Community Ecology
Volume/Issue:
Volume 7: Issue 1
Mechanisms of species coexistence in a lawn community: mutual corroboration between two independent assembly rules
Authors:
N.W.H. Mason Unite de Recherche Hydrobiologie, Cemagref, 361. rue Jean-François Breton, BP 5095 - 34196 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.

Search for other papers by N.W.H. Mason in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
and
J.B. Wilson Botany Department, University of Otago. P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

Search for other papers by J.B. Wilson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Pages:
109–116
Online Publication Date:
07 Jul 2006
Publication Date:
01 Jun 2006
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/comec.7.2006.1.11
Keywords:
Coexistence; Competition; Community; Guild; Assembly rules; Defoliation; Intrinsic guilds; Lawn; Light competition; Limiting similarity; Stratification.
Restricted access

Assembly rules are measures of community structure that link observed patterns with ecological processes, and as such may help to elucidate the mechanisms by which species coexist. We apply two approaches to a lawn community - limiting similarity and guild proportionality - hoping that agreement between them might give robust conclusions. We tested for agreement between these two assembly rules using functional characters that are related to two aspects of species function - light capture and response to defoliation. We combined point quadrat data and a null model approach to test for limiting similarity - a tendency for species differing in functional characters to co-occur more often than expected at random - in turves extracted from the lawn community. Examining the variance in the characters of the species co-occuring at each point, evidence for limiting similarity was found for mowing removal (the proportion of leaf area removed in mowing events). There was greater variation between the species co-occurring at a point than expected at random (i.e., under an appropriate null model). However, no such evidence was found for characters related uniquely to light capture, such as specific leaf area and pigment concentrations. In a previous study in the same community, “intrinsic” guilds had been determined from co-occurrences within the lawn community and from a competition experiment, as those effective in determining species assembly and co-existence. These intrinsic guilds are shown by t-test to differ in the proportion of their biomass removed in mowing (MRI), which is of course related to the height at which their leaf area is held. However, again no differences were seen in characters related uniquely to light capture. Thus, the two different approaches to assembly rules - guild proportionality and limiting similarity - agree that differences in response to mowing are responsible for species co-existence in the lawn community. The agreement between these two approaches, tested on independent datasets of quite different type from the same community, gives possibly the strongest evidence so far that niche differentiation may be responsible for local co-existence in plant communities. However, although MRI is related to this co-existence the lack of correlation with light-capture characters leads to speculation that the effects might be via the below-ground behaviour of the species.

  • Armbruster, W.S., Edwards, M.E. and Debevec, E.M. 1994. Floral character displacement generates assemblage structure of Western Australia triggerplants (Stylidium). Ecology 75: 315-329.

    'Floral character displacement generates assemblage structure of Western Australia triggerplants (Stylidium) ' () 75 Ecology : 315 -329 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Brown, J.H., Fox, B.J. and Kelt, D.A. 2000. Assembly rules: desert rodent communities are structured at scales from local to continental. Am. Nat. 156: 314-321.

    'Assembly rules: desert rodent communities are structured at scales from local to continental ' () 156 Am. Nat. : 314 -321 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bullock J.M., Franklin J., Stevenson M.J., Silvertown J., Coulson S.J., Gregory S.J. and Tofts R. 2001. A plant trait analysis of responses to grazing in a long-term experiment. J. Appl. Ecol. 38: 253-267.

    'A plant trait analysis of responses to grazing in a long-term experiment ' () 38 J. Appl. Ecol. : 253 -267 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bycroft, C.M., Nicolaou, N., Smith, B. and Wilson, J.B. 1993. Community structure (niche limitation and guild proportionality) in relation to the effect of spatial scale, in a Nothofagus forest sampled with a circular transect. N. Z. J. Ecol. 17: 95-101.

    'Community structure (niche limitation and guild proportionality) in relation to the effect of spatial scale, in a Nothofagus forest sampled with a circular transect ' () 17 N. Z. J. Ecol. : 95 -101 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Chappelle, E., Moon, S. and McMurtrey, J. 1992. Ratio analysis of reflectance spectra (RARS): an algorithm for the remote estimation of the concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids in soybean leaves. Remote Sensing of Environment 39: 239-247.

    'Ratio analysis of reflectance spectra (RARS): an algorithm for the remote estimation of the concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids in soybean leaves ' () 39 Remote Sensing of Environment : 239 -247 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Cingolani A.M., Posse G., Collantes M.B. 2005. Plant functional traits, herbivore selectivity and response to sheep grazing in Patagonian steppe grasslands. J. Appl. Ecol. 42:50-59

    'Plant functional traits, herbivore selectivity and response to sheep grazing in Patagonian steppe grasslands ' () 42 J. Appl. Ecol. : 50 -59 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • de Kroon, H. and Olff, H. 1995. On the use of the guild concept in plant ecology. Folia Geobotanica et Phytotaxonomica 30: 519-528.

    'On the use of the guild concept in plant ecology ' () 30 Folia Geobotanica et Phytotaxonomica : 519 -528 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Kinzig, A.P., Levin, S.A., Dushoff, J. and Pacala, S. 1999. Limiting similarity, species packing, and system stability for hierarchical competition-colonization models. Am. Nat. 153: 371-383.

    'Limiting similarity, species packing, and system stability for hierarchical competition-colonization models ' () 153 Am. Nat. : 371 -383 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Lichtenhaler, H. 1987. Chlorophylls and carotenoids: pigments of photosynthesis. Methods in Enzymology 148: 350-382.

    'Chlorophylls and carotenoids: pigments of photosynthesis ' () 148 Methods in Enzymology : 350 -382 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Louahlia, S., Laine, P., Thornton, B., Ourry, A. and Boucaud, J. 2000. The role of N-remobilisation and the uptake of NH4+ and NO3- by Lolium perenne L. in lamina growth following defoliation under field conditions. Plant and Soil 220: 185-187.

    'The role of N-remobilisation and the uptake of NH4+ and NO3- by Lolium perenne L. in lamina growth following defoliation under field conditions ' () 220 Plant and Soil : 185 -187 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • MacArthur, R. and Levins, R. 1967. The limiting similarity, convergence, and divergence of coexisting species. Am. Nat. 101: 377-385.

    'The limiting similarity, convergence, and divergence of coexisting species ' () 101 Am. Nat. : 377 -385 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Moran, R. and Porath, P. 1980. Chlorophyll determination in intact tissues using N,N-Dimethylformamide. Plant Physiol. 65: 478-479.

    'Chlorophyll determination in intact tissues using N,N-Dimethylformamide ' () 65 Plant Physiol. : 478 -479 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Morvan-Bertrand, A., Pavis, N., Boucaud, J. and Prud'homme, M-P. 1999. Partitioning of reserve and newly assimilated carbon in the roots and leaf tissues of Lolium perenne during growth after defoliation: assessment by C13 steady-state labelling and carbohydrate analysis. Plant, Cell Env. 22: 1097-1108.

    'Partitioning of reserve and newly assimilated carbon in the roots and leaf tissues of Lolium perenne during growth after defoliation: assessment by C13 steady-state labelling and carbohydrate analysis ' () 22 Plant, Cell Env. : 1097 -1108 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Mucina, L. and Bartha, S. 1999. Variance in species richness and guild proportionality in two contrasting dry grassland communities. Biologia 54: 67-75.

    'Variance in species richness and guild proportionality in two contrasting dry grassland communities ' () 54 Biologia : 67 -75 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Nakashizuka, T. 2001. Species coexistence in temperate, mixed deciduous forests. Trends Ecol. Evol. 16: 205-210.

    'Species coexistence in temperate, mixed deciduous forests ' () 16 Trends Ecol. Evol. : 205 -210 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Parish, J.A.D. and Bazzaz, F.A. 1976. Underground niche underground separation in successional plants. Ecology 57: 1281-1288.

    'Underground niche underground separation in successional plants ' () 57 Ecology : 1281 -1288 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Poorter, L. 1999. Growth responses of 15 rain forest tree species to a light gradient: the relative importance of morphological and physiological traits. Funct Ecol. 13: 396-410.

    'Growth responses of 15 rain forest tree species to a light gradient: the relative importance of morphological and physiological traits ' () 13 Funct Ecol. : 396 -410 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Porra, R.J., Thompson, W.A. and Kriedmann, P.E. 1989. Determination of accurate extinction coefficients and simultaneous equations for assaying chlorophylls a and b extracted with four different solvents: verification of the concentration of chlorophyll standards by atomic spectroscopy. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 975: 384-394.

    'Determination of accurate extinction coefficients and simultaneous equations for assaying chlorophylls a and b extracted with four different solvents: verification of the concentration of chlorophyll standards by atomic spectroscopy ' () 975 Biochimica et Biophysica Acta : 384 -394 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Press, M.C. 1999. The functional significance of leaf structure: a search for generalisations. New Phytol. 143: 213-219.

    'The functional significance of leaf structure: a search for generalisations ' () 143 New Phytol. : 213 -219 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Reddy, V., Goud, V., Saharma, R. and Reddy, A. 1994. Ultraviolet-B-responsive anthocyanin production in a rice cultivar is associated with a specific phase of phenylalanin ammonia lyase biosynthesis. Plant Physiol. 105: 1059-1066.

    'Ultraviolet-B-responsive anthocyanin production in a rice cultivar is associated with a specific phase of phenylalanin ammonia lyase biosynthesis ' () 105 Plant Physiol. : 1059 -1066 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Roxburgh, S.H. and Wilson, J.B. 2000. Stability and co-existence in a lawn community: experimental assessment of the stability of the actual community. Oikos 88: 409-423.

    'Stability and co-existence in a lawn community: experimental assessment of the stability of the actual community ' () 88 Oikos : 409 -423 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Roxburgh, S.H., Watkins, A.J. and Wilson, J.B. 1993. Lawns have vertical stratification. J. Veg. Sci. 4: 699-704.

    'Lawns have vertical stratification ' () 4 J. Veg. Sci. : 699 -704 .

  • Stubbs, W.J. and Wilson, J.B 2004. Evidence for limiting similarity in a sand dune community. J. Ecol. 92:557-567

    'Evidence for limiting similarity in a sand dune community ' () 92 J. Ecol. : 557 -567 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tansley, A.G. and Adamson R.S. 1925. Studies of the vegetation of the English Chalk: III. The chalk grasslands of the Hampshire-Sussex border. J. Ecol. 12: 177-221.

    'Studies of the vegetation of the English Chalk: III. The chalk grasslands of the Hampshire-Sussex border ' () 12 J. Ecol. : 177 -221 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Weiher, E., Clarke, G.D.P. and Keddy, P.A. 1998. Community assembly rules, morphological dispersion and coexistence of plant species. Oikos 81: 309-322.

    'Community assembly rules, morphological dispersion and coexistence of plant species ' () 81 Oikos : 309 -322 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wilson, J.B. 1987. Methods for detecting non-randomness in species co-occurrences: a contribution. Oecologia 73: 579-582.

    'Methods for detecting non-randomness in species co-occurrences: a contribution ' () 73 Oecologia : 579 -582 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wilson, J.B. 1989. A null model of guild proportionality, applied to stratification of a New Zealand temperate rain forest. Oecologia 80: 263-267.

    'A null model of guild proportionality, applied to stratification of a New Zealand temperate rain forest ' () 80 Oecologia : 263 -267 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wilson, J.B. 1999a. Assembly rules in plant communities. In: E. Weiher and P.A. Keddy (ed.), Ecological Assembly Rules: Perspectives, Advances, Retreats. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 130-164.

    Assembly rules in plant communities , () 130 -164 .

  • Wilson, J.B. 1999b. Guilds, functional types and ecological groups. Oikos 86: 507-522.

    'Guilds, functional types and ecological groups ' () 86 Oikos : 507 -522 .

  • Wilson, J.B. and Roxburgh, S.H. 1994. A demonstration of guild-based assembly rules for a plant community, and determination of intrinsic guilds. Oikos 69: 267-276.

    'A demonstration of guild-based assembly rules for a plant community, and determination of intrinsic guilds ' () 69 Oikos : 267 -276 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wilson, J.B. and Roxburgh, S.H. 2001. Intrinsic guild structure: determination from competition experiments. Oikos 92: 189-192.

    'Intrinsic guild structure: determination from competition experiments ' () 92 Oikos : 189 -192 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wilson, J.B., Wells, T.C.E., Trueman, I.C., Jones, G., Atkinson, M.D., Crawley, M.J., Dodd, M.E. and Silvertown, J. 1996. Are there assembly rules for plant species abundance: an investigation in relation to soil resources and successional trends. J. Ecol. 84: 527-538.

    'Are there assembly rules for plant species abundance: an investigation in relation to soil resources and successional trends ' () 84 J. Ecol. : 527 -538 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Community Ecology
Community Ecology An Interdisciplinary Journal Reporting Progress in Community and Population Studies
Print ISSN:
1585-8553
Online ISSN:
1588-2756

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript Submission: HERE

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Community Ecology
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 2000
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 3
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1585-8553 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2756 (Online)

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Apr 2024 39 0 0
May 2024 12 0 0
Jun 2024 16 0 0
Jul 2024 25 0 0
Aug 2024 25 2 3
Sep 2024 39 0 0
Oct 2024 36 0 0