Effects of soil nutrient variability and competitor identify on growth and co-existence among invasive alien and native clonal plants

Zhao, Chenchen; Liu, Yuan-Yuan; Shi, Xueping; Wang, Yong Jian

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113894

Cited by 25 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Previous empirical studies testing nutrient‐fluctuation effects on alien plant invasion found mixed results (Dener et al., 2016; Gao et al., 2021; Liu & van Kleunen, 2017; Liu et al., 2018; Parepa et al., 2013; Zhao et al., 2020). We hypothesized that this might be because the effect of temporal fluctuations may be even stronger under more nutrient‐limiting conditions than under less nutrient‐limiting conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Herbivory may mediate the effects of nutrients on the dominance of alien plants

et al. 2022

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Numerous studies have highlighted the roles of nutrient availability and fluctuations therein for invasion success of alien plants. Many others also highlighted the role of herbivores in invasion success. However, how herbivory and the level and fluctuations in nutrient availability interact in driving alien plant invasion into native communities remains largely unexplored. We grew eight invasive alien species as target species in pot‐mesocosms with five different synthetic native communities in a three‐factorial design with two levels of nutrient availability (low vs. high), two levels of nutrient fluctuation (constant vs. pulsed) and two levels of above‐ground insect herbivory (with vs. without herbivores). As natural communities have both specialist and generalist herbivores, we simulated this using both a generalist and a specialist herbivorous grasshopper. The relative biomass production of the alien target plants to the total biomass production (i.e. alien biomass/total biomass) decreased in response to an increase in nutrient availability, but increased in response to the presence of herbivores. Furthermore, we found indications that the dominance of the alien target species may depend on interactions of herbivory with changes in nutrient availability and nutrient fluctuations, although these interactions were only marginally significant. Our multi‐trophic multi‐species experiment suggests that herbivory could mediate the interactive effect of nutrient enrichment and variability in nutrient supply on invasion of alien plants into native communities. Therefore, we recommend that studies testing the effects of resources on plant invasion should also consider interactive effects of other trophic levels. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Herbivory may mediate the effects of nutrients on the dominance of alien plants

et al. 2022

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“…The strong adaptability of exotic invasive species over native plants is often explained by their functional traits, such as faster growth rates, higher resource uptake, higher specific leaf areas, and leaf growth stability [4,[9][10][11]. Exotic plant populations can use traits dominance to adapt to changed environments and defeat competitors in the new conditions of exotic communities [10][11][12]. The key for exotic species to settle is decided by synthesis of abiotic conditions and traits adaptation [13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Region and Elevation on Adaptation of Leaf Functional Traits of an Invasive Plant Erigeron annuus in China

Liu¹,

Li²,

Xu³

et al. 2022

Phyton

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A key scientific challenge relating to the threat of invasive plants on agriculture at the region level is to understand their adaptation and evolution in functional traits. Leaf functional traits, related to growth and resource utilization, might lead to adaptation of invasive plants to the geographical barriers (region or elevation). In the field experiment, we discussed the effects of region and elevation on leaf functional traits on invasive plant Erigeron annuus in farmland habitats in China. We compared leaf size, coefficient of variation (CV) of leaf traits, and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of E. annuus from three regions (east vs. center vs. west) and two leaf types (vegetative vs. reproductive leaf), and from nine elevations (980-2100 m) in the west region of China. Our results indicated region and leaf type influenced leaf functional traits, and leaf size was significantly higher and CV of leaf traits and FA in reproductive leaves were significantly lower in the east region than in the west and center regions. Elevation and leaf type affected leaf functional traits, and leaf size was significantly higher and CV of leaf traits in reproductive leaves were significantly lower in moderate elevation. E. annuus has higher leaf size and developmental stability (lower CV and FA) in the eastern region due to the longer adaptation period. Therefore, leaf functional traits play an important role in the adaptation of different longitudes and elevations. It can also facilitate the understanding of the invasiveness and adaptation of leaf traits of invasive plants in the agricultural ecosystem during their spread process in China.

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“…Previous empirical studies testing the nutrient-fluctuation effect on alien plant invasion found mixed results (Parepa et al 2013, Dener et al 2016, Zhao et al 2020, Gao et al 2021. We hypothesized that this might be because the effect of temporal fluctuations may be even stronger under more nutrient-limiting conditions than under less nutrient-limiting conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Interactive effects of herbivory and the level and fluctuations of nutrient availability on dominance of alien plants in synthetic native communities

Yan-jun

Gao

Kleunen

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Numerous studies have tested the fluctuating resource hypothesis and highlighted the role of nutrient availability and fluctuations therein for invasion success of alien plants. Others have tested the enemy-release hypothesis and highlighted the role of herbivores in invasion success. However, how herbivory and the level and fluctuations in nutrient availability interact in driving alien plant invasion into resident communities remains largely unexplored. We grew eight invasive alien species as target species in pot‐mesocosms with five different synthetic native communities in a three-factorial design with two levels of nutrient availability (low vs high), two levels of nutrient fluctuations (constant vs pulsed) and two levels of herbivory (with vs without). Increases in nutrient availability, irrespective of whether it was constant or pulsed, significantly increased the absolute biomass production of the alien and native plants. The presence of herbivores, on the other hand, significantly decreased the biomass production of plants, in particular under high-nutrient availability. The relative biomass production of the alien target plants, on the other hand, decreased in response to an increase in nutrient availability, and increased in response to the presence of herbivores. We also found tentative evidence that herbivory could interact with changes in nutrient availability and nutrient fluctuations to affect the dominance of the alien target species (a marginally significant interaction; 90% CIs: [0.133, 2.745]). Our multispecies experiment indicates that herbivory could mediate the interactive effect of nutrient enrichment and variability in nutrient supply on invasion of alien plants into native communities. Therefore, we recommend that studies testing the fluctuating resources hypothesis should also consider interactive effect of other trophic levels.

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Effects of soil nutrient variability and competitor identify on growth and co-existence among invasive alien and native clonal plants

Cited by 25 publications

References 46 publications

Herbivory may mediate the effects of nutrients on the dominance of alien plants

Herbivory may mediate the effects of nutrients on the dominance of alien plants

Effects of Region and Elevation on Adaptation of Leaf Functional Traits of an Invasive Plant Erigeron annuus in China

Interactive effects of herbivory and the level and fluctuations of nutrient availability on dominance of alien plants in synthetic native communities

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