Plant-soil feedback of native and range-expanding plant species is insensitive to temperature

Abstract

Temperature change affects many aboveground and belowground ecosystem processes. Here we investigate the effect of a 5 degrees C temperature increase on plant-soil feedback. We compare plant species from a temperate climate region with immigrant plants that originate from warmer regions and have recently shifted their range polewards. We tested whether the magnitude of plant-soil feedback is affected by ambient temperature and whether the effect of temperature differs between these groups of plant species. Six European/Eurasian plant species that recently colonized the Netherlands (non-natives), and six related species (natives) from the Netherlands were selected. Plant-soil feedback of these species was determined by comparing performance in conspecific and heterospecific soils. In order to test the effect of temperature on these plant-soil feedback interactions, the experiments were performed at two greenhouse temperatures of 20/15 degrees C and 25/20 degrees C, respectively. Inoculation with unconditioned soil had the same effect on natives and non-natives. However, the effect of conspecific conditioned soil was negative compared to heterospecific soil for natives, but was positive for non-natives. In both cases, plant-soil interactions were not affected by temperature. Therefore, we conclude that the temperature component of climate change does not affect the direction, or strength of plant-soil feedback, neither for native nor for non-native plant species. However, as the non-natives have a more positive soil feedback than natives, climate warming may introduce new plant species in temperate regions that have less soil-borne control of abundance.

Fig. 1

A graphic representation of the experimental setup consisting of a conditioning and a feedback phase. The feedback phase consists of two comparisons, one of biomass produced in conspecific conditioned soil versus a mixed, heterospecific soil and one of biomass produced in an inoculated versus sterilized soil, a repetition of the conditioning phase. This is done for 12 plant species (six pairs of a native and non-native plant species) and at two temperatures (within four greenhouses)

Fig. 2

Mean (±SD) biomass of plants grown with a general inoculum or its sterilized control at low (20/15°C) or high (25/20°C) temperatures. Total biomass per pot (five individuals) is shown. Each panel represents a pair consisting of a non-native and native plant species

Fig. 3

Mean (±SD) biomass of plants grown in conditioned conspecific soil or a heterospecific control at low (20/15°C) or high (25/20°C) temperatures. Each panel represents a pair consisting of a non-native and a native plant species