Genome size influences plant growth and biodiversity responses to nutrient fertilization in diverse grassland communities.

Experiments comparing diploids with polyploids and in single grassland sites show that nitrogen and/or phosphorus availability influences plant growth and community composition dependent on genome size; specifically, plants with larger genomes grow faster under nutrient enrichments relative to those with smaller genomes. However, it is unknown if these effects are specific to particular site localities with speciifc plant assemblages, climates, and historical contingencies. To determine the generality of genome size-dependent growth responses to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization, we combined genome size and species abundance data from 27 coordinated grassland nutrient addition experiments in the Nutrient Network that occur in the Northern Hemisphere across a range of climates and grassland communities. We found that after nitrogen treatment, species with larger genomes generally increased more in cover compared to those with smaller genomes, potentially due to a release from nutrient limitation. Responses were strongest for C grasses and in less seasonal, low precipitation environments, indicating that genome size effects on water-use-efficiency modulates genome size–nutrient interactions. Cumulatively, the data suggest that genome size is informative and improves predictions of species’ success in grassland communities.

Contributor (person)

Tanentzap, Andrew J.

Project(s)

Priority 2: Trait Diversity and Function

Funder

Funder name	Awards
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany	DFG-FZT 118, 202548816
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canada	#386151
Agence Nationale de la Recherche, France	ANR-11-INBS-0001 AnaEE - ANR-10-IDEX-0001-02 PSL
National Science Foundation, United States	NSF‐DEB‐1042132 - NSF-DEB-1234162 - CAREER grant (NSF-DEB-Award #1941309)
Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota, United States	DG‐0001‐13
Science Foundation Ireland	22/CC/11103
UK Research and Innovation, United Kingdom
International Science Partnerships Fund, United Kingdom
Government of Ireland	Shared Island initiative
Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom	PhD studentship
Science Foundation Ireland, Ireland / Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, UK Government, United Kingdom	Co-Centre award (22/CC/11103)