Abstract
Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. (Asparagaceae) is a non-native invasive plant in Brazilian coastal ecosystems. This study focused on characterizing its population structure in coastal dune vegetation in southern Brazil. We also assessed which community structure characteristics were associated with its invasion and verified whether its growth negatively affected richness, diversity, and cover of local plant communities. We registered 67 individuals of F. foetida , most of them large and potentially reproductive. The species was positively associated with greater cover and height of native plant species which seems to promote the establishment of F. foetida by reducing extreme temperatures at the ground level. Overall, F. foetida plants growth did not result in changes in cover, richness or diversity of the studied plant communities. However, changes in cover of dominant native species might be a consequence of growth of F. foetida plants. These changes could result in changes in the structure of local plant communities which must be assessed in long-term studies. From a preventive perspective, immediate control actions, public awareness campaigns and legal regulations are essential to minimize F. foetida impacts to local biodiversity. Keywords: diversity, dominant species, Furcraea foetida , richness, potential impact, vegetation cover.
Highlights
Many plant communities are becoming seriously dominated by non-native invasive plant species as a consequence of human-mediated transport and introduction (Rejmánek et al, 2013)
F. foetida plants growth did not result in changes in cover, richness or diversity of the studied plant communities
Changes in cover of dominant native species might be a consequence of growth of F. foetida plants
Summary
Many plant communities are becoming seriously dominated by non-native invasive plant species as a consequence of human-mediated transport and introduction (Rejmánek et al, 2013). Different microhabitats may be distinctly susceptible to invasion by non-native species as a consequence of resource availability and stress level (Carboni et al, 2010; Santoro et al, 2012). A strong environmental gradient along the sea-inland is mainly due to salinity, wind action, temperature, drought and sand instability (Kolb et al, 2002; Lortie and Cushman, 2007; Santoro et al, 2012). On the other hand, Lortie and Cushman (2007) suggested that more severe conditions favored invasion in a coastal dune ecosystem. In a later study, Carboni et al (2011) related the spread of non-native alien species to intermediate stress conditions on dunes along the coast of Italy. Evidence can be controversial, most empirical studies show facilitative effects by resident species in severe environments, in the sense that they can buffer neighboring plants from abiotic stressors (He et al, 2013)
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