Seed limitation interacts with biotic and abiotic factors to constrain novel species' impact on community biomass and richness

• Main Authors: Pichon, Noémie, Kaarlejärvi, Elina, Eskelinen, Anu
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2023
• Subjects: dispersal limitation; Diversity; fertilisation; Herbivory; long-term effects; Multiple limiting factors; net primary productivity; seed addition; Tundra; warming
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.n5tb2rc0p

Seed limitation can narrow down the number of coexisting plant species, limit plant community productivity, and can also constrain community responses to changing environmental and biotic conditions. In a 10-year full-factorial experiment of seed addition, fertilisation, warming, and herbivore exclusion, we tested how seed addition alters community richness and biomass, and how its effects depend on seed origin and biotic and abiotic context. We found that seed addition increased species richness in all treatments, and increased plant community biomass depending on nutrient addition and warming. Novel species, originally absent from the communities, increased biomass the most, especially in fertilised plots and in the absence of herbivores, while adding seeds of local species did not affect biomass. Our results show that seed limitation constrains both community richness and biomass, and highlight the importance of considering trophic interactions and soil nutrients when assessing novel species immigrations and their effects on community biomass. Funding provided by: Academy of Finland Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002341 Award Number: 297191 Funding provided by: Vetenskapsrådet Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004359 Award Number: 2015-00498 Funding provided by: Suomen Kulttuurirahasto Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003125 Award Number: Funding provided by: Academy of Finland Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002341 Award Number: 318930