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Light competition drives herbivore and nutrient effects on plant diversity

Author

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  • Anu Eskelinen

    (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research–UFZ
    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    University of Oulu
    University of Oulu)

  • W. Stanley Harpole

    (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research–UFZ
    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)

  • Maria-Theresa Jessen

    (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research–UFZ
    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research–UFZ)

  • Risto Virtanen

    (University of Oulu)

  • Yann Hautier

    (Utrecht University)

Abstract

Enrichment of nutrients and loss of herbivores are assumed to cause a loss of plant diversity in grassland ecosystems because they increase plant cover, which leads to a decrease of light in the understory1–3. Empirical tests of the role of competition for light in natural systems are based on indirect evidence, and have been a topic of debate for the last 40 years. Here we show that experimentally restoring light to understory plants in a natural grassland mitigates the loss of plant diversity that is caused by either nutrient enrichment or the absence of mammalian herbivores. The initial effect of light addition on restoring diversity under fertilization was transitory and outweighed by the greater effect of herbivory on light levels, indicating that herbivory is a major factor that controls diversity, partly through light. Our results provide direct experimental evidence, in a natural system, that competition for light is a key mechanism that contributes to the loss of biodiversity after cessation of mammalian herbivory. Our findings also show that the effects of herbivores can outpace the effects of fertilization on competition for light. Management practices that target maintaining grazing by native or domestic herbivores could therefore have applications in protecting biodiversity in grassland ecosystems, because they alleviate competition for light in the understory.

Suggested Citation

  • Anu Eskelinen & W. Stanley Harpole & Maria-Theresa Jessen & Risto Virtanen & Yann Hautier, 2022. "Light competition drives herbivore and nutrient effects on plant diversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 611(7935), pages 301-305, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:611:y:2022:i:7935:d:10.1038_s41586-022-05383-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05383-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Josiane Segar & Henrique M. Pereira & Lander Baeten & Markus Bernhardt-Römermann & Pieter Frenne & Néstor Fernández & Frank S. Gilliam & Jonathan Lenoir & Adrienne Ortmann-Ajkai & Kris Verheyen & Dona, 2022. "Divergent roles of herbivory in eutrophying forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Lixiang Liu & Yongwei Han & Weiwei Liu & Yuemin Liu, 2023. "Plant Community and Soil Properties Regulate Space-Scale Dependence of Species Diversity under Grazing Exclusion and Rest Grazing in the Qilian Mountains of China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Hai Wang & Liang Chun & Lei Ji & Risu Na & Zhijun Wei & Wenjun Han, 2024. "Investigating the Diversity and Influencing Factors of the Rhizosphere Bacterial Community Associated with Salicornia europaea L. Populations in Semi-arid Grassland," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Ting-Shuai Shi & Scott L. Collins & Kailiang Yu & Josep Peñuelas & Jordi Sardans & Hailing Li & Jian-Sheng Ye, 2024. "A global meta-analysis on the effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on grasslands and croplands," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Anu Eskelinen & Maria-Theresa Jessen & Hector A. Bahamonde & Jonathan D. Bakker & Elizabeth T. Borer & Maria C. Caldeira & W. Stanley Harpole & Meiyu Jia & Luciola S. Lannes & Carla Nogueira & Harry O, 2023. "Herbivory and nutrients shape grassland soil seed banks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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