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Shifts in the Relative Importance of Competition and Mutualism for Communities and Ecosystems Lukas P

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Shifts in the Relative Importance of Competition and Mutualism for Communities and Ecosystems Lukas P University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Biology ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations Winter 11-15-2016 Shifts in the relative importance of competition and mutualism for communities and ecosystems Lukas P. Bell-Dereske University of New Mexico Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/biol_etds Part of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Bell-Dereske, Lukas P.. "Shifts in the er lative importance of competition and mutualism for communities and ecosystems." (2016). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/biol_etds/153 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Lukas Patrick Bell-Dereske Candidate Biology Department This dissertation is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication: Approved by the Dissertation Committee: Jennifer A. Rudgers , Chairperson Scott L. Collins Robert L. Sinsabaugh Deborah Goldberg i SHIFTS IN THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF COMPETITION AND MUTUALISM FOR COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS by LUKAS PATRICK BELL-DERESKE B.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Biology The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico November 2016 ii DEDICATION I would to dedicate this dissertation to the late Waldo Dereske, who always pushed me to be a better person and to always take advantage of your opportunities to enjoy this moment. He was a creature of intelligence and independence. I wish you were here today to ram you head into my elbow as I lace up my running shoes. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge the amazing support and patience of my advisor, Dr. Jennifer Rudgers. Without her countless hours commenting on drafts and many one-one meetings, I would not have made it to the conclusion of my graduate degree. I would also like to acknowledge my committee for agreeing to advise me when I moved from my previous university and all of their help during my time at UNM: Dr. Scott Collins, Dr. Robert Sinsabaugh, and Dr. Deborah Goldberg at University of Michigan. I appreciate all of the help and guidance of the member of the Rudgers-Whitney Lab especially Dr. Ken Whitney and Anny Chung for making the move from Rice a smooth transition, their humor, and always being willing to discuss science. I would like to thank Dr. Eva Dettweiler-Robison and Dr. Megan Balk for sharing the stress of the dissertation process with me. I also want to thank the DWEEBs reading group and especially Josh Lynn, Kellen Paine, Levi Grey, and Brian Alfaro for being great friends and sounding boards. I especially want to thank my parents Ray and Barbara for encouraging exploration throughout my life. My brother Jon for being a great big brother and coming out to help me nearly every field season. I want to thank my many research assistants, especially Brandon McCormick, Shelly Gleason, Tamara Milton, Isaiah Reynolds, and Ian Hill. Thank you to Winnings for being the best writing place in town. I finally want to thank dried figs for being the insect larvae/egg filled treats that you are. iv Shifts in the relative importance of competition and mutualism for communities and ecosystems by Lukas P. Bell-Dereske B.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 2009 Ph.D, Biology, University of New Mexico, 2016 ABSTRACT Plant species interact with at least one, likely many, microbial mutualist throughout their life cycles. These microbial mutualists can have strong effects on plant communities and ecosystem processes. Fungal endophytes within the genus Epichloë associate with ~20%–30% of grass species and have been shown to have strong effects on plant communities. Here I described the effect of Epichloë amarillans associated with the dominant grass species, Ammophila breviligulata, on nutrient cycling, below-ground microbial community, and compare the strength of its effects on plant communities to plant-plant competition. In chapters one and two, I examine the effects of Epichloë on litter decomposition and below-ground microbial communities in the Great Lake dunes within the context of altered precipitation and soil moisture. In chapter 1, using litterbags, I found that the endophyte presence in litter increased initial rates of decomposition, though the effect disappeared after one growing season. Later litter decomposition was slowed by endophyte presence in A. breviligulata conditioning the soil microenvironment. In v chapter 2, using microscopy and 454 pyrosequencing, I found that the endophyte reduced the abundance of soil fungi and the diversity of an important fungal group, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, though this effect on diversity disappeared with altered precipitation. The presence of the endophyte also shifted the positive relationship between root associated bacteria and soil moisture to a negative relationship where diversity decreased with increasing soil moisture. In chapter three, I tested the relative effects of Epichloë and competition on plant community dynamics by jointly manipulating plant-plant interactions and the presence of the endophyte within the context of altered timing of precipitation events. I found that plant-plant interactions were the strongest driver of plant community composition and diversity. However, the endophyte altered the effects of plant-plant interactions on the plant community by increasing the negative effects of competition on A. breviligulata growth while increasing facilitative effects of its host on the dune plant community. Increased precipitation did not alter the effects of the endophyte but did reduced the strength of plant-plant interactions. Microbial mutualisms are drivers of ecosystem and community processes playing as important a role as antagonistic interactions. vi Table of Contents Chapter 1: PLANT-FUNGAL SYMBIOSIS AFFECTS LITTER DECOMPOSITION DURING PRIMARY SUCCESSION .......................................................................1 Abstract .............................................................................................................1 Introduction .......................................................................................................2 Methods.............................................................................................................6 Results ...............................................................................................................13 Discussion .........................................................................................................16 Conclusion ........................................................................................................23 Acknowledgements ...........................................................................................23 References .........................................................................................................25 Tables ................................................................................................................29 Figures...............................................................................................................30 Supplementary Tables .......................................................................................35 Supplementary Figures .....................................................................................39 Chapter 2: LEAF ENDOPHYTE INTERACTS WITH PRECIPITATION TO ALTER BELOWGROUND MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES IN PRIMARY SUCCESSIONAL DUNES ......................................................................................................................43 Abstract .............................................................................................................43 Introduction .......................................................................................................44 Methods.............................................................................................................48 Results ...............................................................................................................63 vii Discussion .........................................................................................................68 Conclusion ........................................................................................................75 Acknowledgements ...........................................................................................76 References .........................................................................................................77 Figures...............................................................................................................85 Supplemental Tables .........................................................................................95 Supplemental Figures ........................................................................................105 Chapter 3: INTERACTIONS AMONG PLANTS ARE A STRONGER DRIVER OF PLANT COMMUNITY COMPOSITION THAN MICROBIAL MUTUALISM ...110 Abstract .............................................................................................................110 Introduction .......................................................................................................111 Methods.............................................................................................................116
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