Understanding belowground plant-microbe feedback loops during competition between native and invasive plant species in a grassland ecosystem

In a controlled greenhouse experiment, we used high throughput amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and ITS regions the microbiome individually and during pair-wise competition treatments of six native annual forb species (Lasthenia californica, Clarkia purpurea, Agoseris heterophylla, Calycadenia pauciflora, Hemizonia congesta, and Plantago erecta) and three invasive annual grasses (Avena fatua, Elymus caput-medusae, and Bromus hordeaceus).