Alien plant species establishment is associated with reduced soil acidity in the vicinity of concrete block structures1,2

Abstract

Abstract We hypothesized that in the oligotrophic, acid soils of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, where native diversity and invasability appear to be low, the weathering of concrete block construction material over time has reduced resistance to plant species' invasion by reducing soil acidity. We also sought to determine whether alien species' success in disturbed Pine Barrens soil differs from that of the non–Pine Barrens North American plant species whose presence in the region is associated with anthropogenic soil disturbance. In the field, species richness of native Pine Barrens species, non–Pine Barrens species, and alien species was determined along with current-year aboveground biomass production and soil pH along transects extending from concrete block buildings and from paired control transects without concrete block buildings. Soil inorganic nitrogen was measured near and far from buildings. Additionally, a pot study using native soil amended with ground concrete was conducted to determine its eff...