title: Soil properties drive a negative correlation between species diversity and genetic diversity in a tropical seasonal rainforest.
abstract: A negative species-genetic diversity correlation (SGDC) could be predicted by the niche variation hypothesis, whereby an increase in species diversity within community reduces the genetic diversity of the co-occurring species because of the reduction in average niche breadth; alternatively, competition could reduce effective population size and therefore genetic diversity of the species within community. We tested these predictions within a 20 ha tropical forest dynamics plot (FDP) in the Xishuangbanna tropical seasonal rainforest. We established 15 plots within the FDP and investigated the soil properties, tree diversity, and genetic diversity of a common tree species Beilschmiedia roxburghiana within each plot. We observed a significant negative correlation between tree diversity and the genetic diversity of B. roxburghiana within the communities. Using structural equation modeling, we further determined that the inter-plot environmental characteristics (soil pH and phosphorus availability) directly affected tree diversity and that the tree diversity within the community determined the genetic diversity of B. roxburghiana. Increased soil pH and phosphorus availability might promote the coexistence of more tree species within community and reduce genetic diversity of B. roxburghiana for the reduced average niche breadth; alternatively, competition could reduce effective population size and therefore genetic diversity of B. roxburghiana within community.
authors: Plant Phylogenetics and Conservation Group, Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, P. R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China.
authors: Wumei
authors: W
authors: Xu
authors: Plant Phylogenetics and Conservation Group, Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, P. R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China.
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
authors: Tianhua
authors: T
authors: He
authors: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, P. R. China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Cao
authors: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, P. R. China.
authors: Liqing
authors: L
authors: Sha
authors: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, P. R. China.
authors: Yuehua
authors: Y
authors: Hu
authors: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, P. R. China.
authors: Qiaoming
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Plant Phylogenetics and Conservation Group, Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, P. R. China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D014644:Genetic Variation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019770:Lauraceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry; D065947:Rainforest; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus