Biro, A., Wong, M.Y., Zhou, Y. et al. (2 more authors) (2024) Nitrogen and phosphorus availability alters tree-grass competition intensity in savannas. Journal of Ecology, 112 (5). pp. 1026-1038. ISSN 0022-0477
Abstract
1. Plant essential macronutrients like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) can limit savanna tree growth and are important determinants of savanna vegetation dynamics, along with rainfall, fire and herbivory. How nitrogen and phosphorus shape tree-grass competition and their coexistence remain unclear, hindering our ability to predict how savannas may respond to altered nutrient cycling. 2. Here, we evaluate (1) if trees and grasses respond differently to N versus P availability, or (2) if grasses are more competitive in low nutrient environments while trees are more competitive in high nutrient environments. To do this, we grew saplings of 6 tree and 1 grass species from the Kruger National Park, South Africa, for 16 weeks under fully factorial nutrient and competition treatments (with/ without competitors, low/high rate of N supply and low/high rate of P supply) under a watering regime designed to mimic wet season rainfall in a mesic savanna. 3. Trees and grasses foraged most aggressively for nitrogen and allocated biomass differently depending on nitrogen availability. Overall, tree growth decreased in competition with grass, even in high nutrient environments where they grew faster. Grasses were always better below-ground competitors, utilising aggressive nutrient foraging strategies, including high root phosphatase activity in response to nitrogen and large root biomass allocation. 4. Synthesis. In low nutrient environments (e.g. on nutrient-poor sandy soils), nutrients may limit tree growth. Nutrient rich environments enable tree growth, but grasses continue to compete effectively with trees. Understanding what this means for ecosystem responses to nutrient availability is not trivial, especially in the context of fire and herbivory. However, it is clear that soil nutrients likely affect tree and grass growth and competition in savannas, which suggests that future changes in nutrient cycling, such as N deposition, may have important effects on savanna vegetation.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Authors. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Biro, A., Wong, M. Y., Zhou, Y., Batterman, S. A., & Staver, A. C. (2024). Nitrogen and phosphorus availability alters tree-grass competition intensity in savannas. Journal of Ecology, 112, 1026–1038, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14284. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. |
Keywords: | nitrogen, phosphatase enzymes, phosphorus, soil nutrients, tree-grass competition |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 04 Jun 2025 13:36 |
Last Modified: | 10 Jun 2025 14:05 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/1365-2745.14284 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:227365 |
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