10.5061/DRYAD.V4J1P
Michalet, Richard
University of Montana
Schöb, Christian
Lanzhou University
Xiao, Sa
Lanzhou University
Zhao, Liang
Chongqing University
Chen, Tuo
Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute
Lanzhou China
An, Li-zhe
Lanzhou University
Callaway, Ragan M.
University of Montana
Data from: Beneficiary feedback effects on alpine cushion benefactors
become more negative with increasing cover of graminoids and in dry
conditions
Dryad
dataset
2016
functional composition
community feedbacks
cushion plants
beneficiary feedback effect
Thylacospermum caespitosum
2016-06-24T00:00:00Z
2016-06-24T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.12507
209601 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
In facilitative interactions, the beneficiary feedback effect (BFE) has
been defined as the effect of beneficiary species (facilitated species) on
their benefactor. BFEs have been shown to be dependent on environmental
conditions and the composition of the beneficiary community. In alpine
cushion systems, BFEs are more negative with more abundant, diverse and
phylogenetically aggregated communities of beneficiary species. We tested
the hypothesis that the functional composition of the beneficiary
communities correlates with the direction and strength of BFE received by
alpine cushion benefactors and specifically that a more negative BFE would
occur with increasing density of graminoids and a more positive BFE would
occur with increasing density of forbs and legumes. Additionally, we
predicted that the negative BFE of graminoids would increase with
increasing summer aridity. We used a data base of alpine cushion
communities from 30 sites throughout the world to assess the overall
relationship between the composition of beneficiary communities and the
total flower density of cushion benefactors, and its variation with
increasing drought. Additionally, in order to assess more precisely the
role of the functional composition of the beneficiary communities on BFE
in a very dry site with cushion benefactors exhibiting contrasting
functional compositions of beneficiary communities, we also designed a
field study in the Qilian Shan mountain range (China). At this site with a
highly continental climate, we compared the number of flowers and fruits
of different phenotypes of the alpine cushion species Thylacospermum
caespitosum hosting numerous graminoids, numerous forbs or very few
beneficiary species. In the intercontinental study, we found a negative
relationship between graminoids and cushion benefactor flower density but
no effect of other functional groups. The negative BFE of graminoids
increased with increasing summer drought. In the dry Qilian Shan range, we
found both a negative effect of graminoids on total flower density and a
positive effect of forbs on flower density and fruit set. Our study
indicates that the context dependence of BFE may be partially explained by
the composition of beneficiary communities and in particular the negative
effect of graminoids.
Global studyExcel data file with the data from the intercontinental
study.Qilian ShanExcel data file with the data from the Qilian Shan study
site.
Qilian Shan
Latitude 39.590°
China
Longitude 96.420°