紫茎泽兰与4种功能型草本植物根系生长特征和竞争效应

研究了紫茎泽兰与非洲狗尾草、本地狗尾草、佩兰和小藜在野外单、混种条件下根系形态特征,并对相对竞争能力进行了分析.结果表明： 紫茎泽兰与非洲狗尾草混种条件下,紫茎泽兰根系长度、体积和表面积比单种时减小,而非洲狗尾草增大;紫茎泽兰混种时生物量比单种时降低了77.1%,而非洲狗尾草增加了80.4%;非洲狗尾草相对产量和竞争平衡指数高于紫茎泽兰,相对产量总和约为1.0,说明非洲狗尾草地下竞争能力强于紫茎泽兰.紫茎泽兰与本地狗尾草混种条件下,两物种根系长度、体积和表面积低于单种,生物量分别比单种降低了45.3%和22.8%;竞争效应参数表明两物种具有较强的竞争效应.紫茎泽兰与佩兰混种时,两物种根系长度、体积和表面积与在单种时无显著差异,生物量分别低于单种;竞争效应参数表明紫茎泽兰具有竞争优势.紫茎泽兰与小藜混种时,紫茎泽兰根系形态和竞争能力均占优势.从地下根系竞争来看,可以利用非洲狗尾草替代控制紫茎泽兰以及对紫茎泽兰入侵迹地进行生态修复.     

两种本地植物种子萌发对飞机草的化感耐受性及其相互竞争

为探讨本地物种假地豆和白饭树对入侵植物飞机草的替代控制潜力,利用培养皿法和同质园种植实验分别研究了两个本地物种种子萌发对飞机草的化感耐受性及其与飞机草的竞争关系。结果显示:除了假地豆的萌发率在高浓度(2.5%)的飞机草叶提取液下受到显著抑制外,两个本地种的萌发在不同浓度飞机草根、茎、叶提取液下均不受抑制。飞机草与假地豆混种时,飞机草的株高、地下生物量比及根冠比显著降低,假地豆的株高无显著变化,但生物量显著增加;飞机草的竞争参数相对产量(RY)显著小于1,竞争攻击力系数显著小于零,表明其竞争力弱于假地豆。飞机草与白饭树混种时,飞机草的根冠比也显著降低,但株高和生物量均显著增加,而白饭树的株高和生物量却显著降低;飞机草的相对产量(RY)显著大于1,竞争攻击力系数显著大于零,表明其竞争力强于白饭树。结合以上结果,本地植物假地豆可以一定程度上竞争抑制飞机草的生长,具有替代控制飞机草的潜力,而白饭树可以在清除飞机草后的入侵地辅助植被修复。实验结果为飞机草替代控制的目标物种的筛选提供了科学依据,对被飞机草入侵生境生物多样性的恢复和重建具有一定指导意义。     

氮肥和种植密度对紫茎泽兰生长和竞争的影响

紫茎泽兰（Ageratina adenophora）是我国西南热带亚热带地区危害最严重的外来入侵植物之一。本研究在野外设置不同氮肥供给水平和种植密度下的紫茎泽兰、拔毒散（Sida szechuensis）、伏生臂形草（Brachiaria decumbens）和非洲狗尾草（Setaria anceps）的单种和紫茎泽兰与其他3种植物混种的人工群落,从植被-土壤相互作用的角度分析紫茎泽兰的入侵机制。结果表明：单种时4种受试植物均表现了对氮营养的响应,随氮肥水平的升高,根冠比降低,比叶面积升高;通过比较总生物量增幅,氮响应能力非洲狗尾草>伏生臂形草>紫茎泽兰>拔毒散。混种时受试植物与紫茎泽兰的生物量比和株高也表明非洲狗尾草的竞争能力>伏生臂形草>紫茎泽兰>拔毒散;与拔毒散混种的紫茎泽兰以及与 紫茎泽兰混种的伏生臂形草和非洲狗尾草的种内竞争随种植密度的增大而增大,导致种间竞争能力下降,在高种植密度下对混种物种的抑制作用减弱。紫茎泽兰在氮响应能力、竞争能力和表型可塑性方面均强于本地种,可能与其入侵机制有关;牧草的氮响应能力和竞争能力强于紫茎泽兰,其中非洲狗尾草又强于伏生臂形草,可能更适宜于入侵地的替代控制。     

土壤微生物增强了外来植物紫茎泽兰对本地植物种的竞争力（英文）

【背景】土壤微生物群落对植物种群建立、生长及其营养都起着至关重要的作用,植物入侵进程也可能与植物—土壤微生物互作相关。【方法】在温室条件下,研究了从紫茎泽兰入侵的土壤(IS)和本地植物生长的土壤(NS)中获得的微生物群落对外来杂草紫茎泽兰与本地植物生长及其互作的影响。【结果】接种来自IS接种剂的紫茎泽兰,特别是与黄花苜蓿或狗尾草共同种植时,较接种NS接种剂具有更高的丛枝菌根侵染率。来自IS的接种剂促进了与本地植物狗尾草共同栽培的紫茎泽兰的生长,但这一本地植物种的生长却未受影响。接种IS接种剂的紫茎泽兰抑制了与其临近种植的2种本地植物的生长,而接种NS接种剂时,未受此影响。接种IS接种剂时,所有种植组合中的紫茎泽兰对接种剂均呈正响应;而接种NS接种剂时,单独种植或与黄花苜蓿共同种植的紫茎泽兰对接种剂呈负响应。【结论与意义】存在于紫茎泽兰根周包括丛枝菌根真菌在内的土壤微生物,增强了这一入侵杂草与本地植物种的竞争力,这可能是外来植物入侵的一个重要机理。     

不同钙浓度对两种岩溶植物幼苗生长及其酶活性的影响

该研究采用砂培法,以狗骨木(Swida wilsoniana)和南酸枣(Choerospondias axillaris)两种岩溶植物为研究对象,用不同钙离子(Ca~(2+))浓度(设为5、35、70、150、300 mmol·L~(-1)的5个水平)的营养液进行培养,研究其对两种植物的生长及酶活性的影响。结果表明:狗骨木和南酸枣的株高在5 mmol·L~(-1)时最大,之后随Ca~(2+)浓度上升呈下降趋势,南酸枣在300 mmol·L~(-1)时有所回升。两种植物的根、枝、叶生物量和总生物量随着Ca~(2+)浓度增加而减少。狗骨木叶、枝、根的生物量分配比率为根枝叶,南酸枣在35 mmol·L~(-1)时表现为根枝叶,其他在Ca~(2+)浓度下均为枝根叶,叶生物量分配少。狗骨木和南酸枣的丙二醛(MDA)含量在150 mmol·L~(-1)时最低,且狗骨木的低于南酸枣。钙胁迫下,与南酸枣相比,狗骨木维持较高的过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性和可溶性糖含量。两种植物在5和150 mmol·L~(-1)的Ca~(2+)浓度下各项指标处于较适水平,而在300 mmol·L~(-1)的高钙离子浓度下受到明显的胁迫,对比两种植物,狗骨木较南酸枣在高钙浓度下有更好的适应性。     

白茅对紫茎泽兰的竞争效应

外来生物的入侵可导致环境退化、生物多样性降低和食物及水资源短缺,利用本地植物或优良牧草进行替代控制是治理入侵植物的有效途径之一。采用本地禾本科植物白茅与紫茎泽兰等比例混合种植,研究了其对紫茎泽兰的竞争效应。结果表明:白茅与紫茎泽兰之间呈现很强的竞争作用,可用作紫茎泽兰的替代控制植物;白茅地上部分相对竞争力比紫茎泽兰强,其幼苗萌发早于紫茎泽兰,株高和单株平均叶面积均显著高于紫茎泽兰;二者混合种植可显著抑制紫茎泽兰的植株生长和分蘖,混合种植区紫茎泽兰的株高、单株平均叶面积和叶绿素含量分别只有其单种的49%、72%和77%;而混合种植对白茅植株生长的影响不显著,并可促进其分蘖,混合种植区的白茅分蘖数达单种区的132%。白茅的相对产量显著高于紫茎泽兰的对应指标,竞争效应参数相对产量总和1.0;随着混合种植时间的延长,两者的竞争关系将愈加显著。     

紫茎泽兰与黑麦草苗期相对竞争力和生长特征的研究

为探究替代物种黑麦草（Lolium perenne）抑制外来人侵杂草紫茎泽兰（Eupatorium adenophorum）的潜力,采用de Wit取代系列设计,在野外小区内设置3水平多年生黑麦草栽植时间、4水平种植密度以及3水平混种比例等不同种植处理,于12周后收获,分别测量黑麦草与紫茎泽兰的地上生物量和地下生物量,用单株相对产量分析其竞争力。结果表明,种植密度、混种比例和黑麦草栽植时间显著影响紫茎泽兰的地上生物量,紫茎泽兰的竞争力在低种植比例情况下,随黑麦草栽植时间的推迟而明显增强,随种植密度的降低而增强。种植密度、混种比例、黑麦草栽植时间以及这些因素的互作等对黑麦草的地上生物量与地下生物量均具有显著影响;栽植时间越晚、密度越大,黑麦草的竞争力就越弱（尽管不存在直线关系）。在大多数种植处理条件下,紫茎泽兰经历的种间竞争明显大于种内竞争,表现出较弱的竞争力;而黑麦草在与紫茎泽兰同时栽植的情况下,经历的种内竞争大于种间竞争,表现出较强的竞争力。     

丛枝菌根真菌促进入侵植物紫茎泽兰的生长和对本地植物竞争效应

外来植物与入侵地土壤丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)的互作和反馈已被认为是许多入侵植物的重要入侵机制之一。为进一步探究入侵植物紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)竞争替代本地植物过程中AMF的作用,本研究首先测定了林下和林地边缘两类生境中紫茎泽兰和本地植物的AMF侵染率和AMF含量,结果表明,2种生境中紫茎泽兰的菌根侵染率和AMF含量均显著高于本地植物,且菌根侵染率与AMF含量呈显著正相关。温室盆栽试验结果进一步表明,接种AMF显著促进了紫茎泽兰的生长,且对硝态氮和有效磷的吸收能力优于本地植物香茶菜(Rabdosia amethystoides),同时降低了竞争中本地植物香茶菜的菌根依赖性,提高了紫茎泽兰对香茶菜的竞争优势度。本研究进一步证实AMF有利于促进紫茎泽兰的竞争性扩张。     

西双版纳外来入侵植物及其共存种叶片氮、磷化学计量特征

诊断外来植物和本地种的资源利用方式是入侵生态学研究的热点问题。叶片氮(N)、磷(P)含量和化学计量特征可以反映受侵地区植物的N、P吸收能力和限制状况, 为把握外来植物的入侵能力、为本地植物共存或消失的机制提供基础科学依据。该研究以我国西南地区典型外来入侵植物(飞机草(Chromolaena odorata)、紫茎泽兰(又叫破坏草, Ageratina adenophora))及其共存的本地植物为对象, 探讨不同入侵条件下入侵种及其共存的本地植物的N、P利用策略。在云南西双版纳孔明山研究区, 调查了无入侵条件下和飞机草与紫茎泽兰的不同入侵程度(按入侵种生物量比例划分)下的物种数量和生物量, 分析了主要植物的叶片N、P含量和N:P值。结果显示: 尽管群落地上生物量随飞机草和紫茎泽兰入侵程度增加而增加, 但本地植物种数随飞机草和紫茎泽兰入侵程度增加而显著减少。飞机草与紫茎泽兰的叶片N、P平均含量无显著差异, 但均显著高于无入侵条件下的本地植物以及与其共存的本地植物。两种入侵植物的N、P含量均随它们所占样方总生物量的比例增大而升高, 本地植物N含量也有相似的变化趋势。当对比入侵和无入侵两类样方的同种植物N、P和N:P变化时发现多数本地种叶片P含量呈降低趋势, N含量和N:P呈升高趋势。根据叶片N、P绝对含量和N:P值及其随入侵的变化规律, 推测入侵可能提高了植物的N可利用性, 但本地植物仍然受N限制; 入侵植物N:P值总体小于10与其具有相对于N吸收的较高的P吸收能力有关。该研究揭示了西南典型外来入侵植物具有较强的N、P吸收富集能力。     

入侵豚草与本地植物竞争对丛枝菌根真菌多样性的影响

外来植物入侵常引起入侵地丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）多样性的变化,但AMF多样性的变化与入侵域本地植物种类相关性目前尚不清楚。本研究采用野外同质园试验研究豚草与不同本地植物竞争时对AMF多样性的影响。本试验共设入侵豚草单种、本地植物狗尾草Setaria viridis单种、藜 Chenopodium album单种、黄香草木犀Melilotus officinalis单种、豚草和狗尾草混种、豚草和藜混种、豚草和黄香草木犀混种以及裸土（无任何植物生长）对照8个处理。采集根区土样后分离、鉴定AMF,分析植株生物量和AMF物种多样性变化间的关系。结果表明,对豚草而言,单种处理中生物量均高于混种处理;豚草分别与3种本地植物竞争时,与黄香草木犀混种中豚草竞争能力最强,而与藜混种中竞争能力最弱。豚草分别与3种本地植物混种时土壤中AMF种丰度和香农-威纳指数分别显著高于豚草单种和本地植物单种,其中豚草与藜混种中AMF的种丰度和香农-威纳指数最高,与狗尾草混种中AMF的种丰度和香农-威纳指数最低,而豚草分别与3种本地植物混种处理中孢子密度显著低于本地植物单种（豚草与黄香草木犀混种除外）。豚草单种、狗尾草单种、藜单种、豚草分别与狗尾草和藜混种4个处理中AMF优势种均为网状球囊霉Glomus reticulatum和缩隔球囊霉Septoglomus constrictum;黄香草木犀单种中优势种是网状球囊霉、缩隔球囊霉和根内根孢囊霉Rhizophagus Intraradices,豚草与黄香草木犀混种中优势种是网状球囊霉和根内根孢囊霉;狗尾草单种、豚草与狗尾草混种和豚草与藜混种3个处理的特有种分别是木薯根孢囊霉Rhizoglomus manihotis、近明球囊霉Claroideoglomus claroideum和美丽盾巨孢囊霉Scutellospora calospora。狗尾草单种生物量与孢子密度呈显著正相关,豚草与狗尾草混种中豚草的生物量与均匀度呈显著负相关,豚草与黄香草木犀混种中豚草的生物量与孢子密度呈显著正相关,与香农威纳指数呈显著负相关。综上可知,豚草与本地植物竞争对AMF多样性的影响具有异质性,这与本地植物种类密切相关。     

黄顶菊对入侵地群落动态及植物生长生理特征的影响

为明确黄顶菊对入侵地植物群落和土著植物生理生长的影响机制,采用同质园试验对入侵和非入侵土壤的植物群落开展了整个生育期动态监测,并分析了黄顶菊入侵对狗尾草、羽叶鬼针草、灰绿藜、地肤4种土著植物生长和生理特征的影响规律。结果表明:黄顶菊入侵土壤植物群落多样性指数低于非入侵地,且有季节性差异,随生育期的推进差异逐渐减小;黄顶菊对本地植物的生长指标有显著影响(P0.05),随时间变化显著,但存在物种差异;4种植物的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Cd)、蒸腾速率(Tr)在非入侵土壤生长显著高于入侵地土壤(P0.05);而4种植物在入侵土壤生长的比叶面积(SLA)、比根长(SRL)、比根面积(SRA)显著高于本地土壤(P0.05)。综上,黄顶菊入侵抑制了本地植物的光合效率,减少了生物量的积累,导致本地植物群落的生物多样性水平降低,但表现出季节差异;不同物种对黄顶菊入侵胁迫的响应表现种间特异性,为理解入侵种对群落结构影响和实现入侵生境恢复提供了理论依据。     

外来植物紫茎泽兰入侵对土壤理化性质及丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)群落的影响

为了揭示外来植物紫茎泽兰入侵对入侵地土壤丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)群落及相关肥力的影响,比较测定了紫茎泽兰不同入侵程度土壤理化性质、AMF侵染率及AMF群落的差异。结果表明,紫茎泽兰入侵降低了土壤pH,使土壤中有机碳、全氮和速效钾含量分别增加83.0%,106.9%和111.0%;尽管对全磷含量没有显著影响,但有机磷含量呈升高的趋势,而速效磷呈降低的趋势。紫茎泽兰入侵降低了本地植物的AMF侵染率;随着入侵程度的加深,土壤中以膨胀无梗囊霉(Acauospora dilatata)为优势种的AMF群落结构逐渐转变为以近明球囊霉(Glomus claroideum )为优势种的结构,紫茎泽兰可在其根周选择培育近明球囊霉,而对其它AMF种,特别是对膨胀无梗囊霉则存在抑制作用;基于各AMF种多度的聚类分析表明,形成紫茎泽兰单优群落土壤中各AMF种多度与未入侵的本地植物群落及入侵程度较轻的紫茎泽兰与本地植物群落之间存在明显分歧。综合分析推断认为,紫茎法兰入侵改变了入侵地土壤理化性状,抑制AMF对土著植物的侵染,改变AMF群落,并在其根周选择培育近明球囊霉,这可能是紫茎泽兰入侵及扩张的重要途径之一。     

An invasive aster (Ageratina adenophora) invades and dominates forest understories in China: altered soil microbial communities facilitate the invader and inhibit natives

Exotic plant invasion may alter underground microbial communities, and invasion-induced changes of soil biota may also affect the interaction between invasive plants and resident native species. Increasing evidence suggests that feedback of soil biota to invasive and native plants leads to successful exotic plant invasion. To examine this possible underlying invasion mechanism, soil microbial communities were studied where Ageratina adenophora was invading a native forest community. The plant–soil biota feedback experiments were designed to assess the effect of invasion-induced changes of soil biota on plant growth, and interactions between A. adenophora and three native plant species. Soil analysis showed that nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), and available P and K content were significantly higher in a heavily invaded site than in a newly invaded site. The structure of the soil microbial community was clearly different in all four sites. Ageratina adenophora invasion strongly increased the abundance of soil VAM (vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) and the fungi/bacteria ratio. A greenhouse experiment indicated that the soil biota in the heavily invaded site had a greater inhibitory effect on native plant species than on A. adenophora and that soil biota in the native plant site inhibited the growth of native plant species, but not of A. adenophora. Soil biota in all four sites increased A. adenophora relative dominance compared with each of the three native plant species and soil biota in the heavily invaded site had greater beneficial effects on A. adenophora relative dominance index (20% higher on average) than soil biota in the non-invaded site. Our results suggest that A. adenophora is more positively affected by the soil community associated with native communities than are resident natives, and once the invader becomes established it further alters the soil community in a way that favors itself and inhibits natives, helping to promote the invasion. Soil biota alteration after A. adenophora establishment may be an important part of its invasion process to facilitate itself and inhibit native plants.     

A role for nickel in osmotic adjustment in drought-stressed plants of the nickel hyperaccumulator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stackhousia tryonii</Emphasis> Bailey

The hypothesis that hyperaccumulation of certain metals in plants may play a role in osmotic adjustment under water stress (drought) was tested in the context of nickel hyperaccumulator Stackhousia tryonii. Field-collected mature plants of S. tryonii, grown in native ultramafic soil, were pruned to soil level and the re-growth exposed to five levels of water stress (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% field capacity; FC) for 20 weeks. Water stress had significant (P<0.05) influence on growth (biomass), water potential and shoot Ni concentrations, with progressively more impact as water stress was increased from 80 to 40% FC. Shoot Ni concentration increased significantly from 3,400 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (at 100% FC) to 9,400 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (at 20% FC). Assuming that Ni is uniformly distributed through the shoot tissue, the Ni concentration could account for 100% at the 80 and 60% FC conditions, and 50% at the 40 and 20% FC conditions of plant osmotic regulation. The results are consistent with a role of Ni in osmotic adjustment and protection of S. tryonii plants against drought.     

原产地和入侵地紫茎泽兰对泽兰实蝇的选择性、卵巢蛋白质含量与解毒酶活性的影响

[目的] 紫茎泽兰是我国危害严重的恶性入侵杂草。比较专一性天敌泽兰实蝇对该杂草入侵前后植株的适应性,是揭示外来植物入侵后适应性机制的重要科学问题之一。[方法] 比较泽兰实蝇对原产地和入侵地紫茎泽兰植株的寄主选择性,并测定寄生于2类植株的上泽兰实蝇卵巢蛋白质含量及乙酰胆碱酯酶、羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶活性。[结果] 泽兰实蝇对原产地和入侵地紫茎泽兰的选择无显著性差异;寄生在紫茎泽兰入侵地植株上的卵巢蛋白质含量较原产地植株上更高。解毒酶活力比较表明,入侵地紫茎泽兰上泽兰实蝇的羧酸酯酶活性低于原产地上的,但谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（雌虫）活性比较则相反,乙酰胆碱酯酶活性比较均无显著性差异。[结论] 紫茎泽兰入侵后,专一性天敌泽兰实蝇的适应性有所下降,丰富了外来植物入侵机制中天敌逃逸假说的内涵。     

紫茎泽兰入侵前后抗虫物质含量差异及其对泽兰实蝇寄生的响应

【目的】紫茎泽兰是我国重要的入侵杂草,对我国生态环境和农、林、牧业造成重大危害。本研究通过比较紫茎泽兰原产地与入侵地种群地上部抗虫物质含量的差异及其对泽兰实蝇寄生的响应,为探明紫茎泽兰入侵种群持续扩张的化学生态机制提供依据。【方法】选取5个紫茎泽兰种群(3个中国云南种群:C1,C2,C3;2个墨西哥种群:M1,M2),比较原产地和入侵地种群地上部分碳氮比、单宁类(单宁酸、儿茶素、鞣花酸)和类黄酮物质(槲皮素、异槲皮素、山奈酚)含量差异,以及泽兰实蝇寄生前后这些抗虫物质的含量变化。【结果】入侵地种群地上部分碳氮比不同程度地低于原产地种群,茎秆部位差异最明显。紫茎泽兰入侵地种群的单宁类和类黄酮物质含量亦低于原产地种群,其中,芽尖部位单宁酸和儿茶素含量差异尤为明显,分别比原产地种群低26.4%和32.3%。泽兰实蝇寄生后,原产地和入侵地种群单宁类和类黄酮物质含量基本呈上升趋势,其中,M1种群寄生植株在虫瘿破膜前,儿茶素含量比未寄生植株升高了163.2%。【结论】紫茎泽兰入侵种群在抗虫特性方面产生了资源再分配的适应性变化,有利于其在新生境天敌缺乏条件下的持续扩张。虽然泽兰实蝇寄生会诱导紫茎泽兰原产地种群和入侵地种群抗虫物质的增加,但原产地种群增加的幅度更大,表明紫茎泽兰入侵后对专食性天敌胁迫的适应性明显下降。     

不同入侵程度紫茎泽兰碳氮磷生态化学计量特征研究

紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)是一种生态危害性较大的入侵植物。为探讨不同入侵程度下紫茎泽兰的化学计量特征,进一步揭示其营养策略与入侵机制,该研究以紫茎泽兰及其本土伴生种条叶猪屎豆(Crotalaria linifolia)为对象,测定研究了轻度入侵、中度入侵和重度入侵下紫茎泽兰根、茎、叶中碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征与其入侵地土壤养分状况,并进一步比较了紫茎泽兰和条叶猪屎豆的C、N、P化学计量特征。结果表明：(1)3种入侵程度下,紫茎泽兰叶N、P含量均显著大于根和茎N、P含量,将更多的N和P分配至叶,增加资源获取,以利快速生长。(2)3种入侵程度下,紫茎泽兰茎N∶P<根N∶P<叶N∶P,且茎N∶P在中度入侵下显著大于轻度入侵,在入侵过程中其茎呈现出较高的生长速率,可促进其获取更多环境资源,增强生长竞争优势。(3)与本土种条叶猪屎豆相比,紫茎泽兰具有更高的根P、茎P含量,根和茎C∶P、N∶P均显著小于条叶猪屎豆,各器官C∶N均显著大于条叶猪屎豆,显示出较高的养分利用效率及较低的资源需求量。(4)紫茎泽兰茎C和叶C、茎N和叶N均呈显著正相关,茎...     

Mycorrhizae transfer carbon from a native grass to an invasive weed: evidence from stable isotopes and physiology

Invasive exotic weeds pose one of the earth's most pressing environmental problems. Although many invaders completely eliminate native plant species from some communities, ecologists know little about the mechanisms by which these exotics competitively exclude other species. Mycorrhizal fungi radically alter competitive interactions between plants within natural communities, and a recent study has shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi provide a substantial competitive advantage to spotted knapweed, Centaurea maculosa, a noxious perennial plant that has spread throughout much of the native prairie in the northwestern U.S. Here we present evidence that this advantage is potentially due to mycorrhizally mediated transfer of carbon from a native bunchgrass, Festuca idahoensis, to Centaurea. Centaurea maculosa, Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue, C₃), and Bouteloua gracilis (blue gramma, C₄) were grown in the greenhouse either alone or with Centaurea in an incomplete factorial design with and without AM fungi. Centaurea biomass was 87–168% greater in all treatments when mycorrhizae were present in the soil (P < 0.0001). However, Centaurea biomass was significantly higher in the treatment with both mycorrhizae and Festuca present together than in any other treatment combination (P < 0.0001). This high biomass was attained even though Centaurea photosynthetic rates were 14% lower when grown with Festuca and mycorrhizae together than when grown with Festuca without mycorrhizae. Neither biomass nor photosynthetic rates of Centaurea were affected by competition with the C₄ grass Bouteloua either with or without mycorrhizae. The stable isotope signature of Centaurea leaves grown with Festuca and mycorrhizae was more similar to that of Festuca, than when Centaurea was grown alone with mycorrhizae (P = 0.06), or with Festuca but without mycorrhizae (P = 0.09). This suggests that carbon was transferred from Festuca to the invasive weed. We estimated that carbon transferred from Festuca by mycorrhizae contributed up to 15% of the aboveground carbon in Centaurea plants. Our results indicate that carbon parasitism via AM soil fungi may be an important mechanism by which invasive plants out compete their neighbors, but that this interaction is highly species-specific.     

Evolution of an invasive phenotype: shift to belowground dominance and enhanced competitive ability in the introduced range

In response to novel selection pressures in an introduced range, non-native species may evolve more competitive phenotypes unique from those of their native range. We examined the existence of an invasive phenotype in the herbaceous perennial Artemisia vulgaris, a frequent invader of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic US. Populations from both the native (European) and the introduced (North American) ranges were grown in intra-specific competition (same population), inter-specific competition with the native perennial herb Solidago canadensis, and alone in a common garden to quantify shifts in resource allocation and neighbor effects on performance and competitive ability. Without competition, introduced A. vulgaris populations were much shorter than native populations, but germinated earlier, produced more ramets, more belowground and total biomass, and maintained higher root-to-shoot ratios. Under inter- and intra-specific competitions, introduced A. vulgaris populations were shorter, but produced more ramets, belowground, and total biomass than native populations. S. canadensis belowground and total biomass were more highly suppressed by introduced than native A. vulgaris. Our data suggest that since the introduction to North America, A. vulgaris has evolved a more competitive invasive phenotype characterized by many short ramets with more extensive root/rhizome networks. This rapid evolutionary shift likely benefits A. vulgaris in its introduced range by allowing establishment and subsequent dominance in dense stands of existing vegetation.