613.1