Interspecific competition enhances nitrogen fixation in an actinorhizal shrub |
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Authors: | Donald L Hagan Shibu Jose |
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Institution: | (1) School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 369 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;(2) Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA |
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Abstract: | In forest understory restoration, the establishment of reintroduced species may be strongly linked to their ability to compete
for belowground resources. In this study, we provide isotopic and morphological evidence for competition-induced increases
in nitrogen fixation by Morella cerifera (L.) Small (wax myrtle) when planted with Pinus palustris Mill (longleaf pine). Compared to a competition-free treatment, we found no significant differences in tissue N concentrations
for M. cerifera. However, 15N enrichment in leaves, stems and roots, as well as whole-plant values for nitrogen derived from fertilizer were significantly
lower when the plants were subject to interspecific competition from P. palustris. Plants in the competition treatment also allocated a significantly greater percentage of belowground biomass to root nodules
than those in the competition-free treatment (0.65 vs. 0.41%). This strongly suggests that M. cerifera is capable of upregulating nitrogen fixation in response to interspecific competition. This may help explain why M. cerifera outperformed non-nitrogen-fixing species reintroduced on the same site. |
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