Cage Matching: Head to Head Competition Experiments of an Invasive Plant Species from Different Regions as a Means to Test for Differentiation

Lortie, Christopher J.; Munshaw, Michael; Zikovitz, Andrea; Hierro, José Luis

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004823

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Indeed, the effect of density on invasion success has been demonstrated, especially in the field [14] but also in experiments testing competition between native and non-native species [33]–[34]. Despite some uncertainties regarding the relative importance of sampling and complementarity effects, interpreting the results of our two experiments in conjunction allows us to infer that the density of any of the native species was a more important factor in explaining the U. arrecta invasion success than was native richness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Native Macrophyte Density and Richness Affect the Invasiveness of a Tropical Poaceae Species

2013

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The role of the native species richness and density in ecosystem invasibility is a matter of concern for both ecologists and managers. We tested the hypothesis that the invasiveness of Urochloa arrecta (non-native in the Neotropics) is negatively affected by the species richness and abundance of native aquatic macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems. We first created four levels of macrophyte richness in a greenhouse (richness experiment), and we then manipulated the densities of the same native species in a second experiment (density experiment). When the native macrophytes were adults, fragments of U. arrecta were added, and their growth was assessed. Our results from the richness experiment corroborated the hypothesis of a negative relationship between the native species richness and the growth of U. arrecta, as measured by sprout length and root biomass. However, the resistance to invasion was not attributed to the presence of a particular native species with a greater competitive ability. In the density experiment, U. arrecta growth decreased significantly with an increased density of all five of the native species. Density strongly affected the performance of the Poaceae in a negative manner, suggesting that patches that are densely colonized by native macrophytes and less subject to disturbances will be more resistant to invasion than those that are poorly colonized and more commonly subjected to disturbances. Our density experiment also showed that some species exhibit a higher competitive ability than others (sampling effect). Although native richness and abundance clearly limit the colonization and establishment of U. arrecta, these factors cannot completely prevent the invasion of aquatic ecosystems by this Poaceae species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Native Macrophyte Density and Richness Affect the Invasiveness of a Tropical Poaceae Species

2013

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“…In turn, we detected a 33% increase in seed mass in Californian populations relative to Argentinean populations. Seed size has been proposed to influence seedling establishment (Buckley et al 2003;Widmer et al 2007, and references therein); however, recent greenhouse experiments suggest that individuals from Argentina are stronger intraspecific competitors than those from California (Lortie et al 2009). Additional common gardens, where plant communities are invaded with Californian and Argentinean seeds, are needed to examine the ecological significance of increased seed size in Californian populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resistance to Centaurea solstitialis invasion from annual and perennial grasses in California and Argentina

et al. 2011

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A common explanation for Centaurea solstitialis invasion in California is that it occupies an ''empty niche'' created by the replacement of native perennial grasses by exotic annual grasses and concomitant increases in soil water availability. This hypothesis, however, cannot explain C. solstitialis invasion into perennial-dominated grasslands of central Argentina. We assessed invasibility of annual versus perennial grass communities in these regions through parallel field experiments where we created grass plots and, after one year of establishment, measured effects on water and light, and added C. solstitialis seeds in two successive trials. Additionally, we removed vegetation around naturally occurring C. solstitialis in both regions, and examined the performance of Californian and Argentinean C. solstitialis individuals when growing under common conditions simulating climate in California and Argentina. In California, both grass types offered high resistance to C. solstitialis invasion, water was generally greater under perennials than annuals, and light was similarly low beneath both types. In Argentina, invasibility was generally greater in annual than perennial plots, water was similar between groups, and light was much greater beneath annuals. Removal experiments showed that competition from annual grasses in California and perennial grasses in Argentina greatly reduce C. solstitialis performance. Additionally, Californian and Argentinean individuals did not exhibit genetic differentiation in studied traits. Our results suggest that dominant plant functional groups in both California and Argentina offer substantial resistance to C. solstitialis invasion. The success of this species might be tightly linked to a remarkable ability to take advantage of disturbance in both regions.

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“…Sometimes, the introduced populations have a wider range of conditions in which its seeds can germinate or they germinate faster (Blair & Wolfe 2004, Cervera & Parra-Tabla 2009, Erfmeier & Bruelheide 2005, Lortie et al 2009). Sometimes, introduced populations are more dormant , Kudoh et al 2007.…”

Section: Indirect Evidence Of Adaptation In Germination: Changes In Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

Germination, Postgermination Adaptation, and Species Ecological Ranges

Donohue

Casas

Burghardt

et al. 2010

Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst.

777

794

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Germination behavior is one of the earliest phenotypes expressed by plants. This fact has several consequences for the evolution of postgermination traits, ecological niches, and geographic ranges. By determining the conditions that plants experience after they germinate, germination influences phenotypic expression of postgermination traits, natural selection on them, and their genetic basis. The breadth of germination niches may influence the ecological breadth and geographic ranges of species. Because germination is expressed early, it is frequently subjected to natural selection before other traits are expressed. We review evidence for natural selection on and adaptation of germination and discuss how the breadth of the germination niche is associated with the ecological niche and range of plant species. We review evidence for the coevolution of germination and postgermination traits and compare germination to postgermination niches. Finally, we discuss how germination responses to altered environments can influence species distribution and the evolution of postgermination traits after environmental change.

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Cage Matching: Head to Head Competition Experiments of an Invasive Plant Species from Different Regions as a Means to Test for Differentiation

Cited by 10 publications

References 42 publications

Native Macrophyte Density and Richness Affect the Invasiveness of a Tropical Poaceae Species

Native Macrophyte Density and Richness Affect the Invasiveness of a Tropical Poaceae Species

Resistance to Centaurea solstitialis invasion from annual and perennial grasses in California and Argentina

Germination, Postgermination Adaptation, and Species Ecological Ranges

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