Density-dependent role of an invasive marsh grass, Phragmites australis, on ecosystem service provision

Theuerkauf, Seth J.; Puckett, Brandon; Theuerkauf, Kathrynlynn W.; Theuerkauf, Ethan J.; Eggleston, David B.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173007

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Numerous studies have shown that the biomass of P. communis is slightly lower than that of S. alterni ora (Medeiros et al, 2013;Theuerkauf et al, 2015;Theuerkauf et al, 2017;Yan et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in carbon sink capacity and carbon storage of several typical modified tidal wetlands in the Yangtze River Estuary

Zhang

Dong

Lupei³

et al. 2023

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Although tidal wetlands in the Yangtze River Estuary are important carbon sinks, some are modified by different engineering measures to protect beaches, prevent corrosion, and promote tidal flat siltation. Nevertheless, some basic characteristics of these modified wetlands are still retained for their ecological service functions. Elucidation of the differences in carbon sink capacity and carbon storage of different types of modified tidal wetlands and the underlying reasons can provide theoretical guidance and a scientific basis for the protection and rational utilization of tidal wetlands, so as to maintain and enhance their carbon sink capacity. In this study, five typical modified tidal wetlands in the Yangtze River Estuary, namely, enclosure coastal wetland with Spartina alterniflora (ECS), enclosure coastal wetland with Phragmites communis (ECP), siltation coastal wetland with S. alterniflora (SCS), rock rip-rap riverside wetland with P. communis (RRP), and reclamation riverside wetland with P. communis (ReRP), were selected as study zones, and their carbon sink capacity and carbon storage were evaluated by analyzing soil organic carbon density, plant carbon fixation, and soil CO2 emissions. The possible reasons for the differences among these modified wetlands were considered based on elevation, average waterlogging time, tidal salt content, and vegetation types. The results showed that all the modified wetlands were net carbon sinks, with SCS exhibiting the highest carbon sink capacity (8.34–8.52 kg CO2 m− 2 year− 1), reaching the level of natural wetland, owing to its higher plant biomass and lower soil respiration intensity, followed by ReRP (2.68–3.15 kg CO2 m− 2 year− 1), ECP (2.56–3.37 kg CO2 m− 2 year− 1), RRP (2.94–3.04 kg CO2 m− 2 year− 1), and ECS (1.24–1.86 kg CO2 m− 2 year− 1). ReRP (26.89–27.82 kg CO2 m− 2) with long carbon accumulation history and SCS (24.57–28.6 kg CO2 m− 2) with high annual carbon sink capacity presented higher carbon storage (< 40 cm), followed by RRP (22.52–24.97 kg CO2 m− 2), ECP (16.14–18.18 kg CO2 m− 2), and ECS (5.74–6.70 kg CO2 m− 2). The difference in waterlogging time caused by diverse elevation, salinity, and vegetation types significantly affected soil respiration and plant carbon fixation, thus impacting CO2 emission and carbon sink capacity of different modified tidal wetlands. `

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in carbon sink capacity and carbon storage of several typical modified tidal wetlands in the Yangtze River Estuary

Zhang

Dong

Lupei³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…This bloom of S. palmeri coincided with a large increase in the ambient biomass of S. horneri in spring 2017, which dramatically reduced the amount of light reaching the bottom in non-removal plots. Studies of aquatic plants and animals, marsh grasses and marine macroalgae have shown that impacts scale with the abundance of an invader (e.g., [51][52][53][54]). In this study, S. horneri had no detectable effects until it reached extremely high abundance, at which point only modest impacts to the native algal community occurred, driven primarily by a single closely related species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Niche Complementarity and Resistance to Grazing Promote the Invasion Success of Sargassum horneri in North America

2020

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Invasive species are a growing threat to conservation in marine ecosystems, yet we lack a predictive understanding of ecological factors that influence the invasiveness of exotic marine species. We used surveys and manipulative experiments to investigate how an exotic seaweed, Sargassum horneri, interacts with native macroalgae and herbivores off the coast of California. We asked whether the invasion (i.e., the process by which an exotic species exhibits rapid population growth and spread in the novel environment) of S. horneri is influenced by three mechanisms known to affect the invasion of exotic plants on land: competition, niche complementarity and herbivory. We found that the removal of S. horneri over 3.5 years from experimental plots had little effect on the biomass or taxonomic richness of the native algal community. Differences between removal treatments were apparent only in spring at the end of the experiment when S. horneri biomass was substantially higher than in previous sampling periods. Surveys across a depth range of 0–30 m revealed inverse patterns in the biomass of S. horneri and native subcanopy-forming macroalgae, with S. horneri peaking at intermediate depths (5–20 m) while the aggregated biomass of native species was greatest at shallow (<5 m) and deeper (>20 m) depths. The biomass of S. horneri and native algae also displayed different seasonal trends, and removal of S. horneri from experimental plots indicated the seasonality of native algae was largely unaffected by fluctuations in S. horneri. Results from grazing assays and surveys showed that native herbivores favor native kelp over Sargassum as a food source, suggesting that reduced palatability may help promote the invasion of S. horneri. The complementary life histories of S. horneri and native algae suggest that competition between them is generally weak, and that niche complementarity and resistance to grazing are more important in promoting the invasion success of S. horneri.

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“…Although the expansion of Phragmites stands into adjacent wetland can be achieved through vegetative lateral expansion (Güsewell & Edwards 1999;Minchinton & Bertness 2003;Brisson et al 2010), recent work has revealed that the advancing front of Phragmites stands can often be composed of multiple genets, highlighting the role of seedling recruitment in Phragmites patch expansion (Kettenring et al 2016). Increased density in mature Phragmites stands correlates to lower native plant biomass and diversity (Holdredge & Bertness 2011; Elsey-Quirk & Leck 2021 but see Theuerkauf et al 2017). Thus, increased shoot density of seedlings recruited near the edge of Phragmites stands may help in outcompeting native plants at the interface between native wetlands and invasive Phragmites.…”

Section: Regional Variation In Seedling Response To Nitrogenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional Variation in Phragmites australis Reproductive Traits and Seedling Performance in North America

Lee,

McCormick,

Mozdzer

et al. 2024

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Seedling recruitment is an important mode of spread utilized by many invasive plants. In widespread invasive plants, regional variation in the rates of seedling recruitment can contribute to differences in invasion intensity across regions. In this study we examined regional variation in reproductive traits and seedling performance in a cosmopolitan invasive wetland grass, Phragmites australis. We tested whether nitrogen levels and regions with different histories and intensities of invasion would affect reproductive traits and seedling performance. We sampled invasive Phragmites inflorescences from 34 populations across three regions in North America: The Northeast (oldest most intense invasion), the Midwest (recent intense invasion), and Southeast (recent sparse invasion). We hypothesized that Northeast Phragmites populations would have the highest reproductive output and seedling performance, and that populations experiencing high nitrogen pollution would have higher reproductive output and seedling performance under high nitrogen conditions. We found that populations in the Northeast had the highest inflorescence mass, as expected. We also found that despite sparse distribution of Phragmites in the Southeast, populations from the Southeast displayed a high potential for sexual reproduction. However, increasing watershed-level nitrogen decreased percent seed germination in Southeastern populations, suggesting that Southeastern populations are sensitive to rising nitrogen levels. While elevated nitrogen increased belowground growth in Southeastern Phragmites seedlings, elevated nitrogen decreased belowground growth in Midwestern seedlings. These results suggest that the southeastern region of North America may become the next invasion front of Phragmites, warranting more research into the possible management of Phragmites spread in the region.

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Density-dependent role of an invasive marsh grass, Phragmites australis, on ecosystem service provision

Cited by 11 publications

References 35 publications

Differences in carbon sink capacity and carbon storage of several typical modified tidal wetlands in the Yangtze River Estuary

Differences in carbon sink capacity and carbon storage of several typical modified tidal wetlands in the Yangtze River Estuary

Niche Complementarity and Resistance to Grazing Promote the Invasion Success of Sargassum horneri in North America

Regional Variation in Phragmites australis Reproductive Traits and Seedling Performance in North America

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