喜旱莲子草和接骨草竞争对模拟增温的响应

研究外来入侵植物与本地植物种竞争对气候变暖的响应, 对于预测未来气候变化背景下入侵植物的入侵趋势、理解其入侵机制以及筛选生态替代种具有重要的意义。以入侵我国的外来植物喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)和本地植物种接骨草(Sambucus chinensis)为材料, 通过两种植物单栽、纯栽和混栽, 采用红外辐射加热器模拟增温, 研究了两种植物竞争对模拟增温的响应。结果表明: (1)在模拟增温期间(2013年5-12月), 增温组空气平均温度比不增温组提高了0.47 ℃, 相对湿度降低了1.87%; (2)混栽的喜旱莲子草除根冠比与单栽无显著差异外, 其余各生物量和根系形态指标均显著低于单栽喜旱莲子草; 无竞争、种间竞争和种内竞争三种竞争间, 接骨草除根冠比、细根与总根生物量比、比根长和比根表面积无显著差异外, 其余指标均呈现无竞争>种间竞争>种内竞争的趋势; (3)无竞争、种间竞争和种内竞争三种条件下, 喜旱莲子草各指标在增温和不增温处理间差异均不显著, 而接骨草总生物量和根生物量在无竞争和种间竞争条件下增温处理均显著低于不增温处理, 在种内竞争条件下则相反; (4)增温使接骨草的相对拥挤系数降低, 接骨草对温度升高反应敏感, 而喜旱莲子草则表现出一定的适应性。由此推测, 在中度遮阴陆生生境中, 接骨草有望成为喜旱莲子草生物替代控制的材料。     

喜旱莲子草入侵群落土壤对植物生长的影响

分别以受喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)入侵和未受喜旱莲子草入侵的当地植物群落土壤为生长基质,比较不同基质上入侵植物喜旱莲子草和同属的土著植物莲子草(A.sessilis)的生长指标,探讨喜旱莲子草入侵群落土壤对喜旱莲子草及莲子草生长的影响机制。结果表明,喜旱莲子草入侵群落土壤抑制了莲子草的生长,显著降低了根生物量、茎生物量和总生物;改变了形态特征,显著降低了分枝数量、茎长度、根长、根体积;减少了对根的生物量分配,显著抑制了根质量比与根冠比。喜旱莲子草入侵群落土壤对入侵植物喜旱莲子草的生物量、分枝数量、茎长度、根长、根体积没有显著的抑制作用,而显著增加了其叶片数量和叶质量比。这种效应将有利于喜旱莲子草在入侵地形成单优群落,表明土壤在喜旱莲子草成功入侵中起了重要作用。     

喜旱莲子草沿河岸带不同生境的盖度变化及形态可塑性

喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)原产南美洲,是中国国家环保总局公布的9种危害最大的外来入侵植物之一。该文比较了分布于河岸带4种小生境中,喜旱莲子草和它的同属土著植物莲子草(Alternanthera sessilis)的盖度和生长特征变化,以了解影响喜旱莲子草入侵的生境和生长特征。按照距水体的距离远近,这些小生境依次为:废弃农田、沼泽、河边沙石滩及河间卵石滩。 结果表明,这4种生境在基质性质、土壤养分和生产力方面存在显著的差异。在生产力较高的生境中(如废弃地和沼泽),喜旱莲子草是优势种,但在生产力较低的生境中(即河边砾石滩及河间卵石滩)土著种莲子草的相对盖度大于喜旱莲子草。随着生境土壤养分的增加,喜旱莲子草表现出明显的形态可塑性。喜旱莲子草与觅光相关的几个形态指标,如茎的长度、节间长度和节的数目以及单叶面积都显著增加;同时,那些着生叶片的分枝也从匍匐状转变成直立生长。在生产力较高的生境中,喜旱莲子草的植冠高度和茎干密度成正相关,表明喜旱莲子草对极度密集的种群环境有很强的适应能力。这些结果说明,较高的形态可塑性和优先占据具有较高土壤养分的小生境是喜旱莲子草沿河岸带入侵的基本特征,可能也是促成其入侵的重要的内部(植物自身)和外部(生境)条件。     

喜旱莲子草和接骨草竞争对模拟增温的响应北大核心CSCD

研究外来入侵植物与本地植物种竞争对气候变暖的响应,对于预测未来气候变化背景下入侵植物的入侵趋势、理解其入侵机制以及筛选生态替代种具有重要的意义。以入侵我国的外来植物喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)和本地植物种接骨草(Sambucus chinensis)为材料,通过两种植物单栽、纯栽和混栽,采用红外辐射加热器模拟增温,研究了两种植物竞争对模拟增温的响应。结果表明:(1)在模拟增温期间(2013年5–12月),增温组空气平均温度比不增温组提高了0.47℃,相对湿度降低了1.87%;(2)混栽的喜旱莲子草除根冠比与单栽无显著差异外,其余各生物量和根系形态指标均显著低于单栽喜旱莲子草;无竞争、种间竞争和种内竞争三种竞争间,接骨草除根冠比、细根与总根生物量比、比根长和比根表面积无显著差异外,其余指标均呈现无竞争>种间竞争>种内竞争的趋势;(3)无竞争、种间竞争和种内竞争三种条件下,喜旱莲子草各指标在增温和不增温处理间差异均不显著,而接骨草总生物量和根生物量在无竞争和种间竞争条件下增温处理均显著低于不增温处理,在种内竞争条件下则相反;(4)增温使接骨草的相对拥挤系数降低,接骨草对温度升高反应敏感,而喜旱莲子草则表现出一定的适应性。由此推测,在中度遮阴陆生生境中,接骨草有望成为喜旱莲子草生物替代控制的材料。     

种间竞争对入侵植物和本地植物生长的影响

为了探讨入侵植物与本地同属和异属植物之间的关系,本研究以入侵植物喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)、三裂叶蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)和本地植物莲子草(A.sessilis)、蟛蜞菊(W.chinensis)为试验材料开展了温室控制实验。实验设置了单种种植和混种种植两种方式,测定了每种植物生物量及其他生长指标,并分析了种间关系。结果表明:(1)对入侵植物而言,同属和异属种间竞争均增加了喜旱莲子草的生物量、根冠比和分节数,而降低了三裂叶蟛蜞菊的株高和分节数;(2)对本地植物而言,同属种间竞争降低了莲子草的株高和蟛蜞菊的分节数,异属种间竞争增加了莲子草的生物量、株高和分枝数,而降低了蟛蜞菊的总生物量和株高;(3)同属种间竞争对入侵种喜旱莲子草具有促进作用,异属种间竞争对本地种莲子草也具有促进作用,同属和异属种间竞争对其他两个物种的影响不大。未来应加强野外原位下入侵植物与本地植物研究,为入侵植物防控提供理论依据。     

南方菟丝子寄生对喜旱莲子草生长及群落多样性的影响

菟丝子属植物是一种有潜力的入侵植物的生物防治剂。以南方菟丝子(Cuscuta australis)天然寄生的喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)群落为研究对象,对比分析了南方菟丝子寄生对入侵植物喜旱莲子草生长的影响,同时采用群落调查的方法分析南方菟丝子寄生对入侵群落多样性的影响,以判断南方菟丝子是否具有防治喜旱莲子草的能力。结果表明南方菟丝子寄生可以降低喜旱莲子草的根生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量和总生物量,但与对照之间均不存在显著性差异;南方菟丝子寄生可以显著降低茎生物量比,显著增加根生物量比和根冠比。在无南方菟丝子寄生的喜旱莲子草群落中,除南方菟丝子和喜旱莲子草外,共有10科14属14种植物;而在南方菟丝子寄生的喜旱莲子草群落中,除南方菟丝子和喜旱莲子草外,共有16科27属28种植物,南方菟丝子能以产生吸器而寄生生长的植物共有19种,占样地植物种数的67.86%。南方菟丝子寄生可使群落物种丰富度显著性增加,也可使群落Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、McIntosh指数和均匀度指数增加,但是与对照之间不存在显著性差异。南方菟丝子寄生使喜旱莲子草的多度显著性下降,使喜旱莲子草的盖度和高度下降,但与未寄生的喜旱莲子草群落相比不存在显著性差异。但是南方菟丝子寄生可使喜旱莲子草在群落上的相对盖度、相对高度和相对多度均显著性下降,从而导致群落中喜旱莲子草的重要值显著性下降。南方菟丝子寄生可以在一定程度上抑制入侵植物喜旱莲子草的生长,促使群落多样性增加,促进本地群落的恢复。     

喜旱莲子草对遮荫的可塑性反应:入侵地与原产地种群的比较

表型可塑性可能在外来植物的成功入侵和随后的扩散中起到至关重要的作用。一些研究者推测喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)入侵地种群可能比原产地种群对光强具有更强的可塑性反应。为了验证该假说,我们在正常光照和遮荫(30%正常光照)条件下研究了喜旱莲子草原产地(阿根廷)和入侵地(美国)种群在形态特征和生物量分配上是否存在显著差异。结果表明:(1)喜旱莲子草对光照强度具有很强的可塑性。在遮荫处理下,其根冠比和分枝生物量比显著降低,而比茎长和比叶面积显著增加;(2)原产地和入侵地喜旱莲子草的总生物量和比叶面积对遮荫的可塑性没有显著差异。入侵地种群的根冠比、分枝强度和比茎长的可塑性显著小于原产地种群;(3)无论在正常或低光照条件下,入侵地种群的根冠比(–20.8%)、分枝强度(–54.6%)、比茎长(–18.5%)和比叶面积(–8.6%)均显著低于原产地种群。这些结果表明,喜旱莲子草对光照强度具有很强的可塑性,这可能是该物种可以分布于从河岸带草丛到疏林灌丛等各种生境的主要原因;从原产地到入侵地,喜旱莲子草与耐阴性有关的性状对光照的可塑性显著降低,可能是该物种在入侵地能够形成单优势种群的主要原因。     

入侵植物喜旱莲子草和本地种接骨草光合生理特征对增温响应的差异

利用红外加热器模拟增温,比较入侵植物喜旱莲子草和本地种接骨草的光合特性对增温响应的差异,以预测气候变暖背景下入侵植物的入侵潜力,并为筛选替代控制植物提供依据。结果表明:增温导致喜旱莲子草和接骨草的叶绿素a/b值分别比对照显著提高6.21%和降低5.55%。无论增温与否,接骨草的叶绿素b含量显著高于喜旱莲子草,而叶绿素a/b值则相反。增温导致喜旱莲子草净光合速率显著提高9.23%,由于气孔导度增大引起蒸腾速率大幅度增加,使得其水分利用效率比对照显著降低10.64%。增温仅导致接骨草的气孔导度显著增加10.95%,而对其他气体交换特征无显著影响。对照条件下,尽管接骨草的气孔导度和胞间CO_2浓度分别显著低于喜旱莲子草7.03%和4.57%,但是前者的净光合速率和水分利用效率分别显著高于后者10.30%和11.92%。增温条件下,两种植物的净光合速率和气孔导度无显著差异,由于接骨草的蒸腾速率显著低于喜旱莲子草18.02%,故其水分利用效率显著高于后者26.45%。增温、物种及其两者的交互作用对光补偿点、光饱和点、最大净光合速率、暗呼吸速率和初始量子效率等光响应参数影响均不显著。总之,对照条件下,接骨草凭借较高的叶绿素b含量、净光合速率和水分利用效率,比喜旱莲子草具有更强的光合能力。但增温后,接骨草的光合优势被削弱。研究从光合生理角度证明接骨草有望作为喜旱莲子草的替代控制植物,但是未来气候变化背景下喜旱莲子草的入侵潜力可能增强。     

底泥高磷浓度提高了喜旱莲子草的入侵性

植物通过改变自身的形态和生态生理特征对多变的环境因素做出响应,这种表型可塑性能增强外来物种的入侵能力。该文研究了入侵植物喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)对底泥磷浓度、植株密度以及二者间交互作用的可塑性响应,探讨可塑性是否能使其获得更高的入侵能力。结果表明:低密度×底泥高磷浓度处理条件下的叶重、茎重、总重、叶数、分枝数和茎长等明显高于低、中磷浓度处理;高密度×底泥高磷浓度条件下的叶数、茎长和比茎长的值最大;植株的含磷量随底泥磷浓度的升高显著增加,说明喜旱莲子草响应底泥磷浓度变化时改变了自身的形态与生态生理性状。泥底含磷量对叶重比、叶数、茎长、茎磷含量、叶磷含量和植株总含磷量的影响都达到显著水平(p<0.05);植株密度对茎重、比茎长、叶磷含量和植株总磷含量的影响达到显著水平(p<0.05)。与入侵能力相关的叶重比、叶数、茎长在底泥高磷浓度处理中显著增加,说明底泥的高磷浓度增强了喜旱莲子草的入侵能力。     

光照和氮素对喜旱莲子草形态特征和生物量分配的影响

研究了两个光照梯度和3个土壤氮素水平交互作用对喜旱莲子草(Alternan thera philoxeroides(Mart.)Griseb.)形态特征和生物量分配的影响。结果表明,全光照促进喜旱莲子草总生物量的积累,但在遮荫条件下,喜旱莲子草可以通过增加株高、光合叶面积和改变生物量分配来适应弱光生境。土壤中氮素含量对喜旱莲子草生长有明显影响,总生物量、株高、叶面积、茎生物量比和叶生物量比等随土壤氮素水平增加而增加。光照和氮素的交互作用对总生物量、根生物量比、茎生物量比和叶生物量比也有显著影响。随着氮素水平的增高,遮荫和高光照处理下喜旱莲子草的叶面积、总生物量和叶生物量比之间的差异减小,而株高和根生物量比之间的差异增大。此外,光照强度对茎生物量比的影响具有明显的氮素浓度依赖性,低氮条件下,茎生物量比在高光照处理下显著高于遮荫处理,而在中氮条件下,遮荫处理却显著高于高光照处理,且在高氮处理下其差异进一步加大。这些结果表明喜旱莲子草在高氮素环境下能够通过形态可塑性和生物量分配模式的改变来适应弱光环境所带来的不利影响。研究结果不但可为研究喜旱莲子草对异质生境的入侵机制提供资料,也可为进一步研究喜旱莲子草的入侵和扩散与农业等生态系统中土壤氮素残留的关系提供参考。       

莲草直胸跳甲取食对空心莲子草和莲子草克隆整合的影响

很多外来入侵植物都具有克隆生长习性,探究克隆整合特性与外来克隆植物入侵性间的关系对阐明其生态适应性及入侵机制具有重要的意义。本研究以入侵植物空心莲子草及其本地同属种莲子草为研究对象,比较在生防昆虫莲草直胸跳甲的取食下,克隆整合对两种植物先端分株、基端分株及整个克隆片段生长和生物量分配的影响。结果表明: 在莲草直胸跳甲取食下,有克隆整合的空心莲子草先端分株的叶片数、茎长、分株数及整个克隆片段的地径均显著高于无克隆整合植株,其基端分株及整个克隆片段的地下生物量和总生物量相较于无克隆整合植株分别降低了78.2%、60.9%和48.7%、37.2%;有克隆整合的莲子草先端分株的地径及整个克隆片段的叶片数与无克隆整合植株相比显著增加,其基端分株数显著降低了21.7%,而其先端分株、基端分株及整个克隆片段的生物量均无显著差异。耗益分析表明,在莲草直胸跳甲取食下,空心莲子草先端分株的分株数与生物量及莲子草先端分株的分株数均能通过克隆整合显著受益,而两种植物基端的分株数、生物量的耗益则不受克隆整合处理的影响。这些结果表明,克隆整合虽能在一定程度缓解莲草直胸跳甲对于两种植物先端分株的取食压力,且空心莲子草的克隆整合作用要强于莲子草,但在整个克隆片段水平上,两种植物并不能通过克隆整合显著获益。     

地上-地下植食性天敌对入侵植物空心莲子草与本地种莲子草种间关系的影响

生物入侵是全球生物多样性的主要威胁,外来种与本地种的种间竞争能力会影响其能否成功入侵。本研究选用入侵植物空心莲子草和其本地同属种莲子草为对象,探究其专食性天敌莲草直胸跳甲与南方根结线虫对空心莲子草与莲子草的生长及种间关系的影响。结果表明: 与无天敌胁迫相比,线虫处理显著降低了莲子草的株高(28.1%),但显著增加了空心莲子草的株高(52.8%)和莲子草的地上生物量(63.7%);跳甲处理显著降低了莲子草的株高(40.7%),对空心莲子草无显著影响;而跳甲与线虫的共同胁迫显著降低了莲子草的株高(35.3%)和空心莲子草的地下生物量(62.2%),显著增加了莲子草的地上生物量(69.1%);天敌胁迫对两种植物的茎粗、分枝数和根长均无显著影响。无天敌作用下,两种植物的相对邻体效应指数(RNE)均为正值,且空心莲子草的RNE比莲子草高21.3%;天敌胁迫下,空心莲子草的RNE均为负值,而莲子草的RNE在线虫或跳甲单独胁迫下为正值,在线虫和跳甲共同胁迫下为负值。表明地上-地下天敌互作可以使两种植物的种间关系发生改变,并可能促进空心莲子草的入侵。     

喜旱莲子草对同基因型邻体根系的表型可塑性: 入侵地和原产地的比较

植物对邻体根系的表型可塑性是指与无邻体对照相比, 即使个体平均可获取土壤资源相同, 在有邻体根系存在时植物也会改变根系生物量分配, 并影响其他功能性状和适合度。表型可塑性进化假说(evolution of plasticity hypothesis)认为外来植物在入侵地进化出了更强的表型可塑性。对该假说的验证多集中于外来植物对光照、水分、养分以及天敌等的可塑性进化, 但对邻体根系的可塑性在入侵植物中是否发生进化尚未见报道。我们采用同质园实验比较了喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)入侵地(美国)和原产地(阿根廷)各5个基因型的适合度与功能性状对同基因型邻体根系的可塑性。结果表明: 喜旱莲子草的根冠比(P = 0.088)和比叶面积(P = 0.007)对同基因型邻体根系的可塑性在入侵地和原产地基因型间存在差异: 入侵地基因型在有邻体根系时根冠比和比叶面积增加, 而原产地基因型则相反。但是, 总生物量、贮藏根生物量、比茎长和分枝强度对邻体根系的可塑性在入侵地和原产地间没有显著差异。此外, 与分隔邻体根系相比, 同基因型邻体根系存在时总生物量(+9.9%)和贮藏根生物量(+13.9%)显著增加, 比茎长(-9.5%)显著降低。最后, 与原产地基因型相比, 总体上入侵地基因型的总生物量(+62.0%)和贮藏根生物量(+58.9%)增加, 比茎长(-28.5%)和分枝强度(-42.8%)降低。这些结果表明喜旱莲子草入侵地基因型与资源利用相关功能性状(如根冠比和比叶面积)对邻体根系的可塑性方向与原产地基因型相反; 但适合度和株型相关性状(如比茎长和分枝强度)对同基因型邻体根系的可塑性与原产地没有差异。     

Phenotypic plasticity of invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides in relation to different water availability, compared to its native congener

Phenotypic plasticity and genetic differentiation are two possible mechanisms that plants use to cope with varying environments. Although alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) possesses very low genetic diversity, this alien weed has successfully invaded diverse habitats with considerably varying water availability (from swamps to dry lands) in China. In contrast, its native congener (Alternanthera sessilis) has a much narrower ecological breadth, and is usually found in moist habitats. To understand the mechanisms underlying the contrasting pattern, we performed a greenhouse experiment to compare the reaction norms of alligator weed with those of its native congener, in which water availability was manipulated. Our results revealed that the two congeners had similar direction of phenotypic plasticity. However, A. philoxeroides showed greater plasticity in amount than did A. sessilis in many traits examined during the switch from wet to drought treatment. Nearly all of the phenotypic variance in A. philoxeroides could be ascribed to plasticity, while A. sessilis had a much higher fraction of phenotypic variance that could be explained by genotypic variation. These interspecific differences in plastic responses to variable water availability partially explained the difference in spatial distribution of the two congeners.     

Super-genotype: global monoclonality defies the odds of nature

The ability to respond to natural selection under novel conditions is critical for the establishment and persistence of introduced alien species and their ability to become invasive. Here we correlated neutral and quantitative genetic diversity of the weed Pennisetum setaceum Forsk. Chiov. (Poaceae) with differing global (North American and African) patterns of invasiveness and compared this diversity to native range populations. Numerous molecular markers indicate complete monoclonality within and among all of these areas (F(ST) = 0.0) and is supported by extreme low quantitative trait variance (Q(ST) = 0.00065-0.00952). The results support the general-purpose-genotype hypothesis that can tolerate all environmental variation. However, a single global genotype and widespread invasiveness under numerous environmental conditions suggests a super-genotype. The super-genotype described here likely evolved high levels of plasticity in response to fluctuating environmental conditions during the Early to Mid Holocene. During the Late Holocene, when environmental conditions were predominantly constant but extremely inclement, strong selection resulted in only a few surviving genotypes.     

降雨年型变化及竞争对反枝苋和大豆生长的影响

为探索不同降雨年型及栽培方式下外来杂草与本地作物的竞争机制, 为未来全球变化背景下控制外来杂草提供理论依据, 本研究以广泛入侵东北农田生态系统的外来杂草反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)和本地作物大豆(Glycine max)为研究对象, 在遮雨棚内人工模拟正常、欠缺、丰沛三种降雨年型, 采用盆栽实验的方法, 研究两种植物在单种和混种条件下的生长季节动态。结果表明, 降雨丰沛年两种植物的株高和总生物量均大于降雨正常年, 降雨欠缺年则均小于降雨正常年。生长季初期两种植物的根冠比均在降雨欠缺年最高, 说明两种植物均可通过增大根系的生物量分配, 减少地上生物量的分配来适应干旱环境。在三种降雨年型下, 混种时大豆的株高、相对生长速率及总生物量均显著小于单种大豆, 而反枝苋则相反, 尽管有时不显著, 说明种间竞争抑制大豆生长而促进反枝苋的生长, 两种植物之间的竞争是不对称竞争。总的来看, 降雨增加有利于提高大豆的竞争能力, 降雨减少有利于提高反枝苋的竞争能力, 随着生长发育的推移, 这种现象更明显。反枝苋可以在较广的降雨变化范围内保持较高的株高、相对生长速率及生物量, 这很可能是其成为全球范围成功入侵的外来杂草的重要原因之一; 干旱更有利于反枝苋入侵大豆田。     

Clonal integration supports the expansion from terrestrial to aquatic environments of the amphibious stoloniferous herb Alternanthera philoxeroides

Effects of clonal integration on land plants have been extensively studied, but little is known about the role in amphibious plants that expand from terrestrial to aquatic conditions. We simulated expansion from terrestrial to aquatic habitats in the amphibious stoloniferous alien invasive alligator weed ( Alternanthera philoxeroides ) by growing basal ramets of clonal fragments in soils connected (allowing integration) or disconnected (preventing integration) to the apical ramets of the same fragments submerged in water to a depth of 0, 5, 10 or 15 cm. Clonal integration significantly increased growth and clonal reproduction of the apical ramets, but decreased both of these characteristics in basal ramets. Consequently, integration did not affect the performance of whole clonal fragments. We propose that alligator weed possesses a double-edged mechanism during population expansion: apical ramets in aquatic habitats can increase growth through connected basal parts in terrestrial habitats; however, once stolon connections with apical ramets are lost by external disturbance, the basal ramets in terrestrial habitats increase stolon and ramet production for rapid spreading. This may contribute greatly to the invasiveness of alligator weed and also make it very adaptable to habitats with heavy disturbance and/or highly heterogeneous resource supply.     

四川攀西地区云南松群落物种多样性和谱系多样性对紫茎泽兰入侵的影响

外来植物入侵严重威胁着入侵地本土植物多样性和生态系统功能, 认识外来物种的入侵机制有助于提高对入侵植物的防控能力。本文以攀西地区云南松(Pinus yunnanensis)林下外来入侵植物紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)为研究对象, 基于大量野外群落调查, 从群落可入侵性入手, 分析了环境因子和群落物种多样性、谱系多样性等群落生态学特征对紫茎泽兰入侵的影响。结果表明: 海拔、坡向和火烧强度等环境因子和冠层郁闭度、灌木层盖度等生物因子对研究区紫茎泽兰入侵强度没有显著影响(P > 0.05); 但群落灌木层物种多样性和草本层组分种与紫茎泽兰的亲缘关系显著影响紫茎泽兰的入侵强度(P < 0.05), 说明灌木层对光照等环境资源的占用和草本层(同层)物种对相似资源的竞争能够在很大程度上抑制紫茎泽兰的入侵。     

Invasive plants do not display greater phenotypic plasticity than their native or non‐invasive counterparts: a meta‐analysis

Phenotypic plasticity is commonly considered as a trait associated with invasiveness in alien plants because it may enhance the ability of plants to occupy a wide range of environments. Although the evidence of greater phenotypic plasticity in invasive plants is considerable, it is not yet conclusive. We used a meta‐analysis approach to evaluate whether invasive plant species show greater phenotypic plasticity than their native or non‐invasive counterparts. The outcome of such interspecific comparisons may be biased when phylogenetic relatedness is not taken into account. Consequently, species pairs belonged to the same genus, tribe or family. The meta‐analysis included 93 records from 35 studies reporting plastic responses to light, nutrients, water, CO₂, herbivory and support availability. Contrary to what is often assumed, overall, phenotypic plasticity was similar between invasive plants and native or non‐invasive closely related species. The same result was found when separate analyses were conducted for trait plasticity to nutrients, light and water availability. Thus, invasive plant species and their native or non‐invasive counterparts are equally capable of displaying functional responses to environmental heterogeneity. The colonization of a wide range of environments by invasive plants could be due to their capacity to undergo adaptive ecotypic differentiation rather than to their ability to display plastic responses. Alternatively, phenotypic plasticity might play a role in plant invasion, but only during the initial phases, when tolerance of the novel environment is essential for plant survival. Afterwards, once alien plants are identified as invaders, the magnitude of phenotypic plasticity might be reduced after selection of the optimum phenotypes in each habitat. The identification of plant traits that consistently predict invasiveness might be a futile task because different traits favor invasiveness in different environments. Approaches at the local scale, focusing on the ecology of specific invasive plants, could be more fruitful than global macro‐analyses.     

Are plasticity in functional traits and constancy in performance traits linked with invasiveness? An experimental test comparing invasive and naturalized plant species

The role of phenotypic plasticity in plant invasions is among the most often discussed relationships in invasion ecology. However, despite the large number of studies on this topic, there is little consistency. Reconsideration of the role of plasticity by distinguishing two substantially distinct trait-groups, performance traits (contributing directly to fitness) and functional traits (influencing fitness indirectly), could form a more operative framework for comparative studies. In the current study we expect that invasive species benefit from being plastic in functional traits, which allows them to maintain a more constant performance across different environmental conditions compared to non-invasive alien species. We compared invasive and naturalized non-invasive alien plant species by their germination (20 species), their vegetative (10 species) and their reproductive (four species) responses to three different levels of water, light and nutrient availability in a common garden experiment. Used traits were classified into performance (germination ratio, total biomass, seed number) and functional traits (time to germination, root:shoot ratio, specific leaf area, reproductive allocation). We found that invasive and non-invasive species responded similarly to environmental factors, except for example that invasive species germinated earlier with decreasing light conditions or, surprisingly, non-invasive species reacted more intensely to increased nitrogen availability by having a superior ability to achieve greater biomass. The two groups were equally plastic in all the germination and vegetative traits measured but the reproductive traits, since higher plasticity in relative reproductive allocation and higher constancy in reproductive performance showed a pronounced relation with invasiveness.