title: Wild-boar disturbance increases nutrient and C stores of geophytes in subalpine grasslands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Wild-boar soil disturbance (i.e., rooting) increases the abundance of some species of geophytes (i.e., plants with underground renewal buds) in upland meadows. However, the mechanisms that could lead to such enhanced prevalence remain unexplored. •
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the effects of wild-boar disturbance on the size, nutrient (N, P, K, C, and total ash), and nonstructural carbohydrate (soluble sugars, starch plus fructans, and total nonstructural carbohydrate) content of the storage organs of five taxa of upland geophytes. Results were explored in relation to the nutrient availability (total N, available P, and K) in the soil. •
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wild-boar rooting increased the size and the nutrient content of the storage organs of geophytes. Such enhanced storage was further promoted by rooting recurrence and intensity. Although we could not detect a direct impact of rooting on soil nutrient concentrations, plants were clearly N limited and such limitation was ameliorated in areas rooted by wild boar. Furthermore, plant-soil interactions for N were different in rooted areas, where plant N-concentrations responded positively to soil N. •
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geophytes growing in rooted areas have an increased nutrient value, which may promote the revisit of wild boars to previously rooted areas, with further positive feed-back effects on plant quality. This plant-animal interaction may shape upland geophyte communities.
authors.affiliation: Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria, s/n 22700 Jaca (Huesca), Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palacio
authors.forename: C Guillermo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Azorín
authors.forename: Melchor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maestro
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gómez-García
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D027621:Iridaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D010758:Phosphorus; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Nitrogen; Pyrenees; non-structural carbohydrates; phosphorus; potassium; reserves; soil nutrients; storage organs; wild-boar rooting