Impacts of the invasive plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fallopia japonica</Emphasis> (Houtt.) on plant communities and ecosystem processes |
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Authors: | Anna G Aguilera Peter Alpert Jeffrey S Dukes Robin Harrington |
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Institution: | (1) Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125, USA;(2) Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9297, USA;(3) Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2061, USA;(4) Natural Resources Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9297, USA |
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Abstract: | Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) invades riparian areas and roadsides in New England. This large clonal species drastically alters the
appearance of habitats by forming highly productive near-monocultures. To understand how these invasions affect ecosystem
processes in New England, we quantified the impacts of F. japonica on species diversity, primary productivity, and nitrogen cycling at five locations in central Massachusetts, USA. In stands
of F. japonica and in adjacent uninvaded areas, we recorded the cover of each plant species and measured the aboveground biomass and nitrogen
(N) concentrations in plants, along with N retranslocation from F. japonica leaves and several soil characteristics. In addition, we severed rhizomes of peripheral F. japonica shoots to determine if clonal integration contributes to the species’ rapid spread and dominance. Stands of F. japonica had lower species diversity, but greater aboveground biomass and standing N than uninvaded areas. Nitrogen and carbon concentrations
in biomass and N mineralization rates in soil did not differ between stands and adjacent areas. Rhizome severing temporarily
reduced growth of F. japonica, suggesting that retranslocation of photoassimilates and/or nutrients between shoots via rhizomatal connections may maximize
stand level growth rates and facilitate dominance by F. japonica. |
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