Conservation implications of community and ecosystem phenotypes of foundation plant species

Our collaborative studies of poplars, eucalypts and pines, which are foundation species in their respective vegetation types show that diverse species from microbes to vertebrates are sensitive to individual plant genotypes within individual species and/or within a hybridizing complex.  Because different tree genotypes support different communities of arthropods and microbes, and determine different ecosystem processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling, these predictable effects are termed ‘community and ecosystem phenotypes.’  Common garden studies show that these phenotypes exhibit broad-sense heritability.  The existence of these phenotypes has important conservation implications.  First, genetic diversity in these trees positively affects the biodiversity of the dependent community.  Second, the species-area curve may be more appropriately viewed as a species-genetic diversity curve, which may require a genetic emphasis in conservation rather than an area emphasis.  Third, there is a strong genetic component to ecosystem services.  Because the field of ecosystem science is largely genetics free, it is important to understand how plant genetics affects ecosystem services.  Fourth, the effects of climate change on the genetic structure of foundation species is likely to alter their community and ecosystem phenotypes to affect a much larger community of organisms.  Fifth, because of climate change local genotypes may no longer be best adapted to the local environment.  This may require restoration strategies that employ genotypes from far away that have evolved under similar conditions to what the local environment has become or is predicted to become.  Sixth, because the phenotypes of genetically modified organisms are likely to have community and ecosystem phenotypes, it is important to evaluate these higher order phenotypes before their release is approved.  These findings argue that the development of the emerging field of community and ecosystem genetics has important implications for conservation biology and genetics.