10.5061/DRYAD.1G1JWSTSV
Wu, Jihua
Fudan University
Yan, Jun
Fudan University
Zhang, Youzheng
Fudan University
Crawford, Kerri M.
University of Houston
Chen, Xiaoyong
East China Normal University
Yu, Shuo
East China Normal University
Plant genotypic diversity effects on soil nematodes vary with trophic level
Dryad
dataset
2020
Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China
https://ror.org/027s68j25
2017YFC1200100
National Natural Science Foundation of China
https://ror.org/01h0zpd94
Grant No. 31570513
2021-06-07T00:00:00Z
2021-06-07T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16829
54245 bytes
6
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
At local spatial scales, loss of genetic diversity within species can lead
to species loss. Few studies, however, have examined plant genotypic
diversity effects across trophic levels. We investigated genotypic
diversity effects of Phragmites australis on belowground biomass and soil
nematode communities. Our results revealed belowground plant biomass and
nematode abundance responses to plant genotypic diversity were uncoupled.
Decreasing plant genotypic diversity decreased the abundance of lower, but
not higher trophic level nematodes. Low plant genotypic diversity also
decreased the structural footprint and functional indices of nematodes,
indicating lowered metabolic functioning of higher-trophic level nematodes
and decreased soil food web stability. Our study suggests that plant
genotypic diversity effects differ across trophic levels, taxonomic
groups, and ecosystem functions and that decreasing plant genotypic
diversity could destabilize belowground food webs. This highlights the
importance of conserving intraspecific plant diversity.
Belowground plant material was washed immediately, oven dried at 50°C to
constant weight and weighed. Nematodes were counted, identified (100
randomly-selected individuals per plot or all individuals if fewer than
100) to genus level using ×1000 magnification and classified into four
feeding groups. Nematode abundance was expressed as individuals per 100 g
dry weight (DW) soil, diversity was expressed as the genera richness and
Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index at the genus level (H′ diversity).