Aboveground competition influences density-dependent effects of cordgrass on sediment biogeochemistry.

ABSTRACT: Interspecific interactions between plants influence plant phenotype, distribution, abundance, and community structure. Each of these can, in turn, impact sediment biogeochemistry. Although the population and community level impacts of these interactions have been extensively studied, less is known about their effect on sediment biogeochemistry. This is surprising given that many plants are categorized as foundation species that exert strong control on community structure. In southern California salt marshes, we used clipping experiments to manipulate aboveground neighbor presence to study interactions between two dominant plants, Pacific cordgrass (Spartina foliosa) and perennial pickleweed (Sarcocornia pacifica). We also measured how changes in cordgrass stem density influen

SUBMITTER: Walker JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8939245 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature