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Competitive species interactions constrain abiotic adaptation in a bacterial soil community.

ABSTRACT: Studies of abiotic adaptation often consider single species in isolation, yet natural communities contain many coexisting species which could limit or promote abiotic adaptation. Here we show, using soil bacterial communities, that evolving in the presence of a competitor constrained abiotic adaptation. Specifically, Pseudomonas fluorescens evolved alone was fitter than P. fluorescens evolved alongside Pseudomonas putida, when P. putida was absent. Genome analyses indicated this was due to mutation of the acetate scavenger actP, which occurred exclusively, and almost universally, in single-species-evolved clones. actP disruption was associated with increased growth in soil compared with wild-type actP, but this benefit was abolished when P. putida was present, suggesting a role for carbon scavenging transporters in species interactions, possibly through nutrient competition. Our results show that competitive species interactions can limit the evolutionary response to abiotic selection, because the fitness benefits of abiotic adaptive mutations were negated in more complex communities.

SUBMITTER: Hall JPJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6292705 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Competitive species interactions constrain abiotic adaptation in a bacterial soil community.

Hall James P J JPJ Harrison Ellie E Brockhurst Michael A MA

Evolution letters 20180925 6

Studies of abiotic adaptation often consider single species in isolation, yet natural communities contain many coexisting species which could limit or promote abiotic adaptation. Here we show, using soil bacterial communities, that evolving in the presence of a competitor constrained abiotic adaptation. Specifically, Pseudomonas fluorescens evolved alone was fitter than P. fluorescens evolved alongside Pseudomonas putida, when P. putida was absent. Genome analyses ind ...[more]

PMID: 30564441

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Project description:Backgrounds and aimsNegative plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) are thought to promote species coexistence, but most evidence is derived from theoretical models and data from plant monoculture experiments.MethodsWe grew Anthoxanthum odoratum and Centaurea jacea in field plots in monocultures and in mixtures with three ratios (3:1, 2:2 and 1:3) for three years. We then tested in a greenhouse experiment the performance of A. odoratum and C. jacea in pots planted with monocultures and 1:1 mixtures and filled with live and sterile soils collected from the field plots.ResultsIn the greenhouse experiment, C. jacea produced less aboveground biomass in soil conditioned by C. jacea monocultures than in soil conditioned by A. odoratum monocultures, while the aboveground biomass of A. odoratum in general did not differ between the two monospecific soils. The negative PSF effect was greater in the 1:1 plant mixture than in plant monocultures for A. odoratum but did not differ for C. jacea. In the greenhouse experiment, the performance of C. jacea relative to A. odoratum in the 1:1 plant mixture was negatively correlated to the abundance of C. jacea in the field plot where the soil was collected from. This relationship was significant both in live and sterile soils. However, there was no relationship between the performance of A. odoratum relative to C. jacea in the 1:1 plant mixture in the greenhouse experiment and the abundance of A. odoratum in the field plots.ConclusionsThe response of a plant to PSF depends on whether the focal species grows in monocultures or in mixtures and on the identity of the species. Interspecific competition can exacerbate the negative plant-soil feedbacks compared to intraspecific competition when a plant competes with a stronger interspecific competitor. Moreover, the abundance of a species in mixed plant communities, via plant-soil feedback, negatively influences the relative competitiveness of that species when it grows later in interspecific competition, but this effect varies between species. This phenomenon may contribute to the coexistence of competing plants under natural conditions through preventing the dominance of a particular plant species.

Project description:The success of seed-based conservation and restoration efforts using native plant species is largely determined by ensuring two key life history transitions are accommodated. These are from "seed to germinated seed" and "germinated seed to established seedling." In turn, optimization of these life history transitions is determined by a "genetic × environmental" interaction and later largely characterized by localized climatic (abiotic) conditions. It is these environmental stress factors that can act as natural selection agents for specific plant-trait combinations, or phenotypes. In turn, such adaptation may also limit a species range. To test the relationship between these two early plant life history stage transitions, "seed to germinated seed" and "germinated seed to established seedling," the attributes were characterized for two species of Plantago that occupy contrasting environments and since these species have potential for native seed-based habit restoration and conservation. The species were Plantago coronopus (L.), localized at lower and drier altitudes, and Plantago lanceolata (L.), characterized as occupying higher and wetter altitudinal clines. Seeds were collected from 20 accessions of six natural populations spanning four European countries for both P. lanceolata and P. coronopus. Seed germination (G) and seedling establishment (S) data were determined at six temperatures (T) and six water potentials (?), and the data obtained were analyzed using a generalized linear model (GLM). The results indicate that P. coronopus has adapted physiologically to its high-altitude conditions such that seed germination and seedling establishment may be more readily achieved in this cooler environment where water is less limiting. In contrast, the lower ?T of P. lanceolata better facilitates more efficient seed germination and seedling establishment in drier and warmer clines of lower altitude. In addition to establishing a genotypic (species) underpin for seed and seedling trait differences observed, the insights gained may also be exploited to best deploy each species in situ for seed-based conservation and restoration efforts.

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Competitive species interactions constrain abiotic adaptation in a bacterial soil community.

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Competitive species interactions constrain abiotic adaptation in a bacterial soil community.

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