Phylogenetic signals and predictability in plant–soil feedbacks

TY - JOUR

T1 - Phylogenetic signals and predictability in plant–soil feedbacks

AU - Wandrag, Elizabeth M.

AU - Bates, Sarah E.

AU - Barrett, Luke G.

AU - Catford, Jane A.

AU - Thrall, Peter H.

AU - van der Putten, Wim H.

AU - Duncan, Richard P.

N1 - 7097, TE; Data archiving: data archived in Figshare (not NIOO data)

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - There is strong evidence for a phylogenetic signal in the degree to which species share co-evolved biotic partners and in the outcomes of biotic interactions. This implies there should be a phylogenetic signal in the outcome of feedbacks between plants and the soil microbiota they cultivate. However, attempts to identify a phylogenetic signal in plant–soil feedbacks have produced mixed results. Here we clarify how phylogenetic signals could arise in plant–soil feedbacks and use a recent compilation of data from feedback experiments to identify: whether there is a phylogenetic signal in the outcome of plant–soil feedbacks; and whether any signal arises through directional or divergent changes in feedback outcomes with evolutionary time. We find strong evidence for a divergent phylogenetic signal in feedback outcomes. Distantly related plant species show more divergent responses to each other’s soil microbiota compared with closely related plant species. The pattern of divergence implies occasional co-evolutionary shifts in how plants interact with soil microbiota, with strongly contrasting feedback responses among some plant lineages. Our results highlight that it is difficult to predict feedback outcomes from phylogeny alone, other than to say that more closely related species tend to have more similar responses.

AB - There is strong evidence for a phylogenetic signal in the degree to which species share co-evolved biotic partners and in the outcomes of biotic interactions. This implies there should be a phylogenetic signal in the outcome of feedbacks between plants and the soil microbiota they cultivate. However, attempts to identify a phylogenetic signal in plant–soil feedbacks have produced mixed results. Here we clarify how phylogenetic signals could arise in plant–soil feedbacks and use a recent compilation of data from feedback experiments to identify: whether there is a phylogenetic signal in the outcome of plant–soil feedbacks; and whether any signal arises through directional or divergent changes in feedback outcomes with evolutionary time. We find strong evidence for a divergent phylogenetic signal in feedback outcomes. Distantly related plant species show more divergent responses to each other’s soil microbiota compared with closely related plant species. The pattern of divergence implies occasional co-evolutionary shifts in how plants interact with soil microbiota, with strongly contrasting feedback responses among some plant lineages. Our results highlight that it is difficult to predict feedback outcomes from phylogeny alone, other than to say that more closely related species tend to have more similar responses.

KW - biotic interactions

KW - Brownian evolution

KW - mutualisms

KW - pairwise feedbacks

KW - pathogens

KW - plant–soil interactions

KW - symbioses

KW - international

KW - Plan_S-Compliant_TA

UR - https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7985195.v1

U2 - 10.1111/nph.16768

DO - 10.1111/nph.16768

M3 - Article

SN - 0028-646X

VL - 228

SP - 1440

EP - 1449

JO - New Phytologist

JF - New Phytologist

IS - 4

ER -