Soil modification by invasive plants: effects on native and invasive species of mixed-grass prairies |
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Authors: | Nicholas R Jordan Diane L Larson Sheri C Huerd |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, 411 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA;(2) USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA |
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Abstract: | Invasive plants are capable of modifying attributes of soil to facilitate further invasion by conspecifics and other invasive
species. We assessed this capability in three important plant invaders of grasslands in the Great Plains region of North America:
leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum). In a glasshouse, these three invasives or a group of native species were grown separately through three cycles of growth
and soil conditioning in both steam-pasteurized and non-pasteurized soils, after which we assessed seedling growth in these
soils. Two of the three invasive species, Bromus and Agropyron, exhibited significant self-facilitation via soil modification. Bromus and Agropyron also had significant facilitative effects on other invasives via soil modification, while Euphorbia had significant antagonistic effects on the other invasives. Both Agropyron and Euphorbia consistently suppressed growth of two of three native forbs, while three native grasses were generally less affected. Almost
all intra- and interspecific effects of invasive soil conditioning were dependent upon presence of soil biota from field sites
where these species were successful invaders. Overall, these results suggest that that invasive modification of soil microbiota
can facilitate plant invasion directly or via ‘cross-facilitation’ of other invasive species, and moreover has potential to
impede restoration of native communities after removal of an invasive species. However, certain native species that are relatively
insensitive to altered soil biota (as we observed in the case of the forb Linum lewisii and the native grasses), may be valuable as ‘nurse’species in restoration efforts. |
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Keywords: | Agropyron Bromus Euphorbia Facilitation Great Plains Invasive plants Mixed-grass prairie Soil biota |
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