Mutual Feedbacks Maintain Both Genetic and Species Diversity in a Plant Community

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 317; no. 5844; pp. 1561 - 1563
• Main Authors: Lankau, Richard A, Strauss, Sharon Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 14-09-2007; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Amsinckia - growth & development; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Autoecology; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Botany; Brassica nigra; Communities; Ecological competition; Ecosystem; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, Plant; Genetic diversity; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Genotypes; Glucosinolates; Glucosinolates - genetics; Glucosinolates - metabolism; Malva - growth & development; Mustard Plant - genetics; Mustard Plant - growth & development; Mustard Plant - metabolism; Mycorrhizae - growth & development; Phenotypic traits; Plant communities; Plant ecology; Plants and fungi; Quantitative genetics; Selection, Genetic; Soil Microbiology; Sonchus - growth & development; Species diversity; Species Specificity; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Plant community; Chemical compound; Allelopathy; Genetic diversity; Biodiversity; Allelochemicals; Species diversity; Cruciferae; Feedback; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Interspecific competition; Spermatophyta; Brassica nigra; Semiochemicals; Interspecific relation
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1147455

The forces that maintain genetic diversity among individuals and diversity among species are usually studied separately. Nevertheless, diversity at one of these levels may depend on the diversity at the other. We have combined observations of natural populations, quantitative genetics, and field experiments to show that genetic variation in the concentration of an allelopathic secondary compound in Brassica nigra is necessary for the coexistence of B. nigra and its competitor species. In addition, the diversity of competing species was required for the maintenance of genetic variation in the trait within B. nigra. Thus, conservation of species diversity may also necessitate maintenance of the processes that sustain the genetic diversity of each individual species.