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Direct effects dominate responses to climate perturbations in grassland plant communities

Author

Listed:
  • Chengjin Chu

    (SYSU-Alberta Joint Lab for Biodiversity Conservation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University
    Utah State University)

  • Andrew R. Kleinhesselink

    (Utah State University)

  • Kris M. Havstad

    (USDA, ARS, Jornada Experimental Range and Jornada Basin Long Term Ecological Research, New Mexico State University)

  • Mitchel P. McClaran

    (School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA)

  • Debra P. Peters

    (USDA, ARS, Jornada Experimental Range and Jornada Basin Long Term Ecological Research, New Mexico State University)

  • Lance T. Vermeire

    (USDA-ARS, Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, Montana 59301, USA)

  • Haiyan Wei

    (School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA)

  • Peter B. Adler

    (Utah State University)

Abstract

Theory predicts that strong indirect effects of environmental change will impact communities when niche differences between competitors are small and variation in the direct effects experienced by competitors is large, but empirical tests are lacking. Here we estimate negative frequency dependence, a proxy for niche differences, and quantify the direct and indirect effects of climate change on each species. Consistent with theory, in four of five communities indirect effects are strongest for species showing weak negative frequency dependence. Indirect effects are also stronger in communities where there is greater variation in direct effects. Overall responses to climate perturbations are driven primarily by direct effects, suggesting that single species models may be adequate for forecasting the impacts of climate change in these communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Chengjin Chu & Andrew R. Kleinhesselink & Kris M. Havstad & Mitchel P. McClaran & Debra P. Peters & Lance T. Vermeire & Haiyan Wei & Peter B. Adler, 2016. "Direct effects dominate responses to climate perturbations in grassland plant communities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11766
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11766
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