TY  - JOUR
A1  - Reinecke, J.
A1  - Wulf, M.
A1  - Baeten, Lander
A1  - Brunet, J.
A1  - Decocq, G.
A1  - De Frenne, G.
A1  - Diekmann, M.
A1  - Graae, B. J.
A1  - Heinken, Thilo
A1  - Hermy, M.
A1  - Jamoneau, A.
A1  - Lenoir, J.
A1  - Plue, J.
A1  - Orczewska, A.
A1  - Van Calster, H.
A1  - Verheyen, Kris
A1  - Naaf, T.
T1  - Acido- and neutrophilic temperate forest plants display distinct shifts in ecological pH niche across north-western Europe
JF  - Ecography : pattern and diversity in ecology ; research papers forum
N2  - Ecological niches of organisms vary across geographical space, but niche shift patterns between regions and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. We studied shifts in the pH niche of 42 temperate forest plant species across a latitudinal gradient from northern France to boreo-nemoral Sweden. We asked 1) whether species restrict their niches with increasing latitude as they reach their northern range margin (environmental constraints); 2) whether species expand their niches with increasing latitude as regional plant species richness decreases (competitive release); and 3) whether species shift their niche position toward more acidic sites with increasing latitude as the relative proportion of acidic soils increases (local adaptation). Based on 1458 vegetation plots and corresponding soil pH values, we modelled species response curves using Huisman-Olff-Fresco models. Four niche measures (width, position, left and right border) were compared among regions by randomization tests. We found that with increasing latitude, neutrophilic species tended to retreat from acidic sites, indicating that these species retreat to more favorable sites when approaching their range margin. Alternatively, these species might benefit from enhanced nitrogen deposition on formerly nutrient-poor, acidic sites in southern regions or lag behind in post-glacial recolonization of potential habitats in northern regions. Most acidophilic species extended their niche toward more base-rich sites with increasing latitude, indicating competitive release from neutrophilic species. Alternatively, acidophilic species might benefit from optimal climatic conditions in the north where some have their core distribution area. Shifts in the niche position suggested that local adaptation is of minor importance. We conclude that shifts in the pH niche of temperate forest plants are the rule, but the directions of the niche shifts and possible explanations vary. Our study demonstrates that differentiating between acidophilic and neutrophilic species is crucial to identify general patterns and underlying mechanisms.
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.02051
SN  - 0906-7590
SN  - 1600-0587
VL  - 39
SP  - 1164
EP  - 1175
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Baeten, Lander
A1  - Warton, David I.
A1  - Van Calster, Hans
A1  - De Frenne, Pieter
A1  - Verstraeten, Gorik
A1  - Bonte, Dries
A1  - Bernhardt-Römermann, Markus
A1  - Cornelis, Johnny
A1  - Decocq, Guillaume
A1  - Eriksson, Ove
A1  - Hedl, Radim
A1  - Heinken, Thilo
A1  - Hermy, Martin
A1  - Hommel, Patrick
A1  - Kirby, Keith J.
A1  - Naaf, Tobias
A1  - Petrik, Petr
A1  - Walther, Gian-Reto
A1  - Wulf, Monica
A1  - Verheyen, Kris
T1  - A model-based approach to studying changes in compositional heterogeneity
JF  - Methods in ecology and evolution : an official journal of the British Ecological Society
Y1  - 2014
SN  - 2041-210X
SN  - 2041-2096
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
SP  - 156
EP  - 164
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - De Frenne, P.
A1  - Kolb, Annette
A1  - Graae, Benete Jessen
A1  - Decocq, Guillaume
A1  - Baltora, S.
A1  - De Schrijver, A.
A1  - Brunet, J.
A1  - Chabrerie, Olivier
A1  - Cousins, Sara A. O.
A1  - Dhondt, Rob
A1  - Diekmann, Martin
A1  - Gruwez, R.
A1  - Heinken, Thilo
A1  - Hermy, Martin
A1  - Liira, J.
A1  - Saguez, R.
A1  - Shevtsova, Anna
A1  - Baskin, Carol C.
A1  - Verheyen, Kris
T1  - A latitudinal gradient in seed nutrients of the forest herb Anemone nemorosa
JF  - Plant biology
N2  - The nutrient concentration in seeds determines many aspects of potential success of the sexual reproductive phase of plants, including the seed predation probability, efficiency of seed dispersal and seedling performance. Despite considerable research interest in latitudinal gradients of foliar nutrients, a similar gradient for seeds remains unexplored. We investigated a potential latitudinal gradient in seed nutrient concentrations within the widespread European understorey forest herb Anemone nemorosa L. We sampled seeds of A. nemorosa in 15 populations along a 1900-km long latitudinal gradient at three to seven seed collection dates post-anthesis and investigated the relative effects of growing degree-hours > 5 degrees C, soil characteristics and latitude on seed nutrient concentrations. Seed nitrogen, nitrogen:phosphorus ratio and calcium concentration decreased towards northern latitudes, while carbon:nitrogen ratios increased. When taking differences in growing degree-hours and measured soil characteristics into account and only considering the most mature seeds, the latitudinal decline remained particularly significant for seed nitrogen concentration. We argue that the decline in seed nitrogen concentration can be attributed to northward decreasing seed provisioning due to lower soil nitrogen availability or greater investment in clonal reproduction. This pattern may have large implications for the reproductive performance of this forest herb as the degree of seed provisioning ultimately co-determines seedling survival and reproductive success.
KW  - Collection date
KW  - latitude
KW  - nutrient stoichiometry
KW  - seed nitrogen
KW  - seed predation
KW  - seed provisioning
KW  - sexual reproduction
KW  - wood anemone
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.2010.00404.x
SN  - 1435-8603
VL  - 13
IS  - 3
SP  - 493
EP  - 501
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Malden
ER  -