历史因素对土壤微生物群落与外来细菌入侵间关系的影响

群落的组成和结构如何影响其可入侵性一直是入侵生态学的研究热点。然而关于群落可入侵性和群落特征间关系的认知却很不统一。采用交叉互换的试验方法,首先将野外采集的两种长期不同施肥土壤(有机肥和化肥)进行灭菌并回接已方和对方的土壤悬液,研究土壤环境(历史非生物因素)和土壤微生物群落(历史生物因素)对重建土壤微生物群落特征的相对贡献。随后将用红色荧光蛋白标记的青枯菌作为外来种接入重建的土壤中,探究不同土壤微生物群落特征对外来细菌存活数量(前期入侵潜力)和存活时间(后期入侵潜力)的影响。结果表明,历史生物因素对重建土壤的原生动物数量、革兰氏阴性与阳性细菌比等群落特征和外来细菌的存活数量有影响;历史非生物因素对土壤微生物活性、细菌物种多样性和功能多样性等群落特征以及外来细菌入侵土壤后总的存活时间有影响;外来细菌入侵前期状况仅与原生动物数量、革兰氏阴性与阳性细菌比相关,而入侵后期的状况则仅与微生物活性、细菌物种多样性和功能多样性相关。总之,外来细菌在土壤中各时期的入侵潜力和土著微生物群落特征的相关性主要取决于二者是否由同种历史影响因素控制。本研究对于阐明生物群落结构与群落可入侵性之间关系,及指导土壤外来病原菌的防控均具有重要意义。     

群落组成及物种间相互作用对外来植物入侵的影响

外来植物入侵已成为严重的环境和社会问题,了解外来植物的入侵机制是有效控制其入侵的前提。生物阻抗假说认为,入侵地本地植物群落中的许多生物因子及生物过程能够抵御外来植物入侵。但关于群落抵抗外来种入侵的主要机制,目前还没有确定的结论。本文综述了群落中物种功能特征的多样性以及与外来种功能特征的相似度、植物与动物、植物与植物以及植物与土壤微生物间的相互作用等因素对外来植物入侵的影响,以及以前研究存在的不足。未来研究应该注重不同条件下植物与植物间的相互作用;不同竞争强度下,植物与食草动物的相互作用;植物、动物及土壤微生物三者之间的相互作用对外来植物入侵的影响。这些研究不仅能够丰富和完善入侵生态学理论,而且对于预测外来植物未来的扩散范围,合理有效地管理生态系统,防止外来植物入侵,保护本地生物多样性具有重要的实际意义。     

丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）对外来植物入侵反馈机制的研究进展

丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）在植物群落竞争演替、物种多样性的形成及群落空间分布格局、植物群落对全球变化的响应中均起着重要的调节作用;同样也能影响外来植物与本地植物的互作,影响外来植物入侵过程中植物群落演替进程,甚至决定入侵的成败。因此,AMF与外来植物共生及其对外来植物入侵的反馈已成为国际上外来植物入侵机制研究的一个热点。本文基于外来植物的入侵过程,从AMF对外来植物生长、外来植物与本地植物竞争关系的影响,以及外来植物入侵对AMF的影响及AMF对入侵的反馈3个方面综述了AMF对外来植物入侵的反馈机制。外来植物可以通过多种途径改变土著AMF的群落结构和功能,而土著AMF也能直接或间接地改变甚至逆转外来植物与入侵地植物的互作关系。未来的研究不仅需要考虑AMF与外来植物共生的菌根特性和对竞争关系的影响,还需要通过大尺度条件下的野外试验及室内补充试验深入探究影响AMF在外来植物与本地植物竞争演替中的作用的生物和非生物因子,以全面解释AMF影响外来植物入侵的反馈机制。     

外来种-本地种亲缘关系对外来植物归化和入侵的影响

达尔文归化难题描述了外来种-本地种亲缘关系促进(预适应假说)或阻止(达尔文归化假说)外来种成功入侵的悖论。目前, 在中国仍缺少针对达尔文归化难题的研究。为系统研究外来种-本地种亲缘关系对中国外来植物入侵的影响, 该文利用线性混合效应模型从省级、市级和群落3个空间尺度以及归化、扩散和入侵3个阶段探究了外来种-本地种谱系距离和外来植物表现的关系。结果表明: 在省级和市级(区域)尺度上, 与本地种亲缘关系较近的外来植物更有可能在当地归化和扩散, 符合预适应假说的预期; 而在群落(局域)尺度上, 外来种-本地种亲缘距离与外来种是否在群落中成功定居及其入侵程度无关。该研究结果表明与本地区系亲缘较近的外来种和本地种的竞争并不强烈, 却能较好地适应本地气候环境而具有更强的归化和入侵潜力。因此, 在今后的外来植物管理和治理中需要尤其重视与本地区系亲缘关系较近的外来植物。     

丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）对外来植物入侵反馈机制的研究进展

丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）在植物群落竞争演替、物种多样性的形成及群落空间分布格局、植物群落对全球变化的响应中均起着重要的调节作用;同样也能影响外来植物与本地植物的互作,影响外来植物入侵过程中植物群落演替进程,甚至决定入侵的成败。因此,AMF与外来植物共生及其对外来植物入侵的反馈已成为国际上外来植物入侵机制研究的一个热点。本文基于外来植物的入侵过程,从AMF对外来植物生长、外来植物与本地植物竞争关系的影响,以及外来植物入侵对AMF的影响及AMF对入侵的反馈3个方面综述了AMF对外来植物入侵的反馈机制。外来植物可以通过多种途径改变土著AMF的群落结构和功能,而土著AMF也能直接或间接地改变甚至逆转外来植物与入侵地植物的互作关系。未来的研究不仅需要考虑AMF与外来植物共生的菌根特性和对竞争关系的影响,还需要通过大尺度条件下的野外试验及室内补充试验深入探究影响AMF在外来植物与本地植物竞争演替中的作用的生物和非生物因子,以全面解释AMF影响外来植物入侵的反馈机制。     

Effects of exotic-native species relationship on naturalization and invasion of exotic plant species

达尔文归化难题描述了外来种-本地种亲缘关系促进(预适应假说)或阻止(达尔文归化假说)外来种成功入侵的悖论。目前, 在中国仍缺少针对达尔文归化难题的研究。为系统研究外来种-本地种亲缘关系对中国外来植物入侵的影响, 该文利用线性混合效应模型从省级、市级和群落3个空间尺度以及归化、扩散和入侵3个阶段探究了外来种-本地种谱系距离和外来植物表现的关系。结果表明: 在省级和市级(区域)尺度上, 与本地种亲缘关系较近的外来植物更有可能在当地归化和扩散, 符合预适应假说的预期; 而在群落(局域)尺度上, 外来种-本地种亲缘距离与外来种是否在群落中成功定居及其入侵程度无关。该研究结果表明与本地区系亲缘较近的外来种和本地种的竞争并不强烈, 却能较好地适应本地气候环境而具有更强的归化和入侵潜力。因此, 在今后的外来植物管理和治理中需要尤其重视与本地区系亲缘关系较近的外来植物。     

可利用资源波动对外来种入侵的抵抗性

生物入侵带来的生态和经济危害引起了人们的广泛关注。在入侵生态学研究方面,生物多样性与生物入侵之间的关系长久以来成为群落可入侵性探讨的焦点。Elton经典假说认为,物种多样性越高对外来种入侵的抵抗能力越强,许多模型或野外试验都支持这一假说。但现在越来越多的试验对此提出了异议,各种假说纷纷出现。究竟生物多样性会不会影响外来种的入侵?假设两种不同的群落结构(功能群),设计6种外来种入侵土著群落的情景分析不同多样性及相同多样性下外来种的入侵状况。结果发现,在多样性相同的情况下,两种群落对外来种入侵的抵抗力不同。外来种成功入侵等比群落,却被倍数群落排斥在系统之外。进一步分析表明这主要是由于可利用资源的波动引起的,即Davis提出的"资源机遇假说"。在相同的物种多样性下,由于倍数群落的特殊结构,整个群落所占有资源远远大于等比群落资源比率。因此,外来种在等比群落中更易找到合适的入侵机会。而在物种多样性不同的情况下,由于物种多样性与已占有资源的变化是成正比的,因此,混淆了多样性与剩余资源可利用性对外来种入侵的影响。     

清除优势草本植物对西双版纳飞机草-马唐群落中木本幼苗的影响

在农业弃耕地上通常会出现由草本植物占优势的演替早期群落。为研究优势草本植物对群落中木本幼苗及群落微环境的影响以及外来入侵植物和本地植物对木本幼苗的影响有何差异,在西双版纳地区选取由外来入侵植物飞机草和本地植物马唐共同占优势的演替早期群落,实施物种清除实验,观测样地中木本幼苗的高增长及死亡补充情况,同时对群落微环境进行观测。结果显示,清除优势种显著提高了木本幼苗的高增长,降低了其死亡率,并且使新增幼苗数量有所提高。清除优势种对0-50cm幼苗高增长和死亡率的影响均大于50-100(或200)cm幼苗。清除处理显著提高了样地的冠层下可见天空比例,但对土壤含水量和土壤养分的影响并不显著。飞机草和马唐均能形成浓密的冠层,通过对光的竞争抑制木本幼苗的生长,且这两者的抑制作用没有显著差异。该地区次生林中常见的先锋树种在研究样地内均有幼苗存在,但其生长却受到优势草本植物的强烈抑制。因此,对演替早期群落中草本植物的控制与管理应同时注意外来入侵物种与本地杂草。     

紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)入侵对土壤微生物群落和理化性质的影响

外来入侵植物与入侵地土壤微生物群落的互作关系是影响外来植物入侵力和生态系统可入侵性的一个重要领域。因此,研究外来植物入侵对入侵地土壤微生物群落及其理化性质的影响不仅可以全面地评估入侵植物对生态系统的影响,而且对于探索外来植物入侵的土壤微生物学机制尤为重要。采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)和传统培养相结合的方法研究了外来入侵植物紫茎泽兰对入侵地土壤微生物群落结构的影响;同时研究了紫茎泽兰入侵对11种土壤理化因子的影响。结果表明紫茎泽兰入侵改变了土壤微生物群落结构,提高了土壤自生固氮菌、氨氧化细菌和真菌的数量;同时,显著地提高了土壤的有效磷、速效钾、硝态氮、氨态氮和土壤有机碳含量,降低了土壤总钾含量和pH值。土壤微生物不同生理类群的变化与土壤中植物可直接吸收利用养分的变化显著相关。紫茎泽兰在入侵地成功定殖后,可能通过改变土壤微生物群落结构,特别是增加了与土壤养分循环相关的微生物功能类群数量,进而提高了土壤可利用的养分水平,创造对自身生长有利的土壤环境。紫茎泽兰改变土壤微生物群落是其入侵的一部分,这种改变进而加速了土壤养分循环,可能增强了紫茎泽兰的养分吸收,进而促进其生长、竞争和扩张。     

外来种对生物多样性的影响及其控制

外来种是那些借助自身力量或其它外界力量传播到其未曾分布过的地域 ,并且能进行繁殖传播的生物。外来种入侵已成为一种引人关注的现象。外来种通过竞争、捕食、牧食、改变生境和传播疾病等方式对本地生物产生威胁 ,影响本地生物多样性。外来种入侵成了生物多样性丧失的两个主要影响之一 (另一影响是生境的破坏 )。因此 ,探寻阻止或减少外来种入侵的方法很有必要。目前 ,人们运用机械法、化学法和生物控制法来控制外来种。在外来种入侵的初始阶段或外来种数量不多时 ,运用机械法较好。化学法有带来新环境污染的危险。生物控制法是应用天敌来防治或消灭有害生物。在外来种的控制上 ,生物控制法有一些成功的案例 ,但它并不是万能的。有些生物控制剂可能对非目标种产生影响 ,这要求在释放前对生物控制剂作更严格的检测。     

Domestic exotics and the perception of invasibility

Susceptibility of an area to invasion by exotic species is often judged by the fraction of introduced species in the local biota. However, the degree of invasion, particularly in mainland areas, has often been underestimated because of the exclusion of ‘domestic exotics’ (those introduced to internal units from within the national border) in calculations. Because all introduced species on islands are considered as exotics, this contributes to the perception that islands are more susceptible to invasion than are continental regions. Here, we determine the contribution of domestic exotic species to the degree of invasion (exotic fraction) in mainland areas. We quantify the relationships of exotic fraction to the area, human population density and land use within each of the 48 conterminous US states to identify mechanisms that potentially influence the degree of invasion. For each of the 48 conterminous US states, we compiled the number of species introduced from outside the United States (‘foreign exotics’) and the number of exotics introduced from other conterminous US states (‘domestic exotics’). The status of each species as foreign or domestic was determined for each state by researching its precise origins through vouchered herbarium records, supplemented by literature ( Kartesz, 2010 ). We found that (1) the exotic fraction inevitably decreases with increasing area as the pool of potential exotic species decreases; (2) exotic richness of areas within large mainland regions is underestimated to the extent that species introduced among areas within a region are considered as natives; and (3) human activities contribute disproportionately more exotics to smaller than to larger administrative areas. How we define ‘exotic’ influences how we count non‐native species and perceive invasibility. Excluding domestic exotics in mainland regions leads to a biased perception of increased invasibility on islands, where all introduced species are considered exotic. Thus, future documentation and interpretation of invasion patterns and management of exotics should account for these biases in quantifying the exotic fraction.     

Species evenness and invasion resistance of experimental grassland communities

Concern for biodiversity loss coupled with the accelerated rate of biological invasions has provoked much interest in assessing how native plant species diversity affects invasibility. Although experimental studies extensively document the effects of species richness on invader performance, the role of species evenness in such studies is rarely examined. Species evenness warrants more attention because the relative abundances of species can account for substantially more of the variance in plant community diversity and tend to change more rapidly and more frequently in response to disturbances than the absolute numbers of species. In this study, we experimentally manipulated species evenness within native prairie grassland mesocosms. We assessed how evenness affected primary productivity, light availability and the resistance of native communities to invasion. The primary productivity of native communities increased significantly with species evenness, and this increase in productivity was accompanied by significant decreases in light availability. However, evenness had no effect on native community resistance to invasion by three common exotic invasive species. In this study, niche complementarity provides a potential mechanism for the effects of evenness on productivity and light availability, but these effects apparently were not strong enough to alter the invasibility of the experimental communities. Our results suggest that species evenness enhances community productivity but provides no benefit to invasion resistance in otherwise functionally diverse communities.     

Exotic vascular plant invasiveness and forest invasibility in urban boreal forest types

The riverine forests of the northern city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada display strong resilience to disturbance and are similar in species composition to southern boreal mixedwood forest types. This study addressed questions such as, how easily do exotic species become established in urban boreal forests (species invasiveness) and do urban boreal forest structural characteristics such as, native species richness, abundance, and vertical vegetation layers, confer resistance to exotic species establishment and spread (community invasibility)? Eighty-four forest stands were sampled and species composition and mean percent cover analyzed using ordination methods. Results showed that exotic tree/shrub types were of the most concern for invasion to urban boreal forests and that exotic species type, native habitat and propagule supply may be good indicators of invasive potential. Native forest structure appeared to confer a level of resistance to exotic species and medium to high disturbance intensity was associated with exotic species growth and spread without a corresponding loss in native species richness. Results provided large-scale evidence that diverse communities are less vulnerable to exotic species invasion, and that intermediate disturbance intensity supports species coexistence. From a management perspective, the retention of native species and native forest structure in urban forests is favored to minimize the impact of exotic species introductions, protect natural succession patterns, and minimize the spread of exotic species.     

Are removal experiments effective tools for assessing plant community resistance and recovery from invasion?

Removal experiments are useful tools for assessing two important aspects of plant community invasion: (1) resistance to invasion and (2) recovery after invasive species removal. We discuss the potential of such experiments based on a brief systematic review of the literature on community resistance, as measured by invasibility after removal of resident species (reduction of taxonomic/functional richness), and on community recovery, as measured by resident community response after invasive species removal. We found 62 research articles, most of them related to invasive species removal. Few studies used removals to test biotic resistance, despite the importance of resident removals for identifying community components that play key roles in the often‐controversial invasion resistance hypotheses. Furthermore, appropriate experimental controls were rarely used, which would allow separation of the effect of local species extinction from that of disturbance. We hope this review stimulates plant ecologists to adopt removal experiments for studying invasion processes.     

Properties of native plant communities do not determine exotic success during early forest succession

Considerable research has been devoted to understanding how plant invasions are influenced by properties of the native community and to the traits of exotic species that contribute to successful invasion. Studies of invasibility are common in successionally stable grasslands, but rare in recently disturbed or seral forests. We used 16 yr of species richness and abundance data from 1 m² plots in a clearcut and burned forest in the Cascade Range of western Oregon to address the following questions: 1) is invasion success correlated with properties of the native community? Are correlations stronger among pools of functionally similar taxa (i.e. exotic and native annuals)? Do these relationships change over successional time? 2) Does exotic abundance increase with removal of potentially dominant native species? 3) Do the population dynamics of exotic and native species differ, suggesting that exotics are more successful colonists? Exotics were primarily annual and biennial species. Regardless of the measure of success (richness, cover, biomass, or density) or successional stage, most correlations between exotics and natives were non‐significant. Exotic and native annuals showed positive correlations during mid‐succession, but these were attributed to shared associations with bare ground rather than to direct biotic interactions. At peak abundance, neither cover nor density of exotics differed between controls and plots from which native, mid‐successional dominants were removed. Tests comparing nine measures of population performance (representing the pace, magnitude, and duration of population growth) revealed no significant differences between native and exotic species. In this early successional system, local richness and abundance of exotics are not explained by properties of the native community, by the presence of dominant native species, or by superior colonizing ability among exotics species. Instead natives and exotics exhibit individualistic patterns of increase and decline suggesting similar sets of life‐history traits leading to similar successional roles.     

Elton’s hypothesis revisited: an experimental test using cogongrass

In the 1950s Charles Elton hypothesized that more diverse communities should be less susceptible to invasion by exotic species (biodiversity–invasibility hypothesis). The biodiversity–invasibility hypothesis postulates that species-rich communities are less vulnerable to invasion because vacant niches are less common and the intensity of interspecific competition is more severe. Field studies were conducted at two sites, a logged site and an unlogged site in Santa Rosa County, Florida, U.S.A, to test Elton’s hypothesis using cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), a non-indigenous grass invading large areas of the Southeastern United States. The logged site was under 17-year-old loblolly pine prior to clear cutting. The unlogged site, a longleaf pine forest, was at the Blackwater River State Forest. Both the logged site and unlogged site showed no significant relationship between the rate of cogongrass spread and native plant species richness, functional richness, and cover of the invaded community. Increased species or functional richness may increase the use of resources; however, the extensive rhizome/root network possessed by cogongrass and its ability to thrive under shade may allow for its persistence in a diverse community. The results from both the logged and unlogged sites do not support the general hypothesis of Elton that invasion resistance and compositional stability increase with diversity. Biodiversity does not appear to be an important factor for cogongrass invasion in the southern United States. Extrinsic factors in this study prevent the ability to draw a defined causal relationship between native plant diversity and invasibility. Underlying reasons for why no relationship was observed may be simply due to the tremendous competitive ability of cogongrass or the narrow range of species richness, functional richness and cover observed in our study.     

Ecological filtering of exotic plants in an Australian sub‐alpine environment

We investigated some of the factors influencing exotic invasion of native sub‐alpine plant communities at a site in southeast Australia. Structure, floristic composition and invasibility of the plant communities and attributes of the invasive species were studied. To determine the plant characteristics correlated with invasiveness, we distinguished between roadside invaders, native community invaders and non‐invasive exotic species, and compared these groups across a range of traits including functional group, taxonomic affinity, life history, mating system and morphology. Poa grasslands and Eucalyptus‐Poa woodlands contained the largest number of exotic species, although all communities studied appeared resilient to invasion by most species. Most community invaders were broad‐leaved herbs while roadside invaders contained both herbs and a range of grass species. Over the entire study area the richness and cover of native and exotic herbaceous species were positively related, but exotic herbs were more negatively related to cover of specific functional groups (e.g. trees) than native herbs. Compared with the overall pool of exotic species, those capable of invading native plant communities were disproportionately polycarpic, Asteracean and cross‐pollinating. Our data support the hypothesis that strong ecological filtering of exotic species generates an exotic assemblage containing few dominant species and which functionally converges on the native assemblage. These findings contrast with those observed in the majority of invaded natural systems. We conclude that the invasion of closed sub‐alpine communities must be viewed in terms of the unique attributes of the invading species, the structure and composition of the invaded communities and the strong extrinsic physical and climatic factors typical of the sub‐alpine environment.     

Seed predation of two alien Opuntia species invading Mediterranean communities

Invasibility depends on the interaction of the introduced species with the abiotic and biotic factors of the recipient community. In particular, the biotic resistance posed by native herbivores has been claimed to be of great importance in controlling plant invasion. We investigated fruit and seed predation of two exotic Opuntia species within and between Mediterranean communities in order to determine how patterns of predation matched patterns of invasion. Predators were small mammals, presumably mice, which could consume more than 50% of the seeds produced. Predators could be equally effective in consuming fruit and single seeds. O. maxima fruits were slightly preferred to O. stricta fruits, but predators did not distinguish between seeds. Seed predation was more intense in invaded than in non-invaded communities. However, there was a high spatial variation in seed predation that did not always match patterns of invasion, suggesting that seed predation alone is not a good predictor of community invasibility to Opuntia. According to these results invasibility to Opuntia is limited in some (but not all) communities by native mice. Seed losses by predation were high for both species. However, we estimated that more than 75% of seeds dispersed by birds to non-invaded areas are not predated.     

Size of the local species pool determines invasibility of a C4-dominated grassland

The size of the local species pool (i.e., species surrounding a community capable of dispersal into that community) and other dispersal limitations strongly influence native plant community composition. However, the role that the local species pool plays in determining the invasibility of communities by exotic plants remains to be evaluated. We hypothesized that the richness and abundance of exotic species would be greater in C4‐dominated grassland communities if the local species pool included a larger proportion of exotic species. We also predicted that an increase in the exotic species pool would increase the invasibility of sites thought to be resistant to invasion (annually burned grassland). To test these hypotheses, study plots were established within two long‐term (>20 yr) fire experiments at a tallgrass prairie preserve in NE Kansas (USA). Study plots were surrounded by either a small pool of exotic species (small species pool (SSP) plots; six species) or a larger exotic species pool (large species pool (LSP) plots; 18 species). We found that richness and absolute cover of exotic species was significantly (P<0.001) lower (～70 and 90%, respectively) in annually burned compared to unburned plots, regardless of the size of the exotic species pool. As predicted, exotic species richness was higher (P<0.001) for LSP plots (3.9 per 250 m2) than for SSP plots (0.7 per 250 m2); however, absolute cover was unaffected by the size of the exotic species pool. In the absence of fire, plots with a LSP had four times as many exotic species than SSP plots. An increase in the local exotic species pool also increased the invasibility of annually burned grassland. Indeed, richness of exotic plant species in annually burned LSP plots did not differ from unburned plots with a SSP, indicating that a larger pool of exotic species countered the negative effects of fire. These findings have important implications for predicting how the invasion of plant communities may respond to human‐induced global changes, such as habitat fragmentation. Community characteristics or factors such as frequent fires in grasslands may impart resistance to invasions by exotic species in large, intact ecosystems. However, when a large pool of exotic species is present, frequent fire may not be sufficient to limit the invasions of exotic plants in fragmented landscapes.     

Dominance not richness determines invasibility of tallgrass prairie

Many recent studies suggest that more diverse communities are more resistant to invasion. Community characteristics that most strongly influence invasion are uncertain, however, due to covariation of diversity with competition and crowding. We examined separately the effects of species richness and dominance on invasion by an exotic legume, Melilotus officinalis , in intact, native Kansas grassland. We manipulated dominance of C₄ grasses by reducing their abundance (i.e. ramet densities) by ∼25 and 50%. In addition, richness was reduced by removing species that were mainly rare and uncommon as might be expected with environmental changes such as drought and fragmentation. In both years of the study (2001–2002), invasibility, measured as peak establishment of Melilotus , was not affected by a 3-fold reduction in species richness, nor was there an interaction between loss of species and reduced dominance on invasion. In contrast, reductions in abundance of the dominants significantly reduced invasibility of the grassland plots in both years. Because the abundance of dominants was highly correlated with measures of competition (i.e. ratio of dominant biomass to total biomass) and crowding (total stem densities), this pattern was opposite to that expected if competition were indeed limiting invasion. Rather, invasion appeared to be facilitated by the dominant species, most likely because reduced dominance increased environmental stress. Our results suggest that dominance is the key community characteristic determining invasibility, because highly competitive and space-filling species can either enhance or reduce susceptibility to invasion depending on whether dominants create a more competitive environment or alleviate stressful conditions.