SOIL HETEROGENEITY AND PLANT COMPETITION IN AN ANNUAL GRASSLAND

Variation in competitive ability due to variation in soil characterist ics is one possible mechanism allowing the local coexistence of plant species. We measured soil water, depth, and nitrogen pools and fluxes in distinct patches of three serpentine grassland species to determine whether soil heterogeneity existed and was correlated with plant spec ies abundance. Through experimental manipulation of species' abundance s, we also examined the relative importance of inherent site character istics vs. plant species' effects in generating heterogeneity in the m easured soil characteristics; and measured species' competitive abilit ies in different patch types. The three common grassland annuals, Caly cndenia multiglandulosum, Plantago erecta, and Lasthenia californica, were segregated with respect to the measured soil characteristics. Dif ferences in soil water, soil depth, soil microbial nitrogen, and soil carbon to nitrogen ratio were due to inherent site characteristics, wh ile differences in nitrate availability were strongly affected by the identity of the species currently growing in a soil patch. Furthermore , all species performed significantly better against one other species in the patch type where they are normally most abundant. These result s demonstrate that species diversity within this grassland contributes to soil heterogeneity and suggest that soil heterogeneity could contr ibute to the coexistence of these species.