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Data from: Predators in the plant-soil feedback loop: aboveground plant-associated predators may alter the outcome of plant-soil interactions

Cite this dataset

Smith-Ramesh, Lauren M. (2019). Data from: Predators in the plant-soil feedback loop: aboveground plant-associated predators may alter the outcome of plant-soil interactions [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.g34gs

Abstract

Plant-soil feedback (PSF) can structure plant communities, promoting coexistence (negative PSF) or monodominance (positive PSF). At higher trophic levels, predators can alter plant community structure by re-allocating resources within habitats. When predator and plant species are spatially associated, predators may alter the outcome of PSF. Here, I explore the influence of plant-associated predators on PSF using a generalized cellular automaton model that tracks nutrients, plants, herbivores, and predators. I explore key contingencies in plant-predator associations such as whether predators associate with live vs. senesced vegetation. Results indicate that plant-associated predators shift PSF to favor the host plant when predators colonize live vegetation, but the outcome of PSF will depend upon plant dispersal distance when predators colonize dead vegetation. I apply the model to two spider-associated invasive plants, finding that spider predators should shift PSF dynamics in a way that inhibits invasion by one forest invader, but exacerbates invasion by another.

Usage notes

Funding

National Science Foundation, Award: DBI-1300426