Intraspecific variation in Janzen–Connell effect is mediated by stress and plant–soil feedbacks

Abstract Janzen–Connell (JC) effects, hypothesized to be partially driven by negative plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs), are considered to be a key mechanism that regulates tropical forest plant diversity and coexistence. However, intraspecific variation in JC effects may weaken this mechanism, with the s...

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Main Authors: Libing Pan, J. Aaron Hogan, Xiaoyang Song, Wenfu Zhang, Huaze Zhou, Zhonglin Chen, Jie Yang, Min Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-07-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11614
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author Libing Pan
J. Aaron Hogan
Xiaoyang Song
Wenfu Zhang
Huaze Zhou
Zhonglin Chen
Jie Yang
Min Cao
author_facet Libing Pan
J. Aaron Hogan
Xiaoyang Song
Wenfu Zhang
Huaze Zhou
Zhonglin Chen
Jie Yang
Min Cao
author_sort Libing Pan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Janzen–Connell (JC) effects, hypothesized to be partially driven by negative plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs), are considered to be a key mechanism that regulates tropical forest plant diversity and coexistence. However, intraspecific variation in JC effects may weaken this mechanism, with the strength of PSFs being a potentially key variable process. We conducted a manipulated experiment with seedlings from two populations of Pometia pinnata (Sapindaceae), a tropical tree species in southwest China. We aimed to measure the intraspecific difference in PSF magnitude caused by inoculating the soil from different P. pinnata source populations and growing seedlings under differing light intensity and water availability treatments, and at varying plant densities. We found negative PSFs for both populations with the inoculum soil originating from the same sites, but PSFs differed significantly with the inoculum soil from different sites. PSF strength responded differently to biotic and abiotic drivers; PSF strength was weaker in low moisture and high light treatments than in high moisture and low light treatments. Our study documents intraspecific variation in JC effects: specifically, P. pinnata have less defenses to their natively‐sourced soil, but are more defensive to the soil feedbacks from soil sourced from other populations. Our results imply that drought and light intensity tended to weaken JC effects, which may result in loss of species diversity with climate change.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-7758
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series Ecology and Evolution
spelling doaj-art-9414b61ed963425da1e5884cd0b4223d2025-08-20T03:55:58ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-07-01147n/an/a10.1002/ece3.11614Intraspecific variation in Janzen–Connell effect is mediated by stress and plant–soil feedbacksLibing Pan0J. Aaron Hogan1Xiaoyang Song2Wenfu Zhang3Huaze Zhou4Zhonglin Chen5Jie Yang6Min Cao7CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla ChinaDepartment of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USACAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla ChinaMengla Institute of Conservation Xishuangbanna Administration of Nature Reserves Mengla ChinaMengla Institute of Conservation Xishuangbanna Administration of Nature Reserves Mengla ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla ChinaAbstract Janzen–Connell (JC) effects, hypothesized to be partially driven by negative plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs), are considered to be a key mechanism that regulates tropical forest plant diversity and coexistence. However, intraspecific variation in JC effects may weaken this mechanism, with the strength of PSFs being a potentially key variable process. We conducted a manipulated experiment with seedlings from two populations of Pometia pinnata (Sapindaceae), a tropical tree species in southwest China. We aimed to measure the intraspecific difference in PSF magnitude caused by inoculating the soil from different P. pinnata source populations and growing seedlings under differing light intensity and water availability treatments, and at varying plant densities. We found negative PSFs for both populations with the inoculum soil originating from the same sites, but PSFs differed significantly with the inoculum soil from different sites. PSF strength responded differently to biotic and abiotic drivers; PSF strength was weaker in low moisture and high light treatments than in high moisture and low light treatments. Our study documents intraspecific variation in JC effects: specifically, P. pinnata have less defenses to their natively‐sourced soil, but are more defensive to the soil feedbacks from soil sourced from other populations. Our results imply that drought and light intensity tended to weaken JC effects, which may result in loss of species diversity with climate change.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11614biomasscompetitiondroughtexperimentintraspecificplant–soil feedback
spellingShingle Libing Pan
J. Aaron Hogan
Xiaoyang Song
Wenfu Zhang
Huaze Zhou
Zhonglin Chen
Jie Yang
Min Cao
Intraspecific variation in Janzen–Connell effect is mediated by stress and plant–soil feedbacks
Ecology and Evolution
biomass
competition
drought
experiment
intraspecific
plant–soil feedback
title Intraspecific variation in Janzen–Connell effect is mediated by stress and plant–soil feedbacks
title_full Intraspecific variation in Janzen–Connell effect is mediated by stress and plant–soil feedbacks
title_fullStr Intraspecific variation in Janzen–Connell effect is mediated by stress and plant–soil feedbacks
title_full_unstemmed Intraspecific variation in Janzen–Connell effect is mediated by stress and plant–soil feedbacks
title_short Intraspecific variation in Janzen–Connell effect is mediated by stress and plant–soil feedbacks
title_sort intraspecific variation in janzen connell effect is mediated by stress and plant soil feedbacks
topic biomass
competition
drought
experiment
intraspecific
plant–soil feedback
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11614
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