Soil alters seedling establishment responses to climate. (30th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ford, Kevin R.; HilleRisLambers, Janneke
• Editors: Bardgett, Richard
• Is Part Of: Ecology letters. Volume 23:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 140
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2019-10-30
• Subjects: Abies lasiocarpa -- Cascade Range -- climate change -- edaphic -- Mount Rainier -- Pacific Northwest -- plant -- range shift -- soil -- treeline; Ecology -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/ele.13416
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-023X

Abstract

Abstract: Ecologists expect species and biomes to shift poleward and upward with climate change, but non‐climatic factors complicate these predictions. In mountains, forests are expected to expand upward along climate gradients into subalpine/alpine meadows, while meadows expand upward onto bare ground. However, soils also vary across elevation, with bare soil above the meadows potentially poorer for plant establishment. Poor soil might constrain expansion at meadows' upper edges, while rich meadow soil might facilitate contraction at lower edges by promoting tree establishment. We assessed climate and soil effects on establishment by transplanting soil and seedlings of meadow and tree species across climate gradients on Mount Rainier. There were considerable interspecific differences, but some generalisations emerged. Survival often declined with earlier snow disappearance, with somewhat smaller declines in meadow soil. Size often increased with earlier snow disappearance, with larger increases in meadow soil. Thus, soil patterns may complicate range shifts. Abstract : We tested how soil type affects the relationship between climate and seedling establishment success by transplanting tree, subalpine and alpine species into different soil types at locations spanning large climate gradients at Mount Rainier. Seedling responses to climate often differed by soil type, suggesting that soil patterns may complicate species range shifts under climate change.