<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">longifolia</Emphasis> invasion impacts vegetation structure and regeneration dynamics in open dunes and pine forests |
| |
Authors: | Katherine G Rascher André Große-Stoltenberg Cristina Máguas João Augusto Alves Meira-Neto Christiane Werner |
| |
Institution: | 1.Experimental and Systems Ecology,University of Bielefeld,Bielefeld,Germany;2.Institute of Landscape Ecology,University of Münster,Münster,Germany;3.Environmental Biology Research Center (CBA),University of Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal |
| |
Abstract: | Acacia spp. are among the most serious plant invaders worldwide, and Acacia longifolia specifically causes problems in Portugal. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of A. longifolia invasion on community structure, light climate, plant diversity and regeneration in pine forests and open stabilized dunes
in northern and southern Portugal. Having the growth form of a small tree or shrub, between 1 and 8 m tall, A. longifolia tended to dominate the middle stratum of forests and to share dominance in the upper stratum of open dunes. The presence
of A. longifolia was associated with a decreased canopy cover in the lower stratum of all studied habitats, and at some sites with a significantly
increased leaf area index and reduced light intensity in the understory. Species number and diversity were reduced in some
habitats by up to 50% in invaded compared to non-invaded areas. Furthermore, in forest habitats, A. longifolia seedlings were facilitated by proximity to an adult A. longifolia while the establishment and growth of native seedlings was negatively impacted. The replacement of drought tolerant native
species by the water spending invader, A. longifolia, may have serious implications for ecosystem functioning, especially during the prolonged drought periods predicted to occur
in Portugal in the future. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|