Alpine cushion plants inhibit the loss of phylogenetic diversity in severe environments
METADATA ONLY
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2013-04
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
METADATA ONLY
Data
Rights / License
Abstract
Biotic interactions can shape phylogenetic community structure (PCS). However, we do not know how the asymmetric effects of foundation species on communities extend to effects on PCS. We assessed PCS of alpine plant communities around the world, both within cushion plant foundation species and adjacent open ground, and compared the effects of foundation species and climate on alpha (within‐microsite), beta (between open and cushion) and gamma (open and cushion combined) PCS. In the open, alpha PCS shifted from highly related to distantly related with increasing potential productivity. However, we found no relationship between gamma PCS and climate, due to divergence in phylogenetic composition between cushion and open sub‐communities in severe environments, as demonstrated by increasing phylo‐beta diversity. Thus, foundation species functioned as micro‐refugia by facilitating less stress‐tolerant lineages in severe environments, erasing a global productivity – phylogenetic diversity relationship that would go undetected without accounting for this important biotic interaction.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
16 (4)
Pages / Article No.
478 - 486
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Community assembly; Competition; Environmental filter; Facilitation; Micro-refugia; Phylogenetic diversity; Species pool
Organisational unit
09618 - Schöb, Christian (ehemalig) / Schöb, Christian (former)
02350 - Dep. Umweltsystemwissenschaften / Dep. of Environmental Systems Science
00012 - Lehre und Forschung
02703 - Institut für Agrarwissenschaften / Institute of Agricultural Sciences