Data from: Genotypic variation in a foundation tree (Populus tremula L.) explains community structure of associated epiphytes

Community genetics hypothesizes that within a foundation species the genotype of an individual significantly influences the assemblage of dependent organisms. To assess whether these intra-specific genetic effects are ecologically important, it is required to compare their impact on dependent organisms with that attributable to environmental variation experienced over relevant spatial scales. We assessed bark epiphytes on 27 aspen (Populus tremula L.) genotypes grown in a randomized experimental array at two contrasting sites spanning the environmental conditions from which the aspen genotypes were collected. We found that variation in aspen genotype significantly influenced bark epiphyte community composition, and to the same degree as environmental variation between the test sites. We conclude that maintaining genotypic diversity of foundation species may be crucial for conservation of associated biodiversity.群落遗传学（Community genetics）假说认为，在建群种（foundation species）内部，个体基因型可对依附生物（dependent organisms）的群落组成产生显著影响。为明确这类种内遗传效应是否具有生态重要性，需将其对依附生物的影响，与相关空间尺度下环境变异所带来的影响进行对比分析。本研究以27份欧洲山杨（Populus tremula L.）基因型为研究材料，将其种植于两个生境差异显著的试验点，试验采用随机布置的实验阵列，且两个试验点的环境条件覆盖了该山杨基因型原始采集地的环境梯度。研究结果显示，欧洲山杨的基因型变异显著影响树皮附生生物（bark epiphytes）的群落组成，其影响程度与试验点间的环境变异相当。据此我们得出结论：维持建群种的基因型多样性，或许对保护其伴生生物多样性至关重要。