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This weeks schedule Mon, Wed: Lectures on species interactions and competition. Wed lab: 24 species, dwarf shrubs. Fri: Tilman and Grimes papers? Mon, 13 Feb: Lecture Exam 1. The exam is designed as a review of the material. – – – – – – – – Open book, open notes. 70 questions covering lessons 2 through 9. Work on the exam independently. Questions will be short answer. Covers the lecture and the journal papers discussed in class. Review all the lectures before taking the exam. Make sure you understand all the material discussed in class. I will not accept any answers that are clearly clipped from the lecture slides, the textbook ,or the journal papers. I will award points on the basis of whether or not you demonstrate that you understand the question and the answer. The exam will likely take 3-4 hours (possibly more) to complete. You can use the lecture period on Monday to work on the exam. I will email the exam to everyone on Fri 10 Feb by 5 pm and you can email the answers back. The exam is due Tues, Feb 14 at 9 am in class (Happy Valentines Day!). I will deduct 5 points if the exam is late that day, and I will not accept it beyond 5 pm, Feb 14. Lesson 8: Species interactions: competition and amensalism • Simple interactions • Competition – – – – Measuring competition Experimental evidence of competition Models of competition and resource limitation Limiting resources and plant strategies • Amensalism – Allelopathy – Interactions between trophic levels (e.g., herbivory) Introduction • • • • Individuals and populations respond much differently when grown with other species. Plant ecologists have long recognized that studying plants in relationship to other species is critical to understanding ecosystems. In this lesson, we will first look at a simple classification scheme of pairwise interactions. We will then examine two of these: competition and amensalism, with most of the focus being on competition between plant species Simple interactions Pairwise interactions • Competition (-. -): Plants are competing for the same resource decreasing the to total fitness and/ or growth of both species. • Amensalism (-, 0): One plant has a negative effect on the other, but the other has no effect on the first. • Commensalism (0, 0): Plants are apparently indifferent to each other. • Mutualism (+, +): Plants have mutual benefit to each other • Parasitism (also herbivory, predation, pathogenicity) (+, -): One plant benefits, the other is affected negatively. Using pattern to infer interactions Positive association: A nonrandom clumped distribution, such as in (a), denotes a positive association between species (e.g., mutualism, or parasitism). Negative association: If the species show negative association with each other, as in (b), this indicative of a negative spatial association (e.g., allelopathy). No association: Two species that show totally random dispersal patterns in relation to each other, generally have no interaction, whereas a nonrandom pattern is indicative of an interaction (positive or negative). • However, these patterns are not necessarily indicative of a relationship. For example, both species may be associated with some environmental factor, such as water availability, and may have no real interaction with each other. Competition • Since plants require the same basic resources (carbon, water, nutrients) in roughly the same proportion, and they do this through the same basic mechanism (photosynthesis, root uptake), then it stands to reason that they ought to compete for access to these resources. • This has been a central focus of studies since the inception of plant ecology (e.g., de Candolle 1820, Clements 1929, Tilman 1982, Keddy 1989, Connell 1990). Three types of competitive interactions 1. Direct interference competition: Species actually confront each other (e.g., strangler figs, allelopathy in plants). 2. Exploitation competition: Species have a negative impact on each other through competition for resources (e.g. competition for light, water, or nutrients). 3. Apparent competition: Species have a net negative impact on one another, but this is indirectly mediated through a third species. (e.g., if two species are affected by a herbivore, increasing plant species A may increase the herbivore population, with a greater net negative effect on species B. Thus, increasing A may lead to a decline in B with no direct interaction between them. Ways to study competition • Analysis of the results of competition: – Studies of pattern and diversity of species. – Example: How does the the presence of Species A affect the pattern and abundance of Species B? – Use plant community studies. • Analysis of the mechanisms of competition: – Studies of resource acquisition and use. – Example: How does the presence of Species A affect the growth or water uptake of Species B? – Use plant physiology and autecological studies. Niche (Hutchison 1957) “the multidimensional description of a species with all aspects of its biotic and abiotic environmental requirements”. • • Although intellectually appealing, the actual niche of a plant is very difficult to define because so many different factors influence the occurrence of species. If two plants have similar niches, the more likely they are to compete for resources. Gauses (1934) competitive exclusion principle • • “one niche, one species” Gause concluded that in order for species to coexist in nature they must evolve ecological differences (i.e., occupy different niches). Exponential vs. logistic population growth Intraspecific (within species) competition: the Verhulst-Pearl Equation dN/dt = rN(K-N)/K • dN/dt is the rate of growth of a species, or the slope of the line. • In a one species system, the quantity (K-N)/K is the intraspecific competition component because as N approaches K, the change in the population size, dN/dt, approaches 0, but when N is small, dN/dt approaches 1, the maximum rate of population increase. In other words, individuals of the same species are limiting the population size as the population approaches the carrying capacity. • Two species system: Lotka-Volterra equations • • • • • The Lotka-Volterra equations describe the relationship between two species using the same resource. Assume a two species system, where the sum of individuals of species 1 and 2 add up to the carrying capacity: N1 + N2 = K1, where is competition coefficient for species 2 on species 1, i.e., is the inhibiting (competitive) effect on species 1 on species 2. For a two species system, we can introduce the negative effect of the second species into the Verhulst-Pearl equation by substituting (K1 N2) for N1 on the right side of the equation dN1/dt = r1N1(K1-N1)/K1). For species 1: dN1/dt = r1N1(K1 - N1 - N2)/K1. For species 2: dN2/dt = r2N2(K2 - N2 - N1)/K2, where is the competition coefficient for species 1 on species 2. Zero Net Growth Isocline diagrams (ZNGIs) (Tilman 1982) ZNGI diagrams devised by Tilman can help visualize outcomes of pairwise competitive interactions. (a) Isocline for species 1: • The line is the isocline for species 1 and represents various combinations of species 1 and 2 that result in the joint carrying capacity, K1. • N1 + N2 = K1, so when N1 = 0, N2 = K1/, and when N2 = 0, N1 = K1. • To reach equilibrium, Species 1 will increase left of the line and decrease right of the line. Pairwise competitive interactions: Outcome when one species always inhibits the growth of the second species Line 2 is the isocline for species 2: • Note: that N1 + N2 = K2, so when N1 = 0, N2 = K2, and when N2 = 0, N1 = K2/. The line represents various combinations of species 1 and 2 that result in the joint carrying capacity, K2 . • Species 2 increases below the line and decreases above the line. Situation when Species 1 always inhibits growth of Species 2 (Species 2 isocline is always below Species 1 isocline ): • • • • At point A, Species 1 and Species 2 increase. At point B, Species 1 and Species 2 decrease. At point C, Species 1 increases, Species 2 decreases. Species 2 will continue to decline once Line 1 is reached and Species 1 will increase, until K1 . This is the stable equilibrium point. Situation where the isoclines cross Interesting patterns can occur depending on the relationship of the isoclines to each other: • When the isoclines cross with K1 exceeding K2/. , each species limits the other more than it does itself), population trajectories are such that stable equilibrium points exist at both species carrying capacities, K1 and K2. • If K1 is less than K2/. , (i.e., if each species limits itself more than it limits the other species), then there is a stable equilibrium at the intersection of the isoclines and both species can coexist. The most obvious way for this to happen is through niche separation. Conclusion: It is very difficult for species to coexist at equilibrium, unless each species limits itself more than it limits the other. However, natural populations may not come into equilibrium very often, or other interactions may limit the full competitive interaction between species. • Tilman 1982 Experimental Evidence of Competition • Replacement series experiments (De Wit 1960) • Target-neighborhood experiments (Fonteyn and Mahall 1981) • Root vs. shoot competition experiments (McGraw 1985) Replacement series experiments (De Wit 1960) • The ratio of seeds planted for two species, A and B, is compared to the ratio of some measure, such as biomass, of the resulting crop. • Input ratio = (seeds sown of A)/(seeds sown of B) • Output ratio = (biomass A)/(biomass B) Application of replacement series to study weed competition (Fischer et al. 2000) Kochia scoparia (Kochia) sanangelo.tamu.edu/ agronomy/newsltr/kochia_ko Hordeum distychum (Barley) Triticum aestivum (Wheat) http://www.hops.co.uk/sectiontwo/Images/Barley.jpg www.oznet.ksu.edu • Kochia is a weed infecting cereal crops, severely reducing yields and has developed resistance to herbicides. Alternatives are needed for integrated management of the weed. • Replacement series experiments with barley and wheat were conducted under a variety of temperature, soil moisture, and light conditions to determine what environmental conditions would render Kochia susceptible to competition by small grained crops. Fisher, et al. 2000. Interference between spring cereals and Kochia related to environment and photosynthetic pathways. Agron. J. 92: 173-181. Fisher et al. (2002) Experiments Experiment PAR μmol m-1s-1 Day/Night Temperature (˚C) Day length (h) Leaf Temperature (˚C) 1. Early May 500 15/11 15 16 2. June 550 21/17 16 26 3. July 550 23/19 16 31 4. Moisture stress 550 23/19 16 30 5. Light/Shade 550/250 22/18 16 28 • Seeds of Barley and Wheat were planted in separate experiments with the following ratios to Kochia: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100, 4 replicates each. (Fisher et al. 2000.) Fischer et al. (2002) Results • Experiment 1 Experiment 2 (Fisher et al. 2000.) In the first two experiments, Barley suppressed Kochia more than wheat did because of its larger canopy, despite its lower photosynthetic rates. Fischer et al. (2002) Results • • • Fig. 2 Relative yields and relative yield totals (RYT) (open triangles) of wheat (solid circles) and kochia (solid triangles) grown at 15/11 and 22/18°C day/night temperature regimes in replacement-series experiments. Error bars represent ± standard errors of the mean (Fisher et al. 2000.) Under high radiation conditions and warm temperatures, growth and photosynthesis were greater for kochia than wheat. Warm temperatures also increased dark respiration and reduced water use efficiency under low radiation conditions, however, thus limiting kochia's competitiveness under a closed canopy. Water stress did not affect competition. Fischer et al. (2002) Results • • Fig. 4 (a) Net CO2 assimilation rates and (b) photosynthetic water use efficiency of barley (open circles), wheat (solid circles), and kochia (solid triangles), as affected by levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), when grown under moisture stress at 23/19°C day/night. (Fisher et al. 2000.) Net photosynthetic rates of kochia were greater at photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) values > 400 μmol m-2 s-1. Growth and CO2 exchange rates varied among four different kochia accessions, but growth of all accessions was reduced by shade. Results suggest that a leafy, cold-tolerant crop or cultivar, grown early in the season to produce necessary ground cover, should provide opportunity to suppress kochia. Replacement series (De Wit 1960) (a) If the output ratio is equal to the ratio of the input for all seed mixes (diagonal line in (a) then there is no competition. If for all input ratios, the output ratio (biomass of A/biomass of B) is consistently less than the input ratio (seeds of A/seeds of B) then B will eliminate A, and vice versa. (b) If the output ratios vary with differing input ratios, there can be two ( outcomes. • • If the slope is >45˚, then competition will eliminate one of the species depending on the input ratio. If the slope is <45˚, then there is a stable equilibrium seed ratio. Other experimental seeding designs for competition experiments • (a) Partial additive: Can be used to test the effect of varying the abundance of seeds of species 2 against a fixed abundance of seeds of species 1. This tests the effects of species 2 on species 1, but not vice versa. • (b) Replacement series of DeWit with mixtures varying from total dominance of species 1 to total dominance of species 2. This allows testing the effects on either species on the other. • (c and d) Additive series are more complex and allow one to test the interaction of a full range of input ratios of seeds. Competition experiments: Targetneighborhood experiments (Fonteyn and Mahall 1981) The study site near Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree National Park, California. The formation is Colorado Desert on a bajada of the Eagle Mountains, 20 km south of the transition to Mojave Desert. Light gray shrubs in the foreground are the dominant perennial of the system, Ambrosia dumosa (Asteraceae). Ambrosia dumosa (Burro weed) http://www.jaeger.ws/history/099/06.JPG • Left: Effect of Ambrosia dumosa on Larrea tridentata 100 m2 plots (clockwise from upper left):(1) control, (2) removing all Larrea and all Ambrosia except the Larrea target, (3) removing all the Ambrosia, (4) removing all the Larrea except the target. • Right: Experiment examining control of Larrea on Ambrosia. • Examined the effect of the removal experiments on stem xylem pressure of target species . Fonteyn, P.J. and B.E. Mahall. 1981. An Experimental Analysis of Structure in a Desert Plant Community. Journal of Ecology Vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 883-896. Competition experiments: Targetneighborhood experiments (Fonteyn and Mahall 1981) (a) Larrea showed some reduction in water stress when other plants were removed. This increased somewhat as the summer progressed. (b) Ambrosia showed a much stronger response to removal, particularly of Larrea. Fonteyn and Mahall. 1981. Competition experiments: Examination of root and shoot competition (McGraw 1985) (1) No competition Shoot competition McGraw. 1985. Root competition Full competition Manipulated the aboveground and belowground space with partitions to separate or enclose roots and/or shoots of two ecotypes of Dryas (F = Fellfield ecotype, S = Snowbed ecotype). Competition experiments: Examination of root and shoot competition (McGraw 1985) (2) Generally, the snowbed ecotype responded positively to shoot competition (dashed lines) competition; whereas the fellfield ecotype responded negatively. McGraw. 1985. Competition for light and soil moisture (Shirley 1945) Objective: determine the relative importance of competition for light and soil moisture to pine seedlings. Picea glauca, Pinus strobus, P. resinosa and P. banksiana are the overstory species in north central Minnesota, but they do not reproduce in their own shade. Usually hardwood seedlings will occur beneath the trees. • (a) Effect of competition for light. Pine seedlings were grown beneath different layers of screens to achieve different levels of sunlight (a). Growth was not satisfactory below about 65% light. • (b) Combined effect of shade and root competition for water. – – The overstory had three treatments. (b), (uncut, 1/3 removed, and clear cut). The understory was also varied (control, all understory plants removed, weeded and trenched to sever plant roots). The results were complex and appeared to depend on initial site moisture. In moist areas, opening the canopy, weeding, and trenching improved seedling growth. In dry areas opening the canopy decreased seedling survival, but not seedling growth. Resource-ratio hypothesis (Huston and Smith 1987, Tilman 1988) “Differences in the relative supply rates of limiting resources should lead to differences in the composition of plant communities.” Nutrient flux gradients (Huston and De Angelis 1994) (a) High nutrient flux: Plants can coexist because each has access to only a small portion of the total available resource. Species with similar resource requirements, but restricted rooting zones (as in a) can coexist because each can access only a small portion of the of the total resources available. (b) Low nutrient flux: Plants deplete nutrients over a much broader area. If soil resource depletion zones extend into the rooting zones of neighboring individuals, then competitive effects become important. Models of competition along resource gradients: root vs. shoot competition (Wilson and Tilman 1991) Root vs. Shoot competition • Wilson and Tilman examined the survivorship of roots vs. shoots in little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium along a nutrient gradient. Wilson & Tilman 1991, cited in Barbour et al. 1999. • When N availability was low, root competition was relatively high, and when N availability was high, shoot competition became more important. Resource competition: Effect of competition between species for a single resource, R. Tilman model (1982) • • • • Curves are the population growth rates for species A and B. ma and mb are the mortality rates for species A and B. The intersection of the curves with the m lines represent the minimum amount of the resource R needed to sustain the population. Best competitor is the one with the lower R* for the limiting resource. Tilmans resource-ratio model (1982): How 2 species can coexist competing for the same resources (1) Lines A and B are Zero Net Growth Isoclines (ZNGIs) of species A and B for resources R1 and R2. – In the left figure, A can survive on lower levels of both resources, and will draw either resource to a level that B cannot survive (Area 2). – In the right figure, B is the superior competitor, and will draw either resource to levels that A cannot tolerate (Area 6). – Who can exist in areas 1, 3 and 5? Tilmans resource-ratio model (1982): How 2 species can coexist competing for the same resources (2) In this case, the ZNGIs cross. A is a superior competitor for R1 and B is the superior competitor for R2. A B – – – R2 – 1 2 4 – – 3 1 R1 • Think of R1 and R2 as light and water. The black dot is the two-species equilibrium point, where both species can coexist. Species A will outcompete and replace B in Area 2. Species B will coucompete and replace A in Area 3. The outcome is less certain in Area 4 and depends on the consumption rate of each resource by each species. The black dot is the point (amount of both resources) where both species can coexist. Which resource is most limiting Species A? Tilmans resource-ratio model (1982): How 2 species can coexist competing for the same resources (3) CA and CB are resource consumption vectors for each species. – The slope of each vector is the ratio of consumption of resource R2 divided by the consumption of resource R1. – In this situation, Species A consumes more of resource 2 (the resource that is most limiting to itself) than resource 1 (slope of CA>1). So in areas 2 and 3, it will out compete Species B. – B consumes more of resource 1 (slope of CB<1), and will out compete Species A in areas 6 and 5. – In area 4, the both species can coexist as they draw down the resources to the equilibrium point. Tilmans resource-ratio model (1982): Where 2 species will not coexist competing for the same resources (3) • In this situation, Species A consumes more of resource 1 (slope of CA<1). This resource is most limiting to Species B. • Similarly, Species B consumes more of resource 2 (slope of CB>1). This resource is most limiting to Species A. • So in areas 2 and 3, A still out competes B, and in areas 6 and 5 B still out competes Species A. • But in area 4, the equilibrium point is unstable because each species uses more of the resource that limits the other species, so either species could dominate at this point depending on the initial conditions. Productivity vs. species richness (Tilman and Pacala 1993) • • • Habitats intermediate in resources (and productivity) tend to support the most species. Extremely poor soils are likely to be dominated by only a few species that can compete for a single limiting resource. Extremely rich soils support high biomass production and are dominated by the few species that compete the most effectively for light. Implications of Resource-ratio hypothesis (Tilman 1988) Differences in the relative supply rates of limiting resources should lead to differences in the composition of plant communities: – Species allocation patterns: Species with allocation patterns focusing on shoots are assumed to be relatively effective competitors for light, and those allocating more heavily to roots are assumed to be good competitor for below-ground resources (water, nutrients). – Landscape implications: Various habitats within landscapes differ in their level of key resources, and hence will favor either root or shoot specialists depending on the local resource supply. – Succession implications: Resource supply ratios also vary systematically through successional series to first favor root specialists (because soil nutrition is more limiting than light in primary succession) and then shoot specialists because light is more limiting in later stages of succession. Reconciling the theories of Grime and Tilman Grime focuses on plant strategies and adaptation to certain environmental conditions, the role of environment in relation to plants distributions, and how these determine patterns of succession and competition between species. Tilman focuses more on the interactions between plants and the role of competition for resources. Grime 1977 Tilman says that Grime's theories do not adequately incorporate the importance of non-heterogeneous supplies of nutrients and how these supplies are partitioned over long time scales, and are inconsistent regarding the importance of disturbance in nutrient-limited habitats and need to reconsider the carbon economy of shade-tolerant plants. Tilman 1985 Reconciling the theories of Grime and Tilman: Craine (2005) Craine, J.M. 2005. Reconciling plant strategy theories of Grime and Tilman. J. Ecol. 93: 1041-1052. • Reconciling the approaches of Grime and Tilman leads to six scenarios for competition for nutrients and light, with the outcome of each depending on the ability of plants to preempt supplies. – – • Under uniform supplies, pulses or patches, light competition requires leaf area dominance. Nutrient competition requires root length dominance. Craine has published extensively with Tilman so is hardly unbiased in his reconciliation, which is strongly focused on competition for resources. Examples of situations where plants use environmental tolerance to avoid competition • Serpentine soils, – Low in essential nutrients, extreme pH, high in toxic elements (e.g., Ni, Cr) – Support unusual plants, often highly endemic floras – Experimental evidence (e.g., Kruckeberg 1954) indicate that although serpentine plant species often can grow better in nonserpentine soils if grown without other species, they are poor competitors when grown with other species. • Saline soils – Halophytes can grow in soil with > 0.2-0.25% salt. – Many have special structure whereby they secrete excess salts. – Examples include mangroves, coastal salt marsh species, beach plants, desert herbs. Amensalism Interaction which depresses one plant population while the other species remains unaffected. • For example, the strongly negative effect that a large species such as a tree might have on some small ground cover species. Allelopathy • A negative biochemical influence of higher plants upon another species (usually inhibition of germinaiton or growth) that is caused by the release of metabolic substances under natural conditions. Examples: several lichens, alders, Artemisia (sagebrush), Larrea (creosote bush). Allelopathy: Salvia leucophylla-grassland interface, Santa Barbara, CA (Muller 1966) • • • Light bands around soft chapperal (Salvia) are devoid of plants. Salvia emits volatile oils (cineole and camphor). Could this be due to seed predators around the shrubs? Allelopathy: Ceratiola ericoides (Williamson 1990) • • • Florida chamise. Halos around individual plants. Too small to harbor rodents or other herbivores. Other ways plants change their environment: Effect of overstory and understory plants on soil properties (Tappeiner and Alm 1975) • Pines create very acidic soils that are toxic to many species of plants and soil organisms, including worms, and many bacteria. Fungi tend to dominate the microflora in these soils, whereas bacteria dominate the more neutral soils beneath deciduous forests. • The above table shows the difference in some key soil properties of pine and birch forests. The pine forest have lower pH, lower bulk density, lower soil nutrients, and slower litter and nutrient turnover times. • There is some variation due to understory species, but this effect is relatively minor. From Tappeiner and A.A. Alm. Undergrowth vegetation effects on the nutrient content of litterfall and soils in red pine and birch stands in northern Minnesota. Ecology 56: 1193-1200. Effect of canopy water throughfall on soil chemistry Dramatic changes occur in the chemistry of rainfall as it passes through an oak (Quercus petraea) forest overstory. • Most nutrients increased because they are leached out of the tree leaves. Carlisle et al. 1966, cited in Barbour et al. 1999. • N is somewhat reduced beneath the trees because of direct absorption of N into the tree leaves. Summary • Major types of competition: (1) interference competition (species directly interfere with each other, e.g. allelopathy), (2) exploitation competition (mediated by exploitation for a shared resource, most plant competition is of this type), (3) apparent competition (mediated through a third species such as an herbivore). • Regular or clumped distribution patterns can be used to infer competition in some cases. • Gauses competitive exclusion principle for animals and the Verhulst-Pearl equations can be applied to plants in modeling situations, but in the real world, plants often coexist because natural populations may not come into equilibrium very often, or other interactions may limit the full competitive interaction between species. • Spatial and temporal variation in resource availability allows for the coexistence of several species. This can be inferred using differences in dispersal abilities, or differences in above- and below-ground allocation. • Tilman focused on resource competition as the basis for most competitive interactions. His resource-ratio models are based on species relative abilities to compete for resources. • Grimes models predict the strongest competition in high resource environments. Plants able to convert resources to high growth rates are the best competitors in these situations. • Allelopathy is an example of an amensal (0,-) interaction (or interference competition). Many plants release allelochemicals that are inhibitory to the growth of other species. Literature for Lesson 8 Craine, J.M. 2005. Reconciling plant strategy theories of Grime and Tilman. J. Ecol. 93: 1041-1052. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.13652745.2005.01043.x?cookieSet=1#h8 Fonteyn, P.J. and B.E. Mahall. 1978. Competition among desert perennials. Nature 275: 544-545. Grace, J.B. 1991. A clarification of the debate between Grime and Tilman. Functional Ecology 5: 583-587. *Grime, J.P. 1977. Evidence for the existence of three primary strategies in plants and relevance to ecological and evolutionary theory. The American Naturalist, 111: 11691191. Mack. R.N. and J.L. Harper. 1977. Interference in dune annuals: spatial pattern and neighborhood effects. Journal of Ecology 65: 345-363. Marshall, D.R. and S.K. Jain. 1969. Interference in pure and mixed populations of Avena barbata. Journal of Ecology 57: 251-270. McGraw, J.B. 1985. Experimental ecology of Dryas octopetala ecotypes: relative response to competitors. New Phytologist 100: 233-241. Muller, C.H. 1966. The role of chemical inhibition (allelopathy) in vegetational composition. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 93: 332-351. Shirley, H.L. 1945. Reproduction of upland conifers in the Lake States as affected by root competition and light. American Midland Naturalist 33: 537-612. *Tilman, D. 1988. The resource-ratio hypothesis of plant succession. The American Naturalist, 125: 827-852. Tilman, D. 1982. Resource competition and community structure. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. Tilman, D. 1988. Plant strategies and the dynamics and structure of plant communities. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. Wilson, J.B. and D. Tilman. 1991. Components of plant communities along an experimental gradient of nitrogen availability. Ecology 72:1050-1065.