BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Competition drives self-thinning (density-dependent mortality) in crowded plant populations. Facilitative interactions have been shown to affect many processes in plant populations and communities, but their effects on self-thinning trajectories have not been investigated. METHODS: Using an individual-based 'zone-of-influence' model, we studied the potential effects of the size symmetry of competition, abiotic stress and facilitation on self-thinning trajectories in plant monocultures. In the model, abiotic stress reduced the growth of all individuals and facilitation ameliorated the effects of stress on interacting individuals. KEY RESULTS: Abiotic stress made the log biomass-log density relationship during self-thinning steeper, but this effect was reduced by positive interactions among individuals. Size-asymmetric competition also influenced the self-thinning slope. CONCLUSIONS: Although competition drives self-thinning, its course can be affected by abiotic stress, facilitation and competitive symmetry.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Competition drives self-thinning (density-dependent mortality) in crowded plant populations. Facilitative interactions have been shown to affect many processes in plant populations and communities, but their effects on self-thinning trajectories have not been investigated. METHODS: Using an individual-based 'zone-of-influence' model, we studied the potential effects of the size symmetry of competition, abiotic stress and facilitation on self-thinning trajectories in plant monocultures. In the model, abiotic stress reduced the growth of all individuals and facilitation ameliorated the effects of stress on interacting individuals. KEY RESULTS: Abiotic stress made the log biomass-log density relationship during self-thinning steeper, but this effect was reduced by positive interactions among individuals. Size-asymmetric competition also influenced the self-thinning slope. CONCLUSIONS: Although competition drives self-thinning, its course can be affected by abiotic stress, facilitation and competitive symmetry.
Authors: Richard Michalet; Robin W Brooker; Lohengrin A Cavieres; Zaal Kikvidze; Christopher J Lortie; Francisco I Pugnaire; Alfonso Valiente-Banuet; Ragan M Callaway Journal: Ecol Lett Date: 2006-07 Impact factor: 9.492
Authors: Cheng-Jin Chu; Fernando T Maestre; Sa Xiao; Jacob Weiner; You-Shi Wang; Zheng-Hu Duan; Gang Wang Journal: Ecol Lett Date: 2008-08-04 Impact factor: 9.492
Authors: Robin J Pakeman; Francisco I Pugnaire; Richard Michalet; Chris J Lortie; Katja Schiffers; Fernando T Maestre; Justin M J Travis Journal: Biol Lett Date: 2009-06-17 Impact factor: 3.703
Authors: Jianming Deng; Wenyun Zuo; Zhiqiang Wang; Zhexuan Fan; Mingfei Ji; Genxuan Wang; Jinzhi Ran; Changming Zhao; Jianquan Liu; Karl J Niklas; Sean T Hammond; James H Brown Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2012-05-14 Impact factor: 11.205