Litter Deposition and Nutrient Cycling of Invaded Environments by Cryptostegia madagascariensis at Tropical Cambisols from Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Cryptostegia madagascariensis is an invasive plant species that covers 11% of the Brazilian northeastern territory, but its role on the litter trait in tropical ecosystems remains unclear. Here, we analyzed and compared the litter deposition, litter nutrient content, soil organic matter, and the litter decay rate from invaded and non-invaded environments by C. madagascariensis at a tropical Cambisol. The PCA analysis revealed that litter deposition, litter quality, and soil organic matter were correlated with the invaded environment. We grew plant species in greenhouse conditions to obtain a standard litter material to use in our litter bags in field conditions. We found that litter decay rate was higher in the invaded environment than in the non-invaded one. Our results suggest that C. madagascariensis changes litter traits in tropical ecosystems that in turn create negative plant–soil feedback to the native species by creating a physical barrier on soil surface and to promote its own rhizosphere.

Biochemical characterization and mycorrhizal fungal community of plant species in the Brazilian seasonal dry forest

“…The field experiment was conducted in two adjacent conditions (invaded habitat by C. madagascariensis , and a noninvaded habitat) at Piancó River Basin, Pombal, Paraíba, Brazil from February 2017 to February 2018. The climate in the experimental area is Bsh‐type following Köppen‐Geiger classification, with total annual precipitation, and average annual temperature of 963.07 mm, and +28°C, respectively [12]. Monthly rainfall, and mean temperature from the experimental area, Pombal, Paraiba, Brazil (February 2017 to February 2018), were obtained online: https://www.inmet.gov.br.…”

“…All variables were evaluated for normality with Shapiro–Wilk's test (“shapiro.test” function) before our analysis. To avoid and detect spatial autocorrelation, we have used the Moran.I function as proposed by Souza et al [12], and Laurindo et al [14]. The soil biochemical properties and the abundance of AMF spores were analyzed using a one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the habitat (noninvaded, and invaded habitats by C. madagascariensis ) as a main factor, and sampling points as a random factor.…”

“…The establishment of IAPS can be influenced by the host‐AMF pairing specificity [10], and other AMF species may improve the invader's spread through an efficient symbiotic relationship in tropical ecosystems as described by Sun et al [11]. IAPS, such as C. madagascariensis can improve the abundance of Claroideoglomus , Funneliformis , and Rhizoglomus [1] by modulating its rhizosphere with changes on soil pH, soil organic carbon pools, and nutrient bioavailability, thus creating favorable conditions (habitat) for AMF species from Glomerales [12]. Overtime, the invader has changed the entire structure of AMF community through influences on soil pH (by increasing the release of LMWOAs, and H + ), and nutrient bioavailability (e.g., N, P, Ca, and soil organic carbon) [13].…”

“…For example, the natural ecosystem is composed of Seasonal Dry Forest fragments that have been under preservation since eighties' as private natural reserves. Since 2012, C. madagascariensis spreads its range from 1.9% to 23.7% (2022) of the region of "Sertão" that corresponds to 40.23% of total Paraíba area [12]. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of C. madagascariensis on soil biochemical properties, AMF community composition, and root colonization by AMF.…”