Authors: Mark Vellend Emily B M Drummond Hiroshi Tomimatsu
Publish Date: 2009/10/29
Volume: 162, Issue: 2, Pages: 371-381
Abstract
Genetic diversity within species is a potentially important but poorly studied determinant of plant community dynamics Here we report experiments testing the influence of genotype identity and genotypic diversity both on the invasibility of a foundation matrixforming species Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis and on the invasiveness of a colonizing species dandelion Taraxacum officinale Genotypes of Kentucky bluegrass in monoculture showed significant variation in productivity and resistance to dandelion invasion but the productivity and invasion resistance of genotypic mixtures were not significantly different from those of genotypic monocultures Indirect evidence suggested temporal shifts in the genotypic composition of mixtures Dandelion genotypes in monoculture showed striking and significant variation in productivity and seed production but there was no significant tendency for these variables in mixtures to deviate from null expectations based on monocultures However productivity and seed production of dandelion mixtures were consistently greater than those of the two least productive genotypes and statistically indistinguishable from those of the three most productive genotypes suggesting the possibility of greater invasiveness of genotypically diverse populations in the long run due to dominance by highly productive genotypes In both experiments the identity of genotypes was far more important than genetic diversity per seWe gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Nadine Diner Ron Rollo Seane Trehearne David Kaplan Diane Srivastava Gary Bradfield Angela Zhang Jen Muir Anne Bjorkman Laura Super Véronique Connolly Carol Ritland and Jessica Irwin The manuscript was greatly improved based on input from Marc Johnson Greg Crutsinger Jennie McLaren Jason Fridley Alice Winn and two anonymous reviewers Kentucky bluegrass seeds were supplied by Pickseed TerraLink Quality Seeds and Jacklin/Simplot The experiments reported here comply with Canadian law
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