Winner and losers: examining biotic interactions in forbs and grasses in response to changes in water and temperature in a semi-arid grassland.

ABSTRACT: Warming and changing water amount can alter the outcome of biotic interactions in native and exotic plants between facilitation and competition. Exotic plants may adapt better to changing environmental conditions, such that they may compete better than native plants. We conducted competition trials for four plant species, two exotic forbs (Centaurea stoebe and Linaria vulgaris) and two grasses (exotic Poa compressa and native Pseudoroegneria spicata), commonly found in Southern interior British Columbia. We compared the effects of warming and changing water on target plant shoot and root biomass, and on pair-wise competitive interactions among all four species. We quantified interactions using the Relative Interaction Intensity index, which has values from -1 (c

SUBMITTER: Akin-Fajiye M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10184435 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature