Abstract
The present study is to understand the intrinsic ecological trait of invasive plant Senna alata relating to soil characteristics and seasonality distributed in the Puducherry region located under tropical climate. Plant biomass, soil parameters linked with soil enzyme activities are examined in six sites where S. alata is found growing. From the study, it is demonstrated that invasive species S. alata exhibits heterogeneity in invaded soil characteristics but variation in aboveground biomass (AGB) of S. aalata is not significant. Soil moisture and soil enzymes activities and AGB are significantly positively correlated whereas pH and EC negatively correlated. Seasonal variation in total nitrogen, phosphorus, and elements viz. Mg, Ca, and Na is inconsistent in their seasonality. Based on observations made and results obtained in the study, it is stated soil characteristics and their seasonality in the S. alata invaded soil is, site-specific resulting in heterogeneity; but such heterogeneity is not exhibited in AGB in six sites and it is, therefore, reported that such an idiosyncratic trait of S. alata is one of the potential traits influencing successful invasion by S. alata as mono-species population. The statistical analyses also confirmed the observation made. The outcome of the study would help to prepare management programmes to check spreading of invasive species so as to restore native plant diversity in and around Puducherry region.
Highlights
Biological invasions by alien species are widely recognized as a significant component of global environmental change, often resulting in irrevocable loss of native plant biodiversity and even livelihood of those who sustain on locally available native plants
The enzyme levels in soil systems vary in amounts primarily due to the fact that each soil type has different amounts of organic matter content, composition, and activity of micro-organisms and intensity of biochemical changes (Caldwell, 2006), soil enzyme activities are mostly vary in quantity and level of activity due to each soil type as well as above ground vegetation and such changes are more pronounced in case of invasive plants invaded soil
It is presumed that such a spatial heterogeneity found in soil parameters where the invasive plant S. alata growing as nonspecific population, might be the important characteristics of an invasive plant
Summary
Biological invasions by alien species are widely recognized as a significant component of global environmental change, often resulting in irrevocable loss of native plant biodiversity and even livelihood of those who sustain on locally available native plants. In the recent years, it is becoming more important to understand the ecology of invasive plant species as they are capable of altering biodiversity and functioning of the ecosystem (Marcelino & Verbruggen, 2015; Powell, Chase, & Knight, 2011; Tylianakis, Didham, Bascompte, & Wardle, 2008). Gibbons et al (2017) have found invasive plants with their unique species-specific trait, changes invaded soil environment from surrounding native soil characters. As pointed by Marcelino and Verbruggen (2015)
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