Response of the invader Cortaderia selloana and two coexisting natives to competition and water stress |
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Authors: | Roser Domènech Montserrat Vilà |
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Institution: | 1. CREAF (Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications) and Unit of Ecology, Department of Animal and Plant Biology and Ecology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain 2. Estación Biológica de Do?ana-Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EDB-CSIC), Avda/María Luisa s/n, Pabellón del Perú, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
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Abstract: | Alien species’ resistance and adjustment to water stress and plant competition might largely determine the success of invasions
in Mediterranean ecosystems because water availability is often limiting biomass production. Two outdoor pot experiments were
conducted to test the hypotheses that at the recruitment stage the invader perennial tussock grass Cortaderia selloana is a superior competitor, and that it is more resistant to water stress than the two coexisting native species of the same
functional group, Festuca arundinacea and Brachypodium phoenicoides. C. selloana reduced aboveground biomass of target native species, but not more than target native species on each other. Moreover, C. selloana did not resist interspecific competition more than target native species. Under control conditions, C. selloana did not have larger specific leaf area (SLA) and root–shoot ratio (R/S) ratio than target native species, contradicting the
general statement that these traits are associated to invasiveness. F. arundinacea was the species which performed best but also the one most affected by water stress. Both C. selloana and B. phoenicoides performed in a similar way under water stress conditions. However, the alien species’ capacity to adjust to water stress,
indicated by the increase in the root–shoot ratio under moderate and severe water stress, was slightly better than that of
B. phoenicoides. Overall, at early recruitment stages, C. selloana is not a better competitor than the coexisting native species. However, it seems to be more resistant to water stress because
as water becomes scarce C. selloana maximizes water uptake and minimizes water losses more than the native species. |
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Keywords: | Alien plant Brachypodium phoenicoides Festuca arundinacea Intra- and interspecific competition Perennial grasses Relative interaction index SLA Root– shoot ratio |
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