Alpine cushion plants inhibit the loss of phylogenetic diversity in severe environments

Butterfield, Brad and Cavieres, Lohen and Callaway, Ray and Cook, Brad and Kikvidze, Zaal (2013) Alpine cushion plants inhibit the loss of phylogenetic diversity in severe environments. Ecology Letters, 16. pp. 478-486. ISSN 1461-0248

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Abstract

Biotic interactions can shape phylogenetic community structure (PCS). However, we do not know how the asymmetric effects of foundation species on communities extend to effects on PCS. We assessed PCS of alpine plant communities around the world, both within cushion plant foundation species and adjacent open ground, and compared the effects of foundation species and climate on alpha (within-microsite), beta (between open and cushion) and gamma (open and cushion combined) PCS. In the open, alpha PCS shifted from highly related to distantly related with increasing potential productivity. However, we found no relationship between gamma PCS and climate, due to divergence in phylogenetic composition between cushion and open sub-communities in severe environments, as demonstrated by increasing phylo-beta diversity. Thus, foundation species functioned as micro-refugia by facilitating less stress-tolerant lineages in severe environments, erasing a global productivity – phylogenetic diversity relationship that would go undetected without accounting for this important biotic interaction.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > Evolution Q Science > Ecology
Divisions:	Institutes > 4D Research Institute
Depositing User:	Prof. Zaal Kikvidze
Date Deposited:	16 Apr 2015 06:01
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2015 06:01
URI:	http://eprints.iliauni.edu.ge/id/eprint/2071

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• Alpine cushion plants inhibit the loss of phylogenetic diversity in severe environments. (deposited 23 Jan 2014 19:22)
  • Alpine cushion plants inhibit the loss of phylogenetic diversity in severe environments. (deposited 16 Apr 2015 06:01) [Currently Displayed]

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