Shrub facilitation drives tree establishment in a semiarid fog-dependent ecosystem

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60076658%3A12310%2F18%3A43897470" target="_blank" >RIV/60076658:12310/18:43897470 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/avsc.12301" target="_blank" >https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/avsc.12301</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12301" target="_blank" >10.1111/avsc.12301</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Shrub facilitation drives tree establishment in a semiarid fog-dependent ecosystem

Original language description

QuestionsThe exceptional occurrence of tall rain forest patches on foggy coastal mountaintops, surrounded by extensive xerophytic shrublands, suggests an important role of plant-plant interactions in the origin and persistence of these patches in semi-arid Chile. We asked whether facilitation by shrubs can explain the growth and survival of rain forest tree species, and whether shrub effects depend on the identity of the shrub species itself, the drought tolerance of the tree species and the position of shrubs in regard to wind direction. LocationOpen area-shrubland-forest matrix, Fray Jorge Forest National Park, Chile. MethodsWe recorded survival after 12years of a similar to 3600 tree saplings plantation (originally similar to 30-cm tall individuals) of Aextoxicon punctatum, Myrceugenia correifolia and Drimys winteri placed outside forests, beneath the shrub Baccharis vernalis, and in open (shrub-free) areas. We assessed the effects of neighbouring shrubs and soil humidity on survival and growth along a gradient related to the direction of fog movement. ResultsB. vernalis had a clear facilitative effect on tree establishment and survival since, after similar to 12years, saplings only survived beneath the shrub canopy. Long-term survival strongly depended on tree species identity, drought tolerance and position along the soil moisture gradient, with higher survival of A. punctatum (&gt;35%) and M. correifolia (&gt;14%) at sites on wind- and fog-exposed shrubland areas. Sites occupied by the shrub Aristeguietia salvia were unsuitable for trees, presumably due to drier conditions than under B. vernalis. ConclusionsInteractions between shrubs and fog-dependent tree species in dry areas revealed a strong, long-lasting facilitation effect on planted tree&apos;s survival and growth. Shrubs acted as benefactors, providing sites suitable for tree growth. Sapling mortality in the shrubland interior was caused by lower soil moisture, the consequence of lower fog loads in the air and thus insufficient facilitation. While B. vernalis was a key ecosystem engineer (nurse) and intercepted fog water that dripped to trees planted underneath, drier sites with A. salvia were unsuitable for trees. Consequently, nurse effects related to water input are strongly site and species specific, with facilitation by shrubs providing a plausible explanation for the initiation of forest patches in this semi-arid landscape.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10618 - Ecology

Project

<a href="/en/project/LM2015078" target="_blank" >LM2015078: Czech Polar Research Infrastructure</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)<br>I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2018

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Applied Vegetation Science

ISSN

1402-2001

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

21

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

8

Pages from-to

113-120

UT code for WoS article

000425120600013

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85030469668