Leaf trait co-ordination in relation to construction cost, carbon gain and resource-use efficiency in exotic invasive and native woody vine species

Abstract

These results demonstrated that while not all measures of leaf resource traits may differ between the two groups, the higher level of trait correlation and higher revenue returned (RGR) per unit of major resource need (CC) and use (PEUE) in the invasive group is in line with their rapid spread where introduced.

Cat's claw creeper vine, Macfadyena unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae), invasion impacts: comparative leaf nutrient content and effects on soil physicochemical properties

“…M. unguis-cati, like many invasive plants, may change soil nutrient availability in such a way as to create a positive feedback between site occupancy and continued proliferation of the weed (Dassonville et al 2008;Rodgers et al 2008). The increased nutrient concentrations mediated by M. unguiscati may be a straightforward consequence of increased fluxes of C and N in its nutrient-rich litter return and/or due to its higher net primary productivity (Dassonville et al 2008;Osunkoya et al 2010b). Indeed, we know that M. unguis-cati forms masses of subterranean tuberous roots and soil surfacerunning inter-twining stems with accompanying N-rich leaves which, on senescence, tend to create deep litter layers (at times up to 20 cm thick) (see Osunkoya et al 2009 (Ehrenfeld 2003).…”

“…This woody vine with leathery leaves and pale yellow flowers climbs with the use of adventitious roots and twining stems. Osunkoya et al (2010b) contended that this native vine species has a growth strategy and physiology that match that of the invasive M. uniguis-cati, is often over-abundant where it occurs, and needs to be managed in its own right.…”

“…Observations suggest that M. unguis-cati tolerates a wide range of soils and grows prolifically in fertile, well drained and alluvial soils (VivianSmith and Panetta 2004;Raghu et al 2006). Information is scanty on the effects of invasion by M. unguis-cati on soil chemical properties and little is known of its leaf chemistry relative to co-occurring vines (but see Osunkoya et al 2010b. Given the extent of M. unguis-cati distribution and its abundance in various riparian and non-riparian habitats in Australia, we would expect that the weedy vine will have a profound effect on soil nutrients and fluxes and we hypothesised that this effect may be linked to its leaf nutrient concentration which can be expected to be different from that of its less-or non-invasive (native and exotic) neighbours.…”

Comparison of growth traits between abundant and uncommon forms of a non-native vine, Dolichandra unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae) in Australia

“…Studies have shown that no particular trait solely confers invasiveness on a species, rather it is how a species responds to different environmental conditions that contributes to its fitness and abundance (Firn et al 2012;Leishman et al 2010;Osunkoya et al 2010;Pattison et al 1998). Plastic responses of invasive plants to varying environmental conditions increase their competitiveness and fitness (Claridge and Franklin 2002).…”

Do Higher Resource Capture Ability and Utilization Efficiency Facilitate the Successful Invasion of Exotic Plant? A Case Study of <i>Alternanthera philoxeroides</i>

“…Studies comparing leaf traits of invasive plants and native plants have shown that invasive species have higher specific leaf area (SLA) [4,5], lower mass-based leaf construction cost (CC mass ) [4,[6][7][8], higher photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) [3,4,9], higher photosynthetic energy use efficiency (PEUE) [8,10] and higher water use efficiency (WUE) [9,11] than native species. However, some studies have detected that there are no significant differences in CC mass [12], PNUE [8] and WUE [6,8] between invaders and natives. A recent study also suggests that the populations in the introduced range of an invasive species have evolved a higher PEUE and a shorter payback time but not lower CC mass than those in the native range [13].…”