Enhanced precipitation offsets climate warming inhibition on Solidago canadensis growth and sustains its high tolerance

Abstract

Invasions encompass sequential climate-mediated stages, and the establishment stage of invaders is crucial for their spread and damage. Growth and tolerance are two key components determining plant invasions, and addressing climate change effects on them at an establishment stage is key to predicting invasions. To mimic the plant invasion process, we selected 16 native plant species and an invader (Solidago canadensis native to North America) to create experimental communities. Once S. canadensis monocultures established, they were exposed to four manipulations consisting of temperature and precipitation. Relative to the ambient condition, warming substantially inhibited S. canadensis growth, as measured by plant height and biomass, and greatly increased its tolerance to high temperatures, as indicated by stomatal conductance and leaf dry matter content. Relative to the ambient condition, warming plus precipitation enhancement failed to reduce the growth of S. canadensis but increased its tolerance. These findings suggest that enhanced precipitation could completely offset the inhibitory effects of climate warming on S. canadensis growth and sustain its high tolerance to heat stress. Accordingly, we tentatively proposed a prediction that climate warming and precipitation enhancement will facilitate plant invasions via eliminating warming stress effects and retaining high tolerance.