Record ID No. |
6832 |
Author(s) |
Bonsall M. B.*, Froyd C. A. and Jeffers E. S. , 2020 |
Affiliation |
*Mathematical Ecology Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK. |
Title |
Resilience: Nitrogen Limitation, Mycorrhiza and Long-Term Palaeoecological Plant-Nutrient Dynamics. |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Biology Letters. 16(1): 20190441. |
Categories |
Mycorrhiza General |
Subjects |
Ecology |
Host |
NA |
Organism |
NA |
Country |
UK |
Abstracts |
Ecosystem dynamics are driven by both biotic and abiotic processes, and perturbations can push ecosystems into novel dynamical regimes. Plant-plant, plant-soil and mycorrhizal associations all affect plant ecosystem dynamics; however, the direction and magnitude of these effects vary by context and their contribution to ecosystem resilience over long time periods remains unknown. Here, using a mathematical framework, we investigate the effects of plant feedbacks and mycorrhiza on plant-nutrient interactions. We show evidence for strong nutrient controlled feedbacks, moderation by mycorrhiza and influence on ecological resilience. We use this model to investigate the resilience of a longitudinal palaeoecological birch-δ15N interaction to plant-soil feedbacks and mycorrhizal associations. The birch-δ15N system demonstrated high levels of resilience. Mycorrhiza were predicted to increase resilience by supporting plant-nitrogen uptake and immobilizing excess nitrogen; in contrast, long-term enrichment in available nitrogen by plant-soil feedbacks is expected to decrease ecological resilience. |