Effects of positive interactions, size symmetry of competition and abiotic stress on self-thinning in simulated plant populations

作者：Chengjin Chu, Jacob Weiner, Fernando T. Maestre, You-Shi Wang, Charles Morris, Sa Xiao, Jianli Yuan, Guozhen Du, Gang Wang · 发表于：Annals of Botany · 年份：2010 · DOI：10.1093/aob/mcq145 · 被引用次数：51 · 研究领域：Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies、Plant and animal studies、Plant responses to elevated CO2

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Competition drives self-thinning (density-dependent mortality) in crowded plant populations. Facilitative interactions have been shown to affect many processes in plant populations and communities, but their effects on self-thinning trajectories have not been investigated. METHODS: Using an individual-based 'zone-of-influence' model, we studied the potential effects of the size symmetry of competition, abiotic stress and facilitation on self-thinning trajectories in plant monocultures. In the model, abiotic stress reduced the growth of all individuals and facilitation ameliorated the effects of stress on interacting individuals. KEY RESULTS: Abiotic stress made the log biomass-log density relationship during self-thinning steeper, but this effect was reduced by positive interactions among individuals. Size-asymmetric competition also influenced the self-thinning slope. CONCLUSIONS: Although competition drives self-thinning, its course can be affected by abiotic stress, facilitation and competitive symmetry.