At the Root of Decomposers, Plant Enemies and Mycorrhizae in Trophic Ecology”
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School CONSUMERS OF LIVING AND DEAD PLANT MATTER: AT THE ROOT OF DECOMPOSERS, PLANT ENEMIES AND MYCORRHIZAE IN TROPHIC ECOLOGY A Dissertation in Ecology by Rondy J. Malik © 2019 Rondy J. Malik Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2019 1 The dissertation of Rondy J. Malik was reviewed and approved* by the following: David M. Eissenstat Professor of Woody Plant Physiology Dissertation Co-Adviser Co-Chair of Committee Terrence H. Bell Assistant Professor of Phytobiomes Dissertation Co-Adviser Co-Chair of Committee Mary Ann Bruns Associate Professor of Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemistry Alan H. Taylor Professor of Geography and Vegetation Dynamics David A.W Miller Assistant Professor of Wildlife Population Ecology Chair of Ecology Intercollege Graduate Degree Program *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School. ii Abstract The basis of trophic ecology stems from animal ecology, but the role of microbes is just as important. Microbes can sway resource economies, and impact entire communities and trophic structure. This body of work applies hypotheses from classical ecology in modern contexts. Through greenhouse, common garden and field experiments, the roles of microbes are assessed from basic to applied perspectives. Applied aspects of this research provide insights on mycorrhizae in bioprotection, including the interplay of mycorrhizae, plants and natural enemies (Chapter 1); basic aspects of this research elucidate mechanisms of mycorrhizae in modulating herbivore life-histories (Chapter 2). Also, for the first time, the hypothesis of a late classical ecologist is tested on recalcitrant woody litter decomposition. Also, a widely-known hypothesis termed the “Home-field Advantage” is also assessed in a novel context. Here, the home- field advantage hypothesis is coupled with tree bark decomposition to assess microbial succession, especially as it relates to environmental filtration (Chapter 3). In the final research chapter, the “Gadgil Effect”, which hypothesizes that root microbial associations can suppress decomposition through pre-emptive competition, is revisited and examined (Chapter 4). In this Dissertation, the importance of microbes in community function is elucidated. iii Table of Contents Contents List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………………………ix List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………………………..x Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………………...............xi Broad overview .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Prospectus ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Prospectus Model ................................................................................................................................. 12 Statistical Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 13 References ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Chapter 1: Recent Trend, is the Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Plant-Enemies Performance Biased by Taxon Usage? .................................................................................................. 24 Abstract.................................................................................................................................................. 24 1.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 26 1.2. Recent trends in taxon usage .................................................................................................. 28 Fig. 1.21 Recent trend in taxon usage among bioprotection studies............................................. 30 1.3. Synthesis ......................................................................................................................................... 31 1.31. Plant hormonal response to ‘plant-trophs’ .......................................................................... 31 1.32. Plant enemy response parameters ........................................................................................ 32 1.33. What may be explaining taxon usage? ................................................................................. 33 Acknowledgment ................................................................................................................................. 36 References ............................................................................................................................................. 37 Chapter 2: Mycorrhizal composition influences plant anatomical defense and impacts herbivore growth and survival in a life-stage dependent manner ..................................................................... 42 Abstract.................................................................................................................................................. 42 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 44 2.2. Methods ......................................................................................................................................... 48 2.21. Study system .............................................................................................................................. 48 iv 2.22. Primary consumer: Colorado potato beetle ................................................................................ 50 2.23. Microcosm: AM-fungi, plant and early-stage beetle interaction ............................................... 50 2.24. Experiment 1: early-stage performance ..................................................................................... 51 2.25. Estimating trichome density at point of infestation .................................................................. 51 2.26. Statistical analysis: early-stage beetle ........................................................................................ 52 2.27. Experiment 2: late-stage performance ........................................................................................ 53 2.28. Statistical analysis: late-stage beetle .......................................................................................... 53 Table 2.21 Experimental Design of Experiment I & II................................................................. 54 2.3. Results ............................................................................................................................................. 55 2.31. Early life-stage performance of herbivore and the effect AM-fungi ........................................... 55 2.32. Late life-stage performance of herbivore and the effect AM-fungi ............................................. 55 Fig. 2.31. The overall effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi versus control: ............... 57 Table 2.32. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for Experiment 1: .................................................. 58 Fig. 2.32. The effect of AM-fungi on Colorado potato beetle’s life stage specific survival. ... 59 Fig. 2.33. Anatomical defense structure (trichomes) and plant tissue consumption by early- stage beetles. ..................................................................................................................................... 60 Fig. 2.34. Late-stage Colorado potato beetle growth rate in response to AM-fungal composition. ...................................................................................................................................... 61 2.4 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 62 2.41. Stage-class shapes trophic structure .......................................................................................... 62 2.42. Context dependency of herbivore trophic link ............................................................................ 63 2.43. Context dependency of mycorrhizal trophic link ....................................................................... 64 2.44. Food-web connectedness ............................................................................................................ 65 2.5. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 66 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 67 References ............................................................................................................................................. 68 Chapter 3: “Home-field advantage” - or not, bark decomposition promotes the environmental filtration of microbes in nearby soil communities ..............................................................................