Given the fine spatial resolution of our experiment, we were interested in assessing the insect response at the community scale (i.e., flower visitors) rather than at the landscape scale (i.e., species pool). 2013) as well as the intimacy of plant–pollinator interactions (Thomson & Chittka 2001, Losapio et al. In this way we ensured to remove the effects of ecosystem engineer flowers, ignoring other abiotic effects, without compromising the integrity of examined organisms and ecosystem (a protected National Park).Įach treatment consisted of 20 x 20 cm standard plots, a size that reflects the fine spatial scale of plant facilitation in this alpine environment (Schöb et al. The removal experiment consisted of the three following treatments: 1) removal (clipping aboveground parts) of all associated plants within and around randomly selected individuals of ecosystem engineers, 2) flower exclusion (covering with stones) of ecosystem engineers nearby associated plants, and 3) no removal (i.e., patches with naturally co-occurring ecosystem engineers and associated plants). glacialis (Boiss.) Valdés (Fabaceae) and Sideritis glacialis Boiss (Lamiaceae). (Asteraceae), Leucanthemopsis pectinata (L.) López & Jarvis (Asteraceae), Lotus corniculatus subsp. & Rodr (Campanulaceae), Leontodon boryi Boiss. (Plantaginaceae), Crepis oporinoides Boiss. (Fabaceae), Chaenorrhinum glareosum (Boiss. 1).Īfter surveying the plant community (Appendix S1: Method S1), we selected a pool of plant species for carrying out the removal experiment, which consisted of the eight most-frequently associated plant species: Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. Associated plant species grow and flower underneath its canopy (Fig. 2011) and has copious actinomorphic purple flowers visited by more than twenty pollinator species (Losapio et al.
Hormathophylla spinosa is a dwarf shrub with spiny branches and small laves (Blanca et al. Associated plant species grow and flower on top of its canopy (Fig. 2012) and white actinomorphic flowers visited by more than twenty-five pollinator species (Gómez et al. The engineer Arenaria tetraquetra is a cushion plant with compact, small and dense branches (Blanca et al. (Caryophyllaceae) and Hormathophylla spinosa L. This is a well-studied model ecosystem characterized by vegetation patches that are structured by two sparsely-distributed plants that act as ecosystem engineers: Arenaria tetraquetra ssp.
The study was carried out in a dry, Mediterranean alpine ecosystem in Sierra Nevada, Spain (Loma del Mulhacén, 3200 m a.s.l.).
#Variation partitioning environment space time rcode rscript full
In synthesis, facilitation among plants can scale up to a full network, supporting ecosystem functioning both directly via microhabitat amelioration and indirectly via diversity effects. A potential mechanism is that synergy and complementarity between engineers and associated plants increase attractiveness for shared visitors and widen pollination niches. Our study reveals that plant facilitation can enhance the strength of biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships, with complementarity between plants for attracting more and diverse flower visitors being the likely driver. Furthermore, complementarity effects between engineers and associated plants were positive for flower visitation rates. In both cases patches supported by ecosystem engineers increased phylogenetic and functional diversity of flower visitors. We found both positive and negative associational effects between plants depending on ecosystem engineer identity, indicating both pollination facilitation and interference. natural patches of ecosystem engineers and associated plant species.
The experiment, conducted in the field during a single alpine flowering season, included the following treatments: 1) removal of plant species associated with ecosystem engineers, 2) exclusion (covering) of ecosystem engineer flowers, and 3) control, i.e. We present a case-study experiment in which facilitation by a cushion-plant species and a dwarf-shrub species as ecosystem engineers increases positive effects of plant functional diversity (ecosystem engineers and associated plants) on ecosystem functioning (flower visitation rate). We combine facilitation by plants acting as ecosystem engineers with plant–insect interaction analysis and variance partitioning of biodiversity effects. Here, we present an experimental framework to study this relationship. However, these two fields of research developed in parallel and independent from one another, with the consequence that little is known about the role of ecosystem engineers in the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across trophic levels. Furthermore, biodiversity research has demonstrated that plant diversity enhances the productivity and functioning of ecosystems. Plants acting as ecosystem engineers create habitats and facilitate biodiversity maintenance within plant communities.
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