Ecological comparison of two co-invasive species in eastern deciduous forests: Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum<sup>1</sup>

Morrison, Janet A.; Lubchansky, Heather A.; Mauck, Kerry E.; McCartney, Kelly-Marie; Dunn, Brian

doi:10.3159/1095-5674(2007)134[1:ecotcs]2.0.co;2

Cited by 34 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The potential for M. vimineum to impact native communities by modifying plant-microbe interactions for N has not yet been explored. Given the current and expanding distribution of M. vimineum, understanding its inXuence on forest ecosystems is critically important (Morrison et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen uptake and preference in a forest understory following invasion by an exotic grass

et al. 2011

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Plant-soil interactions have been proposed as a causative mechanism explaining how invasive plant species impact ecosystem processes. We evaluate whether an invasive plant influences plant and soil-microbe acquisition of nitrogen to elucidate the mechanistic pathways by which invaders might alter N availability. Using a (15)N tracer, we quantify differences in nitrogen uptake and allocation in communities with and without Microstegium vimineum, a shade-tolerant, C(4) grass that is rapidly invading the understories of eastern US deciduous forests. We further investigate if plants or the microbial biomass exhibit preferences for certain nitrogen forms (glycine, nitrate, and ammonium) to gain insight into nitrogen partitioning in invaded communities. Understory native plants and M. vimineum took up similar amounts of added nitrogen but allocated it differently, with native plants allocating primarily to roots and M. vimineum allocating most nitrogen to shoots. Plant nitrogen uptake was higher in invaded communities due primarily to the increase in understory biomass when M. vimineum was present, but for the microbial biomass, nitrogen uptake did not vary with invasion status. This translated to a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in the ratio of microbial biomass to plant biomass nitrogen uptake, which suggests that, although the demand for nitrogen has intensified, microbes continue to be effective nitrogen competitors. The microbial biomass exhibited a strong preference for ammonium over glycine and nitrate, regardless of invasion status. By comparison, native plants showed no nitrogen preferences and M. vimineum preferred inorganic nitrogen species. We interpret our findings as evidence that invasion by M. vimineum leads to changes in the partitioning of nitrogen above and belowground in forest understories, and to decreases in the microbial biomass, but it does not affect the outcome of plant-microbe-nitrogen interactions, possibly due to functional shifts in the microbial community as a result of invasion.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen uptake and preference in a forest understory following invasion by an exotic grass

et al. 2011

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“…Then, after three growing seasons, we added Alliaria seed to Microstegium-invaded and control plots across three disturbance regimes to determine whether the first invasion facilitated the second invader. We expected that Microstegium would provide little direct competition because the two species have offset phenologies (Morrison et al 2007). Alliaria germinates and grows predominantly during early spring (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental evidence for indirect facilitation among invasive plants

2013

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Summary1. Facilitation among species may promote non-native plant invasions through alteration of environmental conditions, enemies or mutualists. However, the role of non-trophic indirect facilitation in invasions has rarely been examined. 2. We used a long-term field experiment to test for indirect facilitation by invasions of Microstegium vimineum (stiltgrass) on a secondary invasion of Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) by introducing Alliaria seed into replicated plots previously invaded experimentally by Microstegium. 3. Alliaria more readily colonized control plots without Microstegium but produced almost seven times more biomass and nearly four times as many siliques per plant in Microstegium-invaded plots. Improved performance of Alliaria in Microstegium-invaded plots compared to control plots overwhelmed differences in total number of plants such that, on average, invaded plots contained 327% greater total Alliaria biomass and 234% more total siliques compared to control plots. 4. The facilitation of Alliaria in Microstegium-invaded plots was associated with an 85% reduction in the biomass of resident species at the peak of the growing season and significantly greater light availability in Microstegium-invaded than control plots early in the growing season. 5. Synthesis. Our results demonstrate that an initial plant invasion associated with suppression of resident species and increased resource availability can facilitate a secondary plant invasion. Such positive interactions among species with similar habitat requirements, but offset phenologies, may exacerbate invasions and their impacts on native ecosystems.

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“…The species are also a concern to conservationists as they are able to occupy large areas within many plant communities. All of these species are considered invasive and many have been shown to have direct negative impacts on native communities (Fike and Niering 1999, Martin 1999, Hunter and Mattice 2002, Yurkonis et al 2005, Morrison et al 2007, Gó mez-Aparicio and Canham 2008.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…For this reason, allelopathy may be more important in certain species rather than vary consistently across life forms. The invasive herbs Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum spread rapidly in forest understories in a variety of light conditions (Morrison et al 2007) and appear to be strong competitors relative to many native understory herbs (Carlson and Gorchov 2004, Stinson et al 2006, Morrison et al 2007, Oswalt et al 2007, but see Meekins and McCarthy 1999). Likewise, allelopathy may enhance the competitive success of the weedy and shade intolerant tree, Ailanthus altissima, which often regenerates in large canopy openings where competition may be intense.…”

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confidence: 99%

Relative allelopathic potential of invasive plant species in a young disturbed woodland¹

Pisula¹,

Meiners²

2010

The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society

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Ecological comparison of two co-invasive species in eastern deciduous forests: Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum¹

Cited by 34 publications

References 43 publications

Nitrogen uptake and preference in a forest understory following invasion by an exotic grass

Nitrogen uptake and preference in a forest understory following invasion by an exotic grass

Experimental evidence for indirect facilitation among invasive plants

Relative allelopathic potential of invasive plant species in a young disturbed woodland¹

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Ecological comparison of two co-invasive species in eastern deciduous forests: Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum1

Cited by 34 publications

References 43 publications

Nitrogen uptake and preference in a forest understory following invasion by an exotic grass

Nitrogen uptake and preference in a forest understory following invasion by an exotic grass

Experimental evidence for indirect facilitation among invasive plants

Relative allelopathic potential of invasive plant species in a young disturbed woodland1

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Ecological comparison of two co-invasive species in eastern deciduous forests: Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum¹

Relative allelopathic potential of invasive plant species in a young disturbed woodland¹