TY - JOUR T1 - Genetic components to belowground carbon fluxes in a riparian forest ecosystem: a common garden approach. JF - The New phytologist Y1 - 2012 A1 - Lojewski,Nathan R A1 - Fischer,Dylan G A1 - JK Bailey A1 - Jennifer A Schweitzer A1 - Whitham,Thomas G A1 - Stephen C Hart KW - Carbon KW - Carbon Cycle KW - Carbon Dioxide KW - Chimera KW - Crosses, Genetic KW - Ecosystem KW - Genetic Variation KW - Genotype KW - Populus KW - Soil KW - Trees AB -

Soil carbon dioxide (CO(2)) efflux is a major component of terrestrial carbon (C) cycles; yet, the demonstration of covariation between overstory tree genetic-based traits and soil C flux remains a major frontier in understanding biological controls over soil C. Here, we used a common garden with two native tree species, Populus fremontii and P. angustifolia, and their naturally occurring hybrids to test the predictability of belowground C fluxes on the basis of taxonomic identity and genetic marker composition of replicated clones of individual genotypes. Three patterns emerged: soil CO(2) efflux and ratios of belowground flux to aboveground productivity differ by as much as 50-150% as a result of differences in clone identity and cross type; on the basis of Mantel tests of molecular marker matrices, we found that c. 30% of this variation was genetically based, in which genetically similar trees support more similar soil CO(2) efflux under their canopies than do genetically dissimilar trees; and the patterns detected in an experimental garden match observations in the wild, and seem to be unrelated to measured abiotic factors. Our findings suggest that the genetic makeup of the plants growing on soil has a significant influence on the release of C from soils to the atmosphere.

VL - 195 SN - 0028-646X UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&DbFrom=pubmed&Cmd=Link&LinkName=pubmed_pubmed&LinkReadableName=Related%20Articles&IdsFromResult=22642377&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSumhttp://www.ncbi. IS - 3 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - From genes to ecosystems: a synthesis of the effects of plant genetic factors across levels of organization. JF - Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences Y1 - 2009 A1 - JK Bailey A1 - Jennifer A Schweitzer A1 - Ubeda,Francisco A1 - Koricheva,Julia A1 - LeRoy,Carri J A1 - Madritch,Michael D A1 - Rehill,Brian J A1 - RK Bangert A1 - Fischer,Dylan G A1 - Allan,Gerard J A1 - Whitham,Thomas G KW - Animals KW - Arthropods KW - Ecosystem KW - Genetic Variation KW - Genetics, Population KW - Models, Genetic KW - Plant Development KW - Plants AB -

Using two genetic approaches and seven different plant systems, we present findings from a meta-analysis examining the strength of the effects of plant genetic introgression and genotypic diversity across individual, community and ecosystem levels with the goal of synthesizing the patterns to date. We found that (i) the strength of plant genetic effects can be quite high; however, the overall strength of genetic effects on most response variables declined as the levels of organization increased. (ii) Plant genetic effects varied such that introgression had a greater impact on individual phenotypes than extended effects on arthropods or microbes/fungi. By contrast, the greatest effects of genotypic diversity were on arthropods. (iii) Plant genetic effects were greater on above-ground versus below-ground processes, but there was no difference between terrestrial and aquatic environments. (iv) The strength of the effects of intraspecific genotypic diversity tended to be weaker than interspecific genetic introgression. (v) Although genetic effects generally decline across levels of organization, in some cases they do not, suggesting that specific organisms and/or processes may respond more than others to underlying genetic variation. Because patterns in the overall impacts of introgression and genotypic diversity were generally consistent across diverse study systems and consistent with theoretical expectations, these results provide generality for understanding the extended consequences of plant genetic variation across levels of organization, with evolutionary implications.

VL - 364 SN - 0962-8436 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&DbFrom=pubmed&Cmd=Link&LinkName=pubmed_pubmed&LinkReadableName=Related%20Articles&IdsFromResult=19414474&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSumhttp://www.ncbi. IS - 1523 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Genetic basis of aboveground productivity in two native Populus species and their hybrids. JF - Tree physiology Y1 - 2009 A1 - Lojewski,Nathan R A1 - Fischer,Dylan G A1 - JK Bailey A1 - Jennifer A Schweitzer A1 - Whitham,Thomas G A1 - Stephen C Hart KW - Ecosystem KW - Genotype KW - Hybridization, Genetic KW - Populus KW - Species Specificity KW - Utah AB -

Demonstration of genetic control over riparian tree productivity has major implications for responses of riparian systems to shifting environmental conditions and effects of genetics on ecosystems in general. We used field studies and common gardens, applying both molecular and quantitative techniques, to compare plot-level tree aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP(tree)) and individual tree growth rate constants in relation to plant genetic identity in two naturally occurring Populus tree species and their hybrids. In field comparisons of four cross types (Populus fremontii S. Wats., Populus angustifolia James, F(1) hybrids and backcross hybrids) across 11 natural stands, productivity was greatest for P. fremontii trees, followed by hybrids and lowest in P. angustifolia. A similar pattern was observed in four common gardens across a 290 m elevation and 100 km environmental gradient. Despite a doubling in productivity across the common gardens, the relative differences among the cross types remained constant. Using clonal replicates in a common garden, we found ANPP(tree) to be a heritable plant trait (i.e., broad-sense heritability), such that plant genetic factors explained between 38% and 82% of the variation in ANPP(tree). Furthermore, analysis of the genetic composition among individual tree genotypes using restriction fragment length polymorphism molecular markers showed that genetically similar trees also exhibited similar ANPP(tree). These findings indicate strong genetic contributions to natural variation in ANPP with important ecological implications.

VL - 29 SN - 0829-318X UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&DbFrom=pubmed&Cmd=Link&LinkName=pubmed_pubmed&LinkReadableName=Related%20Articles&IdsFromResult=19578030&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSumhttp://www.ncbi. IS - 9 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Plant-soil microorganism interactions: heritable relationship between plant genotype and associated soil microorganisms. JF - Ecology Y1 - 2008 A1 - Jennifer A Schweitzer A1 - JK Bailey A1 - Fischer,Dylan G A1 - LeRoy,Carri J A1 - Lonsdorf,Eric V A1 - Whitham,Thomas G A1 - Stephen C Hart KW - Biomass KW - Crosses, Genetic KW - Ecosystem KW - Fatty Acids KW - Genetic Variation KW - Genotype KW - Host-Pathogen Interactions KW - Phospholipids KW - Plants KW - Soil Microbiology KW - Species Specificity AB -

Although soil microbial communities are known to play crucial roles in the cycling of nutrients in forest ecosystems and can vary by plant species, how microorganisms respond to the subtle gradients of plant genetic variation is just beginning to be appreciated. Using a model Populus system in a common garden with replicated clones of known genotypes, we evaluated microbial biomass and community composition as quantitative traits. Two main patterns emerged. (1) Plant genotype influenced microbial biomass nitrogen in soils under replicated genotypes of Populus angustifolia, F1, and backcross hybrids, but not P. fremontii. Genotype explained up to 78% of the variation in microbial biomass as indicated by broad-sense heritability estimates (i.e., clonal repeatability). A second estimate of microbial biomass (total phospholipid fatty acid) was more conservative and showed significant genotype effects in P. angustifolia and backcross hybrids. (2) Plant genotype significantly influenced microbial community composition, explaining up to 70% of the variation in community composition within P. angustifolia genotypes alone. These findings suggest that variation in above- and belowground traits of individual plant genotypes can alter soil microbial dynamics, and suggests that further investigations of the evolutionary implications of genetic feedbacks are warranted.

VL - 89 SN - 0012-9658 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&DbFrom=pubmed&Cmd=Link&LinkName=pubmed_pubmed&LinkReadableName=Related%20Articles&IdsFromResult=18459340&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSumhttp://www.ncbi. IS - 3 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - A framework for community and ecosystem genetics: from genes to ecosystems. JF - Nature reviews. Genetics Y1 - 2006 A1 - Whitham,Thomas G A1 - JK Bailey A1 - Jennifer A Schweitzer A1 - Shuster,Stephen M A1 - RK Bangert A1 - LeRoy,Carri J A1 - Lonsdorf,Eric V A1 - Allan,Gery J A1 - DiFazio,Stephen P A1 - Potts,Brad M A1 - Fischer,Dylan G A1 - Gehring,Catherine A A1 - Lindroth,Richard L A1 - Jane C Marks A1 - Stephen C Hart A1 - Wimp,Gina M A1 - Wooley,Stuart C KW - Animals KW - Ecosystem KW - Genetics, Population KW - Humans KW - Plants AB -

Can heritable traits in a single species affect an entire ecosystem? Recent studies show that such traits in a common tree have predictable effects on community structure and ecosystem processes. Because these 'community and ecosystem phenotypes' have a genetic basis and are heritable, we can begin to apply the principles of population and quantitative genetics to place the study of complex communities and ecosystems within an evolutionary framework. This framework could allow us to understand, for the first time, the genetic basis of ecosystem processes, and the effect of such phenomena as climate change and introduced transgenic organisms on entire communities.

VL - 7 SN - 1471-0056 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&DbFrom=pubmed&Cmd=Link&LinkName=pubmed_pubmed&LinkReadableName=Related%20Articles&IdsFromResult=16778835&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSumhttp://www.ncbi. IS - 7 ER -