Both selection and plasticity drive niche differentiation in experimental grasslands

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Plant Science
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Niche differentiation is a key driver of species coexistence, but experimental validation in plants is limited.
• Processes like selection and phenotypic plasticity are proposed to drive niche differentiation, yet their roles require quantification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate the roles of selection and phenotypic plasticity in driving niche differentiation in plant communities.
• To track changes in plant traits over time to understand the mechanisms of species coexistence.

Main Methods:

• Tracking changes in plant height, a trait related to light capture, in multispecies sown grasslands over five years.
• Analyzing genetic structure changes to assess the contribution of selection.
• Evaluating the role of phenotypic plasticity in promoting trait divergence.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated increasing among-species height differences over time in experimental grasslands.
• Found that phenotypic plasticity significantly contributes to the rapid establishment of niche differentiation.
• Identified the contribution of selection through analysis of genetic structure changes.

Conclusions:

• Experimentally validated niche differentiation in artificial grassland communities over a short timescale.
• Showcased the combined action of phenotypic plasticity and selection in driving species niche differentiation.
• Provided empirical evidence for the theoretical understanding of species coexistence mechanisms in plants.