Apparent competition: an impact of exotic shrub invasion on tree regeneration |
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Authors: | Scott J Meiners |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920-3099, USA |
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Abstract: | Invasion of habitats by exotic shrubs is often associated with a decrease in the abundance of native species, particularly
trees. This is typically interpreted as evidence for direct resource competition between the invader and native species. However,
this may also reflect indirect impacts of the exotic shrubs through harboring high densities of seed predators––known as apparent
competition. Here I present data from separate seed predation experiments conducted with two shrub species exotic to North
America; Rosa multiflora, an invader of abandoned agricultural land, and Lonicera maackii, an invader of disturbed or secondary forest habitats. Both experiments showed significantly greater risks of seed predation
for tree seeds located under shrub canopies when compared to open microhabitats within the same site. These results indicate
the potential importance of indirect impacts of exotic species invasions on native biota in addition to the direct impacts
that are typically the focus of research. |
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Keywords: | Exotic shrubs Habitat selectivity Lonicera maackii North America Rosa multiflora Seed predation Survival analysis |
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