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Experimental Protocol for Manipulating Plant-induced Soil Heterogeneity
Published on: March 13, 2014
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Phylogenetic signals and predictability in plant-soil feedbacks
Elizabeth M Wandrag1,2,3, Sarah E Bates1, Luke G Barrett4
1Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2617, Australia.
The New Phytologist
|July 4, 2020
Summary
Phylogenetic signals in plant-soil feedbacks are divergent, not directional. Closely related plant species exhibit similar soil feedback responses, while distantly related species show more varied interactions, suggesting evolutionary shifts in plant-microbiota co-evolution.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Phylogenetic signals are evident in species interactions and co-evolutionary partnerships.
- A phylogenetic signal is expected in plant-soil feedbacks due to cultivated soil microbiota.
- Previous studies on phylogenetic signals in plant-soil feedbacks have yielded inconsistent results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the mechanisms of phylogenetic signals in plant-soil feedbacks.
- To determine if a phylogenetic signal exists in plant-soil feedback outcomes.
- To ascertain if this signal results from directional or divergent evolutionary changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a comprehensive compilation of data from existing plant-soil feedback experiments.
- Analyzed feedback outcomes in relation to plant species phylogeny.
- Investigated patterns of directional versus divergent changes in feedback responses over evolutionary time.
Main Results:
- Found strong evidence for a divergent phylogenetic signal in plant-soil feedback outcomes.
- Demonstrated that distantly related plant species exhibit more divergent responses to each other's soil microbiota than closely related species.
- Observed patterns of divergence suggesting occasional co-evolutionary shifts in plant-microbiota interactions.
Conclusions:
- Plant-soil feedback outcomes display a divergent phylogenetic signal.
- Closely related plant species tend to have more similar soil feedback responses.
- Predicting feedback outcomes solely from phylogeny is challenging, though relatedness indicates similar responses.
Keywords:
Brownian evolutionbiotic interactionsmutualismspairwise feedbackspathogensplant-soil interactionssymbiosesMore Related Videos
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