An Epichloe endophyte alters the ecology of Poa leptocoma.
Abstract
Determining mechanisms behind species ranges is vital to creating the most accurate models of species distributions under climate change. Mutualisms are an important factor to consider when examining mechanisms behind range limits of host plants, as they can have a large influence on community organization, competition, population distributions and landscape- scale community dynamics. Mutualistic relationships with endophytic fungi are ubiquitous in vascular plants, and can have strong effects on the individual fitness of host plants. The advantages gained from fungal endophytes can allow host species to have a broader realized niche than their fundamental niche would typically allow. In this experiment conducted in a subalpine meadow in the Rocky Mountains, USA, we examined the effects of a vertically transmitted fungal endophyte in the Epichloë genus on the distribution of Poa leptocoma. The observed range of Poa leptocoma, which always is found with the Epichloë endophyte, lies in wetter soils. We found that endophyte-symbiotic individuals of Poa leptocoma had a lower survival rate in wetter conditions, but produced more tillers and seeds in wetter conditions. These results demonstrate that the effects of the endophyte vary with host demography, that symbionts have the potential to affect host distribution, and that Poa reflexa may have a previously undocumented cryptic seed-borne pathogen.
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