Fine‐scale environmental heterogeneity and spatial niche partitioning among spring‐flowering forest herbs

PREMISE Environmental heterogeneity influences plant distributions and diversity at several spatial scales. In temperate forests, fine-scale environmental variation may promote local coexistence among herbaceous species by allowing plants to spatially partition microsites within forest stands. Here we argue that shallow soils, low soil water-holding capacity fertility, reduced light near tree boles should favor short, shallow-rooted, evergreen like Anemone acutiloba with moisture, nutrient, requirements. Farther from trees, richer, deeper soils taller, deeper-rooted herbs greater moisture nutrient demands, such as Sanguinaria canadensis Trillium flexipes. METHODS We tested these hypotheses mapping the of Anemone, Sanguinaria, individuals a 50 × m plot, comparing species’ respect depth proximity neighboring characterizing intraspecific interspecific associations. RESULTS Local were consistent our predictions based on leaf height, physiology, phenology. was found in shallower closer trees than either or Trillium. all three species, individual aggregated 2 m, but segregated other beyond m. CONCLUSIONS Differential responses observed associations suggest species-environment could facilitate coexistence. These findings illustrate how coupled phenological physiological differences likely contribute niche partitioning spring-flowering maintain high forests.