Do plant–soil interactions influence how the microbial community responds to environmental change?. Issue 1 (5th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brigham, Laurel M.; Bueno de Mesquita, Clifton P.; Smith, Jane G.; Sartwell, Samuel A.; Schmidt, Steven K.; Suding, Katharine N.
• Is Part Of: Ecology. Volume 103:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-11-05
• Subjects: community ecology -- dominant species -- global change -- microbial ecology -- nitrogen fertilization -- plant removal -- plant–microbe interactions -- soil bacteria -- soil fungi; Ecology -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Écologie -- Périodiques; Ecologie; Écologie; Écologie animale; Écologie végétale; Ecology; Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3554
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-9658

Abstract

Abstract: Global change alters ecosystems and their functioning, and biotic interactions can either buffer or amplify such changes. We utilized a long‐term nitrogen (N) addition and species removal experiment in the Front Range of Colorado, USA to determine whether a codominant forb and a codominant grass, with different effects on nutrient cycling and plant community structure, would buffer or amplify the effects of simulated N deposition on soil bacterial and fungal communities. While the plant community was strongly shaped by both the presence of dominant species and N addition, we did not find a mediating effect of the plant community on soil microbial response to N. In contrast to our hypothesis, we found a decoupling of the plant and microbial communities such that the soil microbial community shifted under N independently of directional shifts in the plant community. These findings suggest there are not strong cascading effects of N deposition across the plant–soil interface in our system.