Abstract
Rapid climate change imperils many small-ranged endemic species as the climate envelopes of their native ranges shift poleward. In addition to abiotic changes, biotic interactions are expected to play a critical role in plant species' responses. Below-ground interactions are of particular interest given increasing evidence of microbial effects on plant performance and the prevalence of mycorrhizal mutualisms. We used greenhouse mesocosm experiments to investigate how natural northward migration/assisted colonization of Rhododendron catawbiense, a small-ranged endemic eastern U.S. shrub, might be influenced by novel below-ground biotic interactions from soils north of its native range, particularly with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERM). We compared germination, leaf size, survival, and ERM colonization rates of endemic R. catawbiense and widespread R. maximum when sown on different soil inoculum treatments: a sterilized control; a non-ERM biotic control; ERM communities from northern R. maximum populations; and ERM communities collected from the native range of R. catawbiense. Germination rates for both species when inoculated with congeners' novel soils were significantly higher than when inoculated with conspecific soils, or non-mycorrhizal controls. Mortality rates were unaffected by treatment, suggesting that the unexpected reciprocal effect of each species' increased establishment in association with heterospecific ERM could have lasting demographic effects. Our results suggest that seedling establishment of R. catawbiense in northern regions outside its native range could be facilitated by the presence of extant congeners like R. maximum and their associated soil microbiota. These findings have direct relevance to the potential for successful poleward migration or future assisted colonization efforts.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Germination of R. catawbiense was significantly higher with congeners novel soils than with conspecific soils or non-mycorrhizal controls.
- Taxon
- R. catawbiense
Rhododendron catawbiensee2 - Treatment
- congeners' novel soilse1
- Interactor
- ericoid mycorrhizal fungie3symbiont
- Outcome
- Germination ratese1
- Direction
- highere1
- Comparator
- conspecific soils, or non-mycorrhizal controlse1
- Setting
- greenhouse mesocosme0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“We used greenhouse mesocosm experiments”
e1“Germination rates for both species when inoculated with congeners' novel soils were significantly higher than when inoculated with conspecific soils, or non-mycorrhizal controls”
e2“endemic R. catawbiense and widespread R. maximum”
e3“particularly with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERM)”
Claim · model-written summary
Germination of R. maximum was significantly higher with congeners novel soils than with conspecific soils or non-mycorrhizal controls.
- Taxon
- R. maximum
Rhododendron maximume2 - Treatment
- congeners' novel soilse1
- Interactor
- ericoid mycorrhizal fungie3symbiont
- Outcome
- Germination ratese1
- Direction
- highere1
- Comparator
- conspecific soils, or non-mycorrhizal controlse1
- Setting
- greenhouse mesocosme0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“We used greenhouse mesocosm experiments”
e1“Germination rates for both species when inoculated with congeners' novel soils were significantly higher than when inoculated with conspecific soils, or non-mycorrhizal controls”
e2“endemic R. catawbiense and widespread R. maximum”
e3“particularly with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERM)”
Claim · model-written summary
Mortality of the seedlings was unaffected by the soil inoculum treatments.
- Taxon
- Rhododendron
Rhododendront0 - Treatment
- soil inoculum treatmentse4
- Outcome
- Mortality ratese5
- Direction
- unaffectede5
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“northward Rhododendron range shifts”
e4“when sown on different soil inoculum treatments”
e5“Mortality rates were unaffected by treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
Seedling establishment of R. catawbiense outside its native range could be facilitated by extant congeners and their soil microbiota.
- Taxon
- R. catawbienseRhododendron catawbiensee6
- Treatment
- the presence of extant congeners like R. maximum and their associated soil microbiotae6
- Outcome
- seedling establishmente6
- Direction
- facilitatede6
- Setting
- northern regions outside its native rangee6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“seedling establishment of R. catawbiense in northern regions outside its native range could be facilitated by the presence of extant congeners like R. maximum and their associated soil microbiota”