Abstract
Xanthium strumarium is native to North America and now has become one of the invasive alien species (IAS) in China. In order to detect the effects of the invader on biodiversity and evaluate its suitable habitats and ecological distribution, we investigated the abundance, relative abundance, diversity indices, and the number of the invasive and native plants in paired invaded and non-invaded quadrats in four locations in North and Northeast China. We also analyzed the effects of monthly mean maximum and minimum temperatures, relative humidity (%), and precipitations (mm). Strong positive significant (P < 0.01) correlation and maximum interspecific competition (41%) were found in Huailai between invaded and non-invaded quadrats. Shannon’s Diversity Index showed that non-invaded plots had significantly (P < 0.05) more diversified species than invaded ones. The significant (P < 0.05) Margalef’s Richness Index was found in Huailai and Zhangjiakou in non-invaded recorded heterogeneous nature of plant communities. Similarly, significant (P < 0.05) species richness found in Huailai and Zhangjiakou in non-invaded quadrats compared to invaded ones. Maximum evenness of Setaria feberi (0.47, 0.37), Seteria viridis (0.43) found in Fushun and Zhangjiakou recorded more stable in a community compared to other localities. Evenness showed positive relationship of Shannon Entropy within different plant species. The higher dissimilarity in plant communities found in Huailai (87.06%) followed by Yangyuan (44.43%), Zhangjiakou (40.13%) and Fushun (29.02%). The significant (P < 0.01) value of global statistics R (0.943/94.3%) showed high species diversity recorded in Huailai followed by Zhangjiakou recorded by non-metric multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarity between invaded and non-invaded plots. At the end it was concluded that the diversity indices reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in invaded quadrats indicated that native plant species become less diverse due to X. strumarium invasion. The degrees of X. strumarium invasion affected on species richness resulted to reduce diversity indices significantly in invaded quadrats.
Highlights
Invasive plants are a major threat to the biodiversity and functioning of ecological systems [1– 3]
Shannon Entropy recorded in Malva verticilata (0.36) and Ch. album (0.36) with maximum evenness found in Avena sativa (0.20) and S. viridis (0.20) in its invaded quadrats were more stable in the community followed by other plant species
X. strumarium invasion mechanism was diversified in the community at Huailai
Summary
Invasive plants are a major threat to the biodiversity and functioning of ecological systems [1– 3]. Biological invasions have become one of the hotspots in ecological research [4], The invasive plant Xanthium strumarium L. competes with native plant species for soil nutrients, moisture, “shelter”, “light”, and other resources, severely influencing natural vegetations [5]. The invasive plant is monoecious and annual herb of Asteraceae family, with broad leaves and tap-roots [6, 7]. It is native to North America and Argentina [8–10], but become a noxious invader in China due to its strong colonization potential in new areas [11]. It has strong ability to adapt in diverse soils and climates. This plant has spread in six provinces in China including Hebei and Liaoning
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