Does plant community plasticity mediate microbial homeostasis?

ABSTRACT: Microbial homeostasis-constant microbial element ratios along resource gradients-is a core ecological tenet, yet not all systems display homeostasis. We suggest investigations of homeostasis mechanisms must also consider plant-microbial interactions. Specifically, we hypothesized that ecosystems with strong plant community plasticity to changing resources will have homeostatic microbial communities, with less microbial resource cost, because plants reduce variance in resource stoichiometry. Using long-term nutrient additions in two ecosystems with differing plant response, we fail to support our hypothesis because although homeostasis appears stronger in the system with stronger plant response, microbial mechanisms were also stronger. However, our conclusions were undermined by high hetero

SUBMITTER: Buckeridge KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7319231 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature