10.5061/DRYAD.PH02R
Waller, Lauren P.
University of Montana
Callaway, Ragan M.
University of Montana
Klironomos, John N.
University of British Columbia
Ortega, Yvette K.
United States Department of Agriculture
Maron, John L.
University of Montana
Data from: Reduced mycorrhizal responsiveness leads to increased
competitive tolerance in an invasive exotic plant
Dryad
dataset
2017
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Stipa pulchra
mycorrhizal responsiveness
Centaurea solstitialis
2017-07-19T00:00:00Z
2017-07-19T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12641
42887 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can exert a powerful influence on the
outcome of plant–plant competition. Since some exotic plants interact
differently with soil biota such as AM fungi in their new range,
range-based shifts in AM responsiveness could shift competitive
interactions between exotic and resident plants, although this remains
poorly studied. We explored whether genotypes of the annual exotic
Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle), collected from populations
across the native and non-native ranges, differed in responsiveness to AM
fungi in the introduced range and whether range-based differences in
mycorrhizal responsiveness affected how strongly C. solstitialis tolerated
competition with the North American native bunchgrass, Stipa pulchra.
Grown alone, C. solstitialis from both ranges derived only weak benefits
from AM fungi. However, association with AM fungi was costly to plants
when grown in competition with S. pulchra. The magnitude of the
suppressive effect of AM fungi was greater for genotypes from native
versus introduced populations. Synthesis. Many exotic invasive species are
known to associate weakly with AM fungi, which may be beneficial in
disturbed habitats where competition for resources is low. Our results
indicate that reduced mycorrhizal associations may also benefit invaders
in a competitive environment. Centaurea solstitialis were more strongly
suppressed by established S. pulchra plants in the presence versus absence
of AM fungi, but exotic genotypes were less suppressed than native
genotypes. This suggests that AM fungi may contribute to invasion
resistance in established native communities, but range-based shifts in
the way exotic genotypes respond to AM fungal partners may counter such
biotic resistance.
Biomass and root to shoot ratiosBiomass (g) and root to shoot ratios of
Centaurea solstitialis plants originating from North America and
EuropeBIOMASS.xlsx
Europe
North America