Species-specific effects on topsoil development affect Quercus ilex seedling performance

We illustrate experimentally the importance of species-specificity in the soil-mediated interactions among plants inhabiting heterogeneous landscapes. Topsoils from nine microhabitats were used to experimentally grow Quercus ilex acorns in the laboratory. We recorded germination, emergence, acorn left and seedling performance (HGR, biomass and root allocation). Different topsoils had very contrasting physico-chemical properties, creating a heterogeneous arena. This heterogeneity translated to differences in seedling performance, since emergence and survival differed among topsoils. However, nutrient content in topsoils did not appear to benefit seedling performance. In addition, there were strong correlations among parameters of plant performance indicating a consistency of the effect of topsoil type on Q. ilex seedlings. This implies that it is crucial to consider the specificity of the interaction between plants to wholly understand the structure of plant communities. Species-specific interactions may play an important role in the organization and dynamic of plants spatial distribution.