Soil nutrients trump intraspecific effects on understory plant communities

摘要: Understanding the links between intraspecific genetic variation and patterns of diversity in associated communities has been primary focus community genetics or ‘genes-to-ecosystem’ research ecology. While other ecological factors, such as abiotic environment, have well-documented influences on communities, relative contributions versus environment to species interactions remains poorly explored. In this study, we use a common garden experiment study coastal dune plant dominated by shrub, Baccharis pilularis, which displays morphological dimorphism architecture. We found differences understory erect prostrate morphs be statistically significant, but small impacts nutrient additions (NPK C additions), for richness, cover, biomass community. There were no significant morphology nutrient-addition treatments, suggesting influence addition was consistent morphs. Moreover, difference overall composition morphs, while NPK led shifts compared unfertilized shrubs. sum, our results indicate that nutrients are more important factor governing structure dunes ecosystem followed dominant shrub Our address growing call understand extended consequences across heterogeneous environments terrestrial ecosystems.