Growth and competitive effects of Centaurea stoebe populations in response to simulated nitrogen deposition

Increased resource availability can promote invasion by exotic plants, raising concerns over the potential effects of global increases in the deposition of nitrogen (N). It is poorly understood why increased N favors exotics over natives. Fast growth may be a general trait of good invaders and these species may have exceptional abilities to increase growth rates in response to N deposition. Additionally, invaders commonly displace locals, and thus may have inherently greater competitive abilities. The mean growth response of Centaurea stoebe to two N levels was significantly greater than that of North American (NA) species. Growth responses to N did not vary among C. stoebe populations or NA species. Without supplemental N, NA species were better competitors than C. stoebe, and C. stoebe populations varied in competitive effects. The competitive effects of C. stoebe populations increased with N whereas the competitive effects of NA species decreased, eliminating the overall competitive advantage demonstrated by NA species in soil without N added. These results suggest that simulated N deposition may enhance C. stoebe invasion through increasing its growth and relative competitive advantage, and also indicate the possibility of local adaptation in competitive effects across the introduced range of an invader.     

Variation in resource acquisition and utilization traits between native and invasive perennial forbs

Understanding the functional traits that allow invasives to outperform natives is a necessary first step in improving our ability to predict and manage the spread of invaders. In nutrient-limited systems, plant competitive ability is expected to be closely tied to the ability of a plant to exploit nutrient-rich microsites and use these captured nutrients efficiently. The broad objective of this work was to compare the ability of native and invasive perennial forbs to acquire and use nutrients from nutrient-rich microsites. We evaluated morphological and physiological responses among four native and four invasive species exposed to heterogeneous (patch) or homogeneous (control) nutrient distribution. Invasives, on average, allocated more biomass to roots and allocated proportionately more root length to nutrient-rich microsites than did natives. Invasives also had higher leaf N, photosynthetic rates, and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency than natives, regardless of treatment. While these results suggest multiple traits may contribute to the success of invasive forbs in low-nutrient environments, we also observed large variation in these traits among native forbs. These observations support the idea that functional trait variation in the plant community may be a better predictor of invasion resistance than the functional group composition of the plant community.     

Leaf trait relationships of native and invasive plants: community- and global-scale comparisons

Leaf carbon capture strategies of native and exotic invasive plants were compared by examining leaf traits and their scaling relationships at community and global scales. Community-level leaf trait data were obtained for 55 vascular plant species from nutrient-enriched and undisturbed bushland in Sydney, Australia. Global-scale leaf trait data were compiled from the literature for 75 native and 90 exotic invasive coexisting species. At the community level, specific leaf area (SLA), foliar nitrogen and phosphorus (N(mass) and P(mass)) and N:P ratio were significantly higher for exotics at disturbed sites compared with natives at undisturbed sites, with natives at disturbed sites being intermediate. SLA, N(mass) and P(mass) were positively correlated, with significant shifts in group means along a common standardized major axis (SMA) slope. At the global scale, invasives had significantly higher N(mass), P(mass), assimilation rate (A(mass) and A(area)) and leaf area ratio (LAR) than natives. All traits showed positive correlations, with significant shifts in group means along a common slope. For a given SLA, invasives had higher A(mass) (7.7%) and N(mass) (28%). Thus, exotic invasives do not have fundamentally different carbon capture strategies from natives but are positioned further along the leaf economics spectrum towards faster growth strategies. Species with leaf traits enabling rapid growth will be successful invaders when introduced to novel environments where resources are not limited.     

Nitrogen deposition enhances Bromus tectorum invasion: biogeographic differences in growth and competitive ability between China and North America

Increased resource supply commonly facilitates invasion by exotic plants, raising concerns over atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition; fast‐growing annual invaders may have exceptional abilities to outperform native perennials in response to N pulses. However, it remains unclear whether this advantage is due to growth differences or to shifts in competitive outcomes, and whether annual invaders are favored by N deposition in their introduced range over native range. We conducted an experiment to compare the growth and competitive ability of Bromus tectorum and its native perennial grasses either at three different N regimes or between China and North America. The soil used in this experiment was from mountain grasslands as a neutral growth medium. The total biomass of three natives from China and North America did not increase along the N deposition gradient. Nitrogen addition enhanced the growth of North American B. tectorum instead of Chinese B. tectorum. Nitrogen addition increased the competitive ability of B. tectorum, but had no effect on that of natives. North American B. tectorum was bigger and had greater competitive ability and root weight ratio than Chinese B. tectorum. In contrast, North American natives were less competitive than Chinese natives. There was a significantly positive correlation between the growth of B. tectorum grown alone and its competitive ability. These findings suggest that N deposition may enhance the B. tectorum invasion through disproportionally increasing the growth and maintaining inherent competitive advantages of North American B. tectorum, further increasing threats to introduced ranges. There were differences in the growth and competitive ability of B. tectorum and natives between China and North America, which explains why B. tectorum is a minor component at home and becomes a successful invader abroad.     

Intraspecific trait variation and reversals of trait strategies across key climate gradients in native Hawaiian plants and non-native invaders

Background and AimsDisplacement of native plant species by non-native invaders may result from differences in their carbon economy, yet little is known regarding how variation in leaf traits influences native–invader dynamics across climate gradients. In Hawaii, one of the most heavily invaded biodiversity hotspots in the world, strong spatial variation in climate results from the complex topography, which underlies variation in traits that probably drives shifts in species interactions.MethodsUsing one of the most comprehensive trait data sets for Hawaii to date (91 species and four islands), we determined the extent and sources of variation (climate, species and species origin) in leaf traits, and used mixed models to examine differences between natives and non-native invasives.Key ResultsWe detected significant differences in trait means, such that invasives were more resource acquisitive than natives over most of the climate gradients. However, we also detected trait convergence and a rank reversal (natives more resource acquisitive than invasives) in a sub-set of conditions. There was significant intraspecific trait variation (ITV) in leaf traits of natives and invasives, although invasives expressed significantly greater ITV than natives in water loss and photosynthesis. Species accounted for more trait variation than did climate for invasives, while the reverse was true for natives. Incorporating this climate-driven trait variation significantly improved the fit of models that compared natives and invasives. Lastly, in invasives, ITV was most strongly explained by spatial heterogeneity in moisture, whereas solar energy explains more ITV in natives.ConclusionsOur results indicate that trait expression and ITV vary significantly between natives and invasives, and that this is mediated by climate. These findings suggest that although natives and invasives are functionally similar at the regional scale, invader success at local scales is contingent on climate.     

Extended leaf phenology may drive plant invasion through direct and apparent competition

Invasive plants can inflict great harm, yet drivers of successful invasion remain unclear. Many invaders of North American deciduous forests exhibit extended leaf phenology (ELP), or longer growing season relative to natives. ELP may grant invaders competitive advantages, but we argue that ELP more potently drives invasion in the presence of herbivores. ELP invaders can support herbivores by lessening starvation during winter; consequently, native plants may suffer when attacked later through apparent competition. As modeled here, even short ELP can promote competitive success of invaders, and apparent competition sharply enhances ELP invader dominance. In ‘partial enemy escape’ scenarios, a less palatable ELP invader nearly excludes a preferred native where an invader without ELP could not. Together, ELP and apparent competition enhance invasion even when biotic resistance should suppress it, i.e. when the invader competes weakly or provides preferred forage. Thus, ELP‐apparent competition interactions grant invaders considerable success while challenging core tenets of invasion ecology.     

模拟秋季酸雨对三角枫叶片光合生理特性的影响

以三角枫幼苗为材料,采用盆栽方法,研究了pH 5.6、pH 4.0、pH 3.0和pH 2.0酸度模拟酸雨胁迫对三角枫叶片光合生理特性的影响,以探讨酸雨胁迫下三角枫的光合生理响应机制。结果显示:(1)随着酸雨浓度的增加和胁迫时间的延长,三角枫叶片相对叶绿素含量下降幅度逐步增大;叶片丙二醛含量呈逐渐上升的趋势,且各处理均显著高于对照;叶片质膜透性和脯氨酸含量均呈先升高后降低的趋势,且pH 2.0处理的叶片质膜透性在试验20d时迅速增大,升高幅度最大(146.3%)。(2)叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率、表观光能利用效率以及表观CO2利用效率在胁迫下也均呈显著下降趋势,且以pH 3.0和pH 2.0处理降幅最大。研究表明,pH 4.0的模拟酸雨对三角枫叶片的光合生理指标无显著影响,而pH≤3.0的强酸雨胁迫使三角枫叶片叶绿素含量显著下降、膜保护系统受损、光合作用效率显著下降;三角枫能适应弱酸雨(pH≥4.0)环境,可作为酸雨地区的园林绿化树种。     

Comparison of life history traits between invasive and native populations of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) using nonlinear mixed effects model

We compared growth patterns of invasive and native populations of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) while varying water and nutrient levels. We examined three life-history traits (height, number of branches, and the size of largest leaf) during the growth period adopting a nonlinear mixed effects model. Invasive populations were found to be slower in shoot elongation but grew to be taller than native populations. Invasive populations produced more branches than natives only in the high water, high nutrient treatment. Invasive populations had a similar increase in the size of the largest leaf compared to natives, but ultimately produced a greater size of largest leaf than natives. Invasive populations were found to display a greater vegetative expansion, but this was not strongly affected by our treatments.     

What explains variation in the impacts of exotic plant invasions on the nitrogen cycle? A meta‐analysis

Exotic plant invasions can notably alter the nitrogen (N) cycle of ecosystems. However, there is large variation in the magnitude and direction of their impact that remains unexplained. We present a structured meta‐analysis of 100 papers, covering 113 invasive plant species with 345 cases of invasion across the globe and reporting impacts on N cycle‐related metrics. We aim to explain heterogeneity of impacts by considering methodological aspects, properties of the invaded site and phylogenetic and functional characteristics of the invaders and the natives. Overall, plant invasions increased N pools and accelerated fluxes, even when excluding N‐fixing invaders. The impact on N pools depended mainly on functional differences and was greater when the invasive plants and the natives differed in N‐fixation ability, plant height and plant/leaf habit. Furthermore, the impact on N fluxes was related mainly to climate, being greater under warm and moist conditions. Our findings show that more functionally distant invaders occurring in mild climates are causing the strongest alterations to the N cycle.     

模拟酸雨胁迫对杨梅幼苗水分生理特性的影响

选择浙江省典型亚热带经济植物杨梅为对象,通过盆栽试验研究了重度酸雨(pH2.5)、中度酸雨(pH4.0)和对照(pH5.6)处理对杨梅幼苗水分生理特性的影响.结果表明:季节、年份和酸雨对杨梅幼苗的光合速率均有显著影响,各处理中,夏季的差异大于春、秋季,pH4.0处理对光合速率有促进作用;季节、年份、酸雨,季节-年份交互作用以及三者交互作用对气孔导度均有显著影响,各处理在夏季的差异大于春、秋季,酸雨对气孔导度有抑制作用;季节、年份、酸雨及季节-年份和季节-酸雨两两交互作用对蒸腾速率有显著影响,各处理夏季的差异大于春秋季,且pH2.5处理对蒸腾速率的抑制作用最强;酸雨、季节-年份和季节-酸雨交互作用对水分利用率有显著影响,且pH2.5处理对水分利用率有一定的促进作用.     

Comparison of life history traits between invasive and native populations of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) using nonlinear mixed effects model

We compared growth patterns of invasive and native populations of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) while varying water and nutrient levels. We examined three life-history traits (height, number of branches, and the size of largest leaf) during the growth period adopting a nonlinear mixed effects model. Invasive populations were found to be slower in shoot elongation but grew to be taller than native populations. Invasive populations produced more branches than natives only in the high water, high nutrient treatment. Invasive populations had a similar increase in the size of the largest leaf compared to natives, but ultimately produced a greater size of largest leaf than natives. Invasive populations were found to display a greater vegetative expansion, but this was not strongly affected by our treatments.     

Amplified fragment length polymorphism-based genetic relationships among weedy Amaranthus species

Weedy Amaranthus species frequently cause economically significant reductions in crop yields. Accurate identification of Amaranthus species is important for efficient weed control, but Amaranthus species can interbreed, which might cause difficulty when identifying hybrid-derived specimens. To determine which of several economically important weedy Amaranthus species are most genetically similar, and thus most likely to produce viable hybrids, we performed amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)-based unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) analysis on 8 of these species, with 141 specimens representing 98 accessions. The analysis grouped the specimens into four principal clusters composed of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.) and spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus L.); Powell amaranth (Amaranthus powellii S. Wats.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), and smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L.); waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer) and sandhills amaranth (Amaranthus arenicola I.M. Johnst.); and tumble pigweed (Amaranthus albus L.). The cluster analysis provided evidence suggesting hybridization among Powell amaranth, redroot pigweed, and smooth pigweed. Further investigations using molecular analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region from atypical plants supported this notion. Three species, Palmer amaranth, sandhills amaranth, and waterhemp, are dioecious; nevertheless, the Palmer amaranth and waterhemp-sandhills amaranth clusters were distinct from each other. The Palmer amaranth-spiny amaranth cluster included a cluster of Palmer amaranth and two clusters of spiny amaranth, a monoecious species. Thus the dioecious species Palmer amaranth and waterhemp may not necessarily hybridize with each other more readily than they would to one or more of the monoecious Amaranthus species.     

模拟酸雨对毛竹叶片抗氧化酶活性及释放绿叶挥发物的影响

为了探讨酸雨胁迫与毛竹(Phyllostachys pubescens)绿叶挥发物(green leaf volatiles, GLVs)释放规律以及抗氧化酶活性的关系, 通过盆栽试验, 采用不同pH值(5.6、4.0、2.5)的模拟酸雨对毛竹三年生实生苗进行处理, 研究酸雨对毛竹叶片可溶性蛋白质含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量和抗氧化酶活性的影响, 并采用热脱附/气相色谱/质谱联用技术对毛竹释放的GLVs成分和含量进行分析。结果表明: 酸雨胁迫下毛竹叶片MDA含量明显增加, pH 2.5模拟酸雨胁迫处理45天毛竹叶片MDA含量与对照相比增加了43.0% (p < 0.01); pH 4.0处理MDA含量增加缓慢, 处理75天时MDA含量比对照增加了0.36倍(p < 0.01)。pH 4.0和pH 2.5模拟酸雨胁迫处理45天时, 毛竹叶片可溶性蛋白质含量极显著增加, 与对照相比分别增加了32.0%和65.0% (p < 0.01)。在酸雨胁迫下, 毛竹叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)的响应时间存在一定差异, 表现为互相协调, pH 2.5模拟酸雨胁迫处理SOD活性和POD活性分别在45天和60天时达到最大值, 分别为对照的1.67倍和1.31倍(p < 0.01), 随后降低。pH 4.0和pH 2.5模拟酸雨胁迫处理, 毛竹叶片GLVs含量比对照分别增加26.4%和132.9% (p < 0.01), 新增GLVs为 (E)-2-辛烯醛、2-乙基己醛、(E)-2-己烯醛和(E)-2-壬烯醛。研究表明: 酸雨胁迫条件下, 毛竹可以通过调节保护酶活性、可溶性蛋白质含量和释放GLVs来提高适应环境的能力。     

Competitive interactions between native and invasive exotic plant species are altered under elevated carbon dioxide

We hypothesized that the greater competitive ability of invasive exotic plants relative to native plants would increase under elevated CO₂ because they typically have traits that confer the ability for fast growth when resources are not limiting and thus are likely to be more responsive to elevated CO₂. A series of competition experiments under ambient and elevated CO₂ glasshouse conditions were conducted to determine an index of relative competition intensity for 14 native-invasive exotic species-pairs. Traits including specific leaf area, leaf mass ratio, leaf area ratio, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and root weight ratio were measured. Competitive rankings within species-pairs were not affected by CO₂ concentration: invasive exotic species were more competitive in 9 of the 14 species-pairs and native species were more competitive in the remaining 5 species-pairs, regardless of CO₂ concentration. However, there was a significant interaction between plant type and CO₂ treatment due to reduced competitive response of native species under elevated compared with ambient CO₂ conditions. Native species had significantly lower specific leaf area and leaf area ratio under elevated compared with ambient CO₂. We also compared traits of more-competitive with less-competitive species, regardless of plant type, under both CO₂ treatments. More-competitive species had smaller leaf weight ratio and leaf area ratio, and larger relative growth rate and net assimilation rate under both ambient and elevated CO₂ conditions. These results suggest that growth and allocation traits can be useful predictors of the outcome of competitive interactions under both ambient and elevated CO₂ conditions. Under predicted future atmospheric CO₂ conditions, competitive rankings among species may not change substantially, but the relative success of invasive exotic species may be increased. Thus, under future atmospheric CO₂ conditions, the ecological and economic impact of some invasive exotic plants may be even greater than under current conditions.     

模拟酸雨对红壤区茶树器官氮磷含量及其化学计量比的影响

以红壤区25年生茶园为对象,开展pH 4.5、pH 3.5、pH 2.5及自来水(对照)4种强度模拟酸雨处理原位试验,于处理第3年收集茶树体不同功能根系和不同年龄枝、叶,测定氮(N)、磷(P)含量,并计算化学计量比和酸雨响应敏感度.结果表明: 土壤pH值、硝态N和有效P随酸雨强度增加而显著降低.吸收根N含量随酸雨强度增加而提高,pH 2.5处理下吸收根N含量与对照相比显著提高32.9%;储藏根P含量随酸雨强度增强而显著降低;同时酸雨处理显著提高吸收根N/P.新叶和老叶N、P含量对不同强度酸雨处理响应不敏感,但酸雨处理增加了老叶N/P,且在pH 3.5处理下达到显著水平.酸雨处理对枝条的影响与其年龄有关,新枝N含量和N/P在低强度酸雨(pH 4.5)处理下显著增加,而老枝N含量和N/P对酸雨处理响应不敏感.吸收根、新叶和新枝N含量对酸雨响应敏感度分别高于储藏根、老叶和老枝,而储藏根和叶片P含量对酸雨响应敏感度高于其他器官.茶树器官N含量对酸雨处理较为敏感,适度酸雨可增加幼嫩器官N含量和N/P,改变茶树体N、P的循环和平衡.     

Effects of simulated acid rain on the activity of antioxidant enzyme and the emission of induced green leaf volatiles in Phyllostachys pubescens

为了探讨酸雨胁迫与毛竹(Phyllostachys pubescens)绿叶挥发物(green leaf volatiles, GLVs)释放规律以及抗氧化酶活性的关系, 通过盆栽试验, 采用不同pH值(5.6、4.0、2.5)的模拟酸雨对毛竹三年生实生苗进行处理, 研究酸雨对毛竹叶片可溶性蛋白质含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量和抗氧化酶活性的影响, 并采用热脱附/气相色谱/质谱联用技术对毛竹释放的GLVs成分和含量进行分析。结果表明: 酸雨胁迫下毛竹叶片MDA含量明显增加, pH 2.5模拟酸雨胁迫处理45天毛竹叶片MDA含量与对照相比增加了43.0% (p < 0.01); pH 4.0处理MDA含量增加缓慢, 处理75天时MDA含量比对照增加了0.36倍(p < 0.01)。pH 4.0和pH 2.5模拟酸雨胁迫处理45天时, 毛竹叶片可溶性蛋白质含量极显著增加, 与对照相比分别增加了32.0%和65.0% (p < 0.01)。在酸雨胁迫下, 毛竹叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)的响应时间存在一定差异, 表现为互相协调, pH 2.5模拟酸雨胁迫处理SOD活性和POD活性分别在45天和60天时达到最大值, 分别为对照的1.67倍和1.31倍(p < 0.01), 随后降低。pH 4.0和pH 2.5模拟酸雨胁迫处理, 毛竹叶片GLVs含量比对照分别增加26.4%和132.9% (p < 0.01), 新增GLVs为 (E)-2-辛烯醛、2-乙基己醛、(E)-2-己烯醛和(E)-2-壬烯醛。研究表明: 酸雨胁迫条件下, 毛竹可以通过调节保护酶活性、可溶性蛋白质含量和释放GLVs来提高适应环境的能力。     

Image spectroscopy and stable isotopes elucidate functional dissimilarity between native and nonnative plant species in the aquatic environment

? Nonnative species may change ecosystem functionality at the expense of native species. Here, we examine the similarity of functional traits of native and nonnative submersed aquatic plants (SAP) in an aquatic ecosystem. ? We used field and airborne imaging spectroscopy and isotope ratios of SAP species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California (USA) to assess species identification, chlorophyll (Chl) concentration, and differences in photosynthetic efficiency. ? Spectral separability between species occurs primarily in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions, which is associated with morphological and physiological differences. Nonnatives had significantly higher Chl, carotene, and anthocyanin concentrations than natives and had significantly higher photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and δ(13) C values. ? Results show nonnative SAPs are functionally dissimilar to native SAPs, having wider leaf blades and greater leaf area, dense and evenly distributed vertical canopies, and higher pigment concentrations. Results suggest that nonnatives also use a facultative C(4) -like photosynthetic pathway, allowing efficient photosynthesis in high-light and low-light environments. Differences in plant functionality indicate that nonnative SAPs have a competitive advantage over native SAPs as a result of growth form and greater light-use efficiency that promotes growth under different light conditions, traits affecting system-wide species distributions and community composition.     

模拟酸雨对西洋杜鹃生理生态特性的影响

采用盆栽方法,研究了不同pH值条件下的模拟酸雨对西洋杜鹃生长及其叶片主要生理生化特征的影响。结果表明:在酸雨胁迫下,随着酸雨胁迫的增强,西洋杜鹃叶片受害程度逐渐加重;叶片丙二醛含量逐渐升高;可溶性蛋白含量先升后降;过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均呈先升后降的单峰曲线变化,其中pH值为4.3的处理下西洋杜鹃叶片CAT和SOD活性最高,pH值为3.0的处理下其POD活性最高;其叶绿素含量逐渐下降;叶片净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)及水分利用率(WUE)均呈先升后降的趋势,而胞间CO2浓度(Ci)则持续下降,pH值为4.3的处理下其Pn、Tr、Gs和WUE均达到最高。研究表明,大致可以认为pH值≤3.0是酸雨对西洋杜鹃造成隐形伤害的阀值,而酸雨灾害严重地区的降水pH值为2.0—4.0左右,说明西洋杜鹃可以在酸雨灾害较重的地区生长,可作为酸雨灾害严重地区园林绿化及植被构建的物种之一。     

Invasive plants in Minnesota are “joining the locals”: A trait‐based analysis

Questions

Predicting which newly arrived species will establish and become invasive is a problem that has long vexed researchers. In a study of cold temperate oak forest stands, we examined two contrasting hypotheses regarding plant functional traits to explain the success of certain non‐native species. Under the “join the locals” hypothesis, successful invaders are expected to share traits with resident species because they employ successful growth strategies under light‐limited understorey conditions. Instead, under the “try harder” hypothesis, successful invaders are expected to have traits different from native species in order to take advantage of unused niche space.

Location

Minnesota, USA.

Methods

We examined these two theories using 109 native and 11 non‐native plants in 68 oak forest stands. We focused on traits related to plant establishment and growth, including specific leaf area (SLA), leaf carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio (C:N), wood density, plant maximum height, mycorrhizal type, seed mass and growth form. We compared traits of native and non‐native species using ordinations in multidimensional trait space and compared community‐weighted mean (CWM) trait values across sites.

Results

We found few differences between trait spaces occupied by native and non‐native species. Non‐native species occupied smaller areas of trait space than natives, yet were within that of the native species, indicating similar growth strategies. We observed a higher proportion of non‐native species in sites with higher native woody species CWM SLA and lower CWM C:N. Higher woody CWM SLA was observed in sites with higher soil pH, while lower CWM C:N was found in sites with higher light levels.

Conclusions

Non‐native plants in this system have functional traits similar to natives and are therefore “joining the locals.” However, non‐native plants may possess traits toward the acquisitive end of the native plant trait range, as evidenced by higher non‐native plant abundance in high‐resource environments.

     

Low resource availability limits weed invasion of tropical savannas

The savanna biome is one of the least invaded among global biomes, although the mechanisms underpinning its resistance to alien species relative to other biomes is not well understood. Invaders generally are at the resource acquisitive end of functional global plant trait variation and in low-resource savanna environments we might expect that successful invaders will only outperform native species under resource rich or highly disturbed conditions. However, invaders may also directly exploit resource stressed environments using resource conservative traits in some situations. It’s also possible that successful invaders and native species largely overlap in their trait profiles indicating site specific environmental factors are responsible for invader success in particular contexts rather than a general trait and functional divergence between invaders and native species. To address these various hypotheses, we compared a suite of morphological and physiological traits in graminoid and herbaceous native and co-occurring invasive plant species across a range of habitats in savannas of the Kimberley region of northern Australia. Invader grass species had traits associated with resource acquisition and fast growth rates, such as high SLA and leaf nutrient contents. In contrast, dominant native perennial grasses had traits characteristic of resource conservation and slow growth in resource stressed conditions. Trait profiles among invasive forbs and legumes exhibited stress tolerant traits relative to their native counterparts. Invaders also displayed strong divergence in reproductive traits, suggesting diverse responses to disturbance not indicated by leaf economic traits alone. These results suggest that savannas may be resistant to invaders with resource acquisitive traits due to their strong resource limitation.