Effects of Ageratina adenophora Invasion on the Understory Community and Soil Phosphorus Characteristics of Different Forest Types in Southwest China

Xiaoni Wu,Denggao Fu,Luoqi Zhao,Peiyuan Peng,Changqun Duan,Davey L Jones

doi:10.3390/f11080806

Xiaoni Wu, Denggao Fu + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/f11080806

Copy DOI

Abstract

Understanding the influence of invasive species on community composition and ecosystem properties is necessary to maintain ecosystem functions. However, little is known about how understory plant communities and soil nutrients respond to invasion under different land cover types. Here, we investigated the effects of the invasive species Ageratina adenophora on the species and functional diversity of understory communities and on soil phosphorus (P) status in three forest types: CF, coniferous forest; MF, coniferous and broadleaf mixed forest; and EBF, evergreen broadleaf forest. We found that the species and functional diversity indices of the understory community significantly varied by forest type. Among the invaded plots, the greatest decrease in functional diversity (functional richness, functional divergence, and functional dispersion) and biotic homogenization were found in the CF rather than the MF or EBF. In addition, the invasion by A. adenophora significantly increased the soil NaHCO3-extractable inorganic P and organic P in the MF and EBF, respectively, while obviously decreasing the soil maximum P sorption capacity and maximum buffering capacity in the CF. However, the changes in the species and functional attributes of the understory communities were weakly associated with changes in the soil P status, probably because of the different response times to invasion in different forest types. The implication of these changes for ecosystem structure and function must be separately considered when predicting and managing invasion at a landscape scale.

Highlights

Alien plant species invasion is recognized as a serious threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functions [1,2,3]
With the exception of FDis, in the mixed forest (MF) and evergreen broadleaf (EBF), the functional diversity indices were not significantly altered by invasion. These results indicate that the coniferous forest (CF) is more sensitive to invasion by A. adenophora than the MF and EBF
The results demonstrate that the species diversity and functional diversity of the understory community significantly varied by vegetation type

Summary

Introduction

Alien plant species invasion is recognized as a serious threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functions [1,2,3]. Some studies have reported that non-native species invasion may affect terrestrial ecosystem processes and functions via changes in plant community. Understanding the influence of invasive species on biodiversity and ecosystem functions in different land cover types can improve spread predictions and reduce ecosystem impacts due to invasive plant species. The effect of invasion is frequently associated with biodiversity loss; changes in the plant species composition and diversity may take many years to play out, especially in forest ecosystems. In forest ecosystems, invasive species may have a detrimental effect on the understory vegetation, which in turn plays a critical role in ecosystem functions [13,14]. The responses of plant functional attributes to invasion and their feedback to ecosystem processes and functions is likely to vary among different forest types

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion