Biology subjects

Dreyling, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Dreyling, L..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Functional traits shape plant-plant interactions and recruitment in a hotspot of woody plant diversity.

O_LIUnderstanding and predicting recruitment in species-rich plant communities requires identifying the functional determinants of both density-independent performance and interactions. C_LIO_LIIn a common-garden field experiment with 25 species of the woody plant genus Protea, we varied the initial spatial and taxonomic arrangement of seedlings and followed their survival and growth during recruitment. Neighbourhood models quantified how six key functional traits affect density-independent performance, interaction effects and responses. C_LIO_LITrait-based neighbourhood models accurately predicted individual survival and growth from the initial spatial and functional composition of species-rich experimental communities. Functional variation among species caused substantial variation in density-independent survival and growth that was not correlated with interaction effects and responses. Interactions were spatially-restricted but had important, predominantly competitive, effects on recruitment. Traits increasing the acquisition of limiting resources (water for survival, soil P for growth) mediated a trade-off between competitive effects and responses. Moreover, resprouting species had higher survival but reduced growth, likely reinforcing the survival-growth trade-off in adult plants. C_LIO_LIThe combination of field experiments and trait-based neighbourhood analyses holds substantial potential for community ecology. It permits the identification of traits that mediate performance trade-offs promoting coexistence in species-rich communities and contributes key knowledge to guide conservation and restoration of biodiversity hotspots. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Tree size drives diversity and community structure of microbial communities on the bark of beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Tree bark constitutes ideal habitat for microbial communities, because it is a stable substrate, rich in micro-niches. Bacteria, fungi, and terrestrial microalgae together form microbial communities, which in turn support more bark-associated organisms, such as mosses, lichens, and invertebrates, thus contributing to forest biodiversity. We have a limited understanding of the diversity and biotic interactions of the bark-associated microbiome, as investigations have mainly focussed on agriculturally relevant systems and on single taxonomic groups. Here we implemented a multi-kingdom metabarcoding approach to analyse diversity and community structure of the green algal, bacterial, and fungal components of the bark-associated microbial communities of beech, the most common broadleaved tree of Central European forests. We identified the most abundant taxa, hub taxa, and co-occurring taxa. We found that tree size (as a proxy for age) is an important driver of community assembly, suggesting that environmental filtering leads to less diverse fungal and algal communities over time. Conversely, forest management intensity had negligible effects on microbial communities on bark. Our study suggests the presence of undescribed, yet ecologically meaningful taxa, especially in the fungi, and highlights the importance of bark surfaces as a reservoir of microbial diversity. Our results constitute a first, essential step towards an integrated framework for understanding microbial community assembly processes on bark surfaces, an understudied habitat and neglected component of terrestrial biodiversity. Finally, we propose a cost-effective sampling strategy to study bark-associated microbial communities across large spatial or environmental scales.

ecology↗