Plant coexistence depends on ecosystem nutrient cycles: Extension of the resource-ratio theory

Tanguy Daufresne, Lars O. Hedin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a model of plant-nutrient interactions that extends classical resource competition theory to environments in which essential nutrients (resources) are recycled between plant and soil pools and dissolved nutrients are lost through plant-available (i.e., inorganic forms) or plant-unavailable (i.e., complex organic forms) pathways. Losses by dissolved organic pathways can alter ratios of nutrients that are recycled and supplied within the plant-soil system, thereby influencing competition and coexistence among plant species. In special cases, our extended model does not differ from classical models, but in more realistic cases our model introduces new dynamical behavior that influences competitive outcomes. At equilibrium, coexistence still depends on nutrient supply and consumption, but nutrient supply includes recycling and is highly sensitive to whether a species promotes more organic losses of the nutrient that limits its own growth than of nutrients that limit its competitors. Because recycling operates with a time delay compared with consumption, recycling-mediated effects on competition can, under certain conditions, lead to sustained population oscillations. Our findings have implications for how we understand nutrient competition, nutrient cycles, and plant evolutionary strategies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9212-9217
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume102
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 28 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

Keywords

  • Biogeochemistry nutrient losses evolution
  • Plant competition recycling

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Plant coexistence depends on ecosystem nutrient cycles: Extension of the resource-ratio theory'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this