Tree range expansion may be enhanced by escape from negative plant-soil feedbacks

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Global Change Biology
• Plant-Soil Interactions

Background:

• Global warming is driving plant species range shifts.
• Plant migration to new areas involves changes in soil pathogen and symbiont interactions.
• Plant-soil feedbacks (PSF) can influence the establishment success of migrant species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role of PSF in the migratory potential of temperate tree species in the Great Lakes region.
• To assess seedling establishment and survival of local and potential migrant tree species under varying soil conditions.

Main Methods:

• Field transplant experiment assessing seedling survival of local and migrant tree species.
• Greenhouse experiment evaluating seedling survival in soils from within and beyond species' current ranges.
• Analysis of plant-soil feedbacks (PSF) mediated by soil biota under different light conditions.

Main Results:

• Most migrant tree species exhibited similar field survival rates to local species, indicating potential for range expansion.
• A majority of species showed strong negative conspecific feedbacks in greenhouse experiments, particularly under low light.
• Migrant species may experience enhanced short-term recruitment beyond their current ranges due to reduced negative PSF from absent conspecific adults.

Conclusions:

• Plant-soil feedbacks play a significant role in the establishment of tree species in new areas.
• Migrant tree species possess the capacity to colonize areas beyond their current distributional limits.
• Reduced negative plant-soil feedbacks in novel environments can facilitate short-term establishment and recruitment of migrant species.