Summary Root traits including root exudates are key factors affecting plant interactions with soil and thus play an important role in determining ecosystem processes. The drivers of their variation, however, remain poorly understood. We determined the relative importance phylogeny species ecology analyzed extent to which exudate composition can be predicted by other traits. measured different morphological biochemical (including profiles) 65 grown a controlled system. tested phylogenetic...

While we know a lot about variation of root traits across large set species, knowledge on differences in among species with different ecological optima, simultaneously considering life span and phylogeny, is limited. We also do not if inter-specific measured one environment apply another environment. Such crucial to predict responses future environments. Using 65 cultivated under uniform conditions, studied effects habitat preference, describing which conditions the naturally occur,...

The type and intensity of plant-herbivore interactions are likely to be altered under climate change as a consequence differential dispersal rates plants their herbivores. Here, we studied variation in herbivore damage on Salvia nubicola the field compared its growth defence strategies against herbivores controlled conditions using seeds from populations along broad altitudinal gradient. Our work is one first studies simultaneously measure complex intraspecific plant growth, direct indirect...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are expected to be one of the key drivers determining diversity natural plant communities, especially in nutrient-poor and dry habitats. Several previous studies have explored importance AMF for composition communities various types Surprisingly, role grassland dominated by less mycotrophic species still relatively rare. We present results a 3-year study which community species-rich was subjected fungicide carbendazim suppress colonization. tested effect on...

Plant–soil feedback (PSF) is recognized as an important mechanism shaping plant communities and determining abundance coexistence. Under natural conditions, plants affect the outcome of plant–soil interactions simultaneously by conditioning soil living roots litter inputs into soil. However, most experimental studies only focus on one pathways, which limits our understanding PSF in field. Here, we explored effect root shoot addition performance seven Impatiens species grown a two‐phase...

Insects represent one of the most abundant groups herbivores, and many them have significant impacts on dynamics plant populations. As insects are very sensitive to changes in climatic conditions, we hypothesize that their effects population will depend conditions. Knowledge variation herbivore is, however, still rather sparse. We studied damage at individual level Salvia nubicola along a wide altitudinal gradient representing range Using integral projection models, estimated effect pressure...

Climate warming is expected to significantly affect plant-herbivore interactions. Even though direct effects of temperature on herbivores were extensively studied, indirect (acting via changes in host plant quality) herbivore performance have rarely been addressed. We conducted multiple-choice feeding experiments with generalist Schistocerca gregaria six species genus Impatiens cultivated at three different temperatures growth chambers and a common garden. also studied leaf morphology...

Abstract Exploring patterns and causes of intraspecific trait variation is crucial for a better understanding the effects climate change on plant populations ecosystems. However, our current mainly based structural (morphological) traits, we have limited knowledge in biochemical traits (e.g. leaf pigments), which are also adaptation. As result, do not know how similar climatic versus are. Using from 110 genotypes representing 11 Festuca rubra grown 4 different climates, studied covariation...

Abstract Reproductive strategies can have significant consequences for the viability of plant populations. Still, effects lower fruit set due to pollen limitation on demography and population persistence rarely been explored. The objectives this study were assess ecological factors determining female reproductive success impact growth Dracocephalum austriacum L. (Lamiaceae), a critically endangered species with discontinuous distribution across Europe. Despite background information gathered...

Abstract Aim In our previous study, we found strong effects of fungicide application on diversity and composition grassland plant community. Here, evaluated the recovery community arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( AMF ) infectivity after grazing management recovery. Location Northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. Methods We recorded species in permanent plots dry over a period 5 years termination introduction. Results The negative effect composition, diversity, cover forbs still persisted last...

The aim of this study was to identify the habitat requirements and host specificity three root parasites in genusThesium (T. linophyllon, T. bavarum ebracteatum). We conducted a vegetation survey tested whether some plant species occur significantly more often plots with Thesium spp. than expected, thereby representing potential hosts parasites. To test if are which is physically attached, we also an excavating sowing experiment. found positive association surrounding for but not other two...

Knowledge of the relationship between environmental conditions and species traits is an important prerequisite for understanding determinants community composition predicting response to novel climatic conditions. Despite increasing number studies on this topic, our knowledge importance genetic differentiation, plasticity their interactions along larger sets still limited especially related plant ecophysiology. We studied variation in growth, leaf chemistry, contents photosynthetic pigments...

Despite many studies on the importance of competition and plants' associations with mutualists pathogens plant performance community organization, joint effects these two factors remain largely unexplored. Even less is known about how vary through a plant's life in different environmental conditions they contribute to long-term coexistence species.We investigated role plant-soil feedback (PSF) intra- interspecific competition, using co-occurring dry grassland species as models. A two-phase...