Invasive Alien Plants Research Articles

Fire suppression and land-use strategies drive future dynamics of an invasive plant in a fire-prone mountain area under climate change

Woody invasive alien species can have profound impacts on ecosystem processes and functions, including fire regulation, which can significantly affect landscape resilience. Acacia dealbata, a widespread invasive alien plant in the Iberian Peninsula, holds well-known fire-adaptation traits (e.g., massive soil seed banks and heat-stimulated seed germination). In this study, we assess to what extent fire suppression and land-use strategies could affect the potential distribution of A. dealbata in a fire-prone transboundary protected mountain area of Portugal and Spain, using Habitat Suitability Models. Specifically, we predicted changes in habitat suitability for A. dealbata between years 2010 and 2050. We explored the potential impacts of two land-use strategies ('Business-as-usual' or 'High Nature Value farmlands') combined with three levels of fire suppression effectiveness using the biomod2 package in R. We also considered the potential effects of two climate change scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Our modeling approach demonstrated a strong capacity to predict habitat suitability using either climate or land-cover information alone (AUC climate = 0.947; AUC LC = 0.957). According to climate-based models, A. dealbata thrives under conditions characterized by higher precipitation seasonality, higher precipitation in the warmest month, and higher minimum temperature in the coldest month. Regarding land cover, A. dealbata thrives mainly in landscapes dominated by urban areas and evergreen forest plantations. Our models forecasted that habitat suitability by 2050 could either increase or decrease depending on the specific combinations of fire suppression, land-use, and climate scenarios. Thus, a combination of business-as-usual and fire-exclusion strategies would enhance habitat suitability for the species. Conversely, management promoting High Nature Value farmlands would decrease the available suitable habitat, particularly under low fire suppression efforts. These findings suggest that promoting sustainable farming activities could impede the spread of A. dealbata by reducing habitat availability, while strategies aiming at fire-exclusion could facilitate its expansion, likely by enabling establishment and large seed production. This study highlights the complex interplay between fire-prone invasive species, fire and land-use strategies, and climate change; and thus the need to consider the interactions between land-use and fire management to promote invasive species control and landscape resilience.

INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS OF COTE DIVOIRE: AN UPDATE AND PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Background and aims: Scientific data on alien plants and classification of invasive alien plants on the basis of environmental impacts are lacking in Cote dIvoire. The present study was carried out to improve the knowledge on exotic and invasive plants in Cote dIvoire. Methods: In order to compile a list of alien and invasive plants in Cote dIvoire, published books and articles as well as national, regional and international online databases were consulted. Alien species were classified into cultivated and naturalized species. The naturalized species were further subdivided into proven invasives, potential invasives, plants to watch and plants without status in Cote dIvoire. For the list of proven invasive plants, the 4 stages of the different stages in the invasion process were applied. Finally, the proven invasive plants were classified taking into account the major and minor impacts on the environment. Key Results: The Ivorian flora includes 851 introduced or exotic species distributed in 524 genera and 137 families. These taxa are divided into 127 cultivated species and 724 naturalized species. Of all the naturalized taxa, 28 species are proven invasive plants or invasives, 34 are potential invasives, 283 are plants to be monitored and 379 are without status. The classification of the 28 proven invasive plants is divided into : 4 plants with massive impacts (MA), 10 plants with major impacts (MR), 6 plants with moderate impacts (MO) and 8 plants with minor impacts (MI). Conclusion: This study proposes a list of alien and invasive plants in Cote dIvoire. It also proposes a classification for proven invasive alien taxa according to their environmental impacts. It could constitute an important database on exotic, naturalized, proven invasive, potential invasive plants and plants to be monitored in Cote dIvoire. Biodiversity managers could thus rely on this work to establish effective strategies to control invasive plants in Cote dIvoire.

The more microplastic types pollute the soil, the stronger the growth suppression of invasive alien and native plants

Abstract The ecological consequences of microplastic pollution for plants remain largely unknown, and the few studies that tested the effects usually focused on a single type of microplastic and a single plant species. However, most plants will be exposed to multiple microplastic types simultaneously, and the effects may vary among species. To test the effects of microplastic diversity on plants, we grew single plants of eight invasive and eight native species in pots with substrate polluted with 0, 1, 3 and 6 types of microplastics. We found that the growth suppression by microplastic pollution became stronger with the number of microplastic types the plants were exposed to. This tended to be particularly the case for invasive species, as their biomass advantage over natives diminished with the number of microplastic types. The biomass responses coincided with a positive effect of the number of microplastic types on root allocation and thickness, which was also stronger for invasive than for native species. In addition, the results of hierarchical diversity–interaction models suggest that the negative impact of microplastic diversity on the total biomass of invasive plant species was influenced by both the identities of the microplastic and certain types of microplastic with strong pairwise interactions. In contrast, the effect on native species was determined solely by the microplastic identities. Synthesis. Our multispecies study thus shows for the first time that the negative effects of microplastic pollution on plant growth increase with the number of microplastic types. We also found tentative evidence that the negative impacts of microplastic diversity were more pronounced for invasive plants compared to native plants, and that this might be due to differences in the responses of root allocation and thickness.

A global meta-analysis reveals the positive effect of invasive alien plants on soil heterotrophic respiration

Plant invasions represent a major global change in the carbon cycle. Soil respiration (Rs) comprises autotrophic respiration (Ra) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh). Understanding the impacts of plant invasions on different components of soil respiration is critical for predicting how invasive alien plants (IAPs) affect the exchange of C between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems. However, the responses of Rs, Rh and Ra to IAPs are poorly understood on a global scale. We conducted a meta-analysis based on 54 published papers and 256 observations to explore the effects of IAPs on Rs, Rh and Ra. Overall, the results showed that at the global scale, IAPs significantly increased the Rh by an average of 87.91% but had no significant effects on Rs or Ra. Regarding the life forms, we found that invasive forbs significantly increased Rh regardless of ecosystem type, and the subgroup analysis of ecosystem types showed that invasive forbs significantly increased Rh only in grasslands. However, the effects of IAPs on soil Rs and Rh did not differ among ecosystem types. Soil respiration is substantially influenced by soil biotic and abiotic properties. We found IAPs significantly increased microbial biomass carbon (MBC) by 9.28% (mainly from invasive forbs) and soil β-glucosidase activity by 80.35% (mainly from invasive shrubs), but the IAPs had no significant effect on invertase activity. The effect size of Rh was significantly positively correlated with the changes in soil pH, MBC and β-glucosidase. In addition, the response of Rh differed depending on the ecosystem management approach. IAPs significantly increased the Rh in abandoned ecosystems but had no significant effects on the Rh in managed ecosystems or natural ecosystems. These results emphasize the importance and complexity of the relationship between IAPs and soil respiration and highlight the need for better management to reduce soil respiration due to plant invasion.

Review of Invasive Plant Functional Traits and Management Using Remote Sensing in Sub-Saharan Africa

Biodiversity and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are considerably impacted by invasive alien plants (IAPs). Increasing plant invasions in SSA threaten agricultural productivity, biodiversity conservation, and other socioeconomic activities, which in turn put the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in peril. In order to effectively combat IAPs, understanding their functional traits (morphological, physiological, and phenological traits) and integrating them into remote sensing (RS) is vital. While functional traits influence IAPs’ fitness to invade and establish in a new geographical range, RS aids in studying them remotely, delineating and mapping them, and predicting their potential invasions. The information on this study topic was gathered by reviewing various existing studies published between 2000 and 2024. Based on this review, it was deduced that the majority of IAPs are fast-growing (or acquisitive), with a shorter leaf lifespan, bigger leaves, and higher plant height, ultimately resulting in a higher resource acquisition ability. We established further that in SSA, there are limited studies on IAP functional traits and their integration in RS. Many studies conducted in the region focus mostly on IAP distribution. Evidence from prior studies revealed that functional trait remote sensing (FTRS)-based research not only improves detection and mapping but also predicts whether a certain alien plant can become invasive or expand its distribution range. Thus, using the FTRS approach could help IAP management in SSA, ultimately achieving the SDGs. Our review discusses IAP implications in SSA (e.g., Angola, Tanzania, Benin, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, etc.) and for the achievement of SDGs; functional traits and their impact on alien invasions; and the importance of incorporating functional traits into RS.

High variability and multiple trade‐offs in reproduction and growth of the invasive grass Cortaderia selloana after cutting

AbstractThe ability to balance the allocation of resources between growth and reproduction as a response to stress factors, can be an advantage for plants in disturbed environments. Invasive alien plants (IAPs) often show high levels of phenotypic variability in resource allocation, a key trait that plays a crucial role in their success to invade new areas. Control management for IAPs must consider this capacity in the development of effective strategies. In this study, we performed continuous measures of leaf growth and reproductive traits of Cortaderia selloana, an IAP of global concern, and applied generalised linear models (GLMs) to evaluate trade‐offs between vegetative growth, leaf composition and reproductive success at different cutting moments. Cutting moment, but not flowering, affected the length of the vegetative growth period (VGP) and average growth rate (AGR), and the interaction with flowering affected AGR and final leaf length (vegetative growth total, VGT). Specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen (N) content and the isotopic value of δ13C were affected by cutting, and N was also affected by flowering and the interaction with cutting time. Silica also showed a negative correlation with leaf carbon (C) depicting a trade‐off between both structural components. Cortaderia selloana successfully adapted its leaf growth and composition to cutting moment, but this was also modulated by flowering. Moreover, the species is dioecious, and its response may differ between female and hermaphroditic plants. This suggests flexible trade‐offs in resource allocation, therefore the time for cutting must be precisely scheduled to suppress flowering.

Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. invasion in protected areas of India under climate change

Globally invasive alien plants pose a serious threat to biodiversity and are invading protected areas. However, information regarding the potential risk of invasive alien species in protected areas is very limited in India. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the potential risks of P. juliflora invasions under projected climate change. We used P. juliflora climate suitability maps based on our previous study using the MaxEnt species distribution model and investigated how P. juliflora invasion may change inside and outside the protected areas by 2050 under two climate change scenarios, representative concentration pathways (RCP) 2.6 and 8.5. The findings of the study suggest that the overall area of P. juliflora suitability in the protected areas will increase by 2050. Further, we found that several protected areas containing relatively high vertebrate diversity are located in climatically suitable areas for P. juliflora. The study findings encourage management efforts to manage the spread of P. juliflora invasion in the selected protected areas of India to protect and conserve the threatened vertebrates' habitats.

Plant invasion alters movement behaviour in endangered butterflies but not their morphology or genetic variability

Invasions of alien plants often result in biodiversity loss and may impact the biology of native species. However, the effects of biological invasions on the behavioural responses of native species have rarely been investigated. We studied how the alteration of habitat due to the invasion of alien goldenrod (Solidago spp) affects a native butterfly, the scarce large blue Phengaris teleius, which is a flagship species for grassland biodiversity conservation. To better understand immediate responses in flight behaviour (daily movements, resting, and dispersal) to a new habitat, we performed observations of experimentally translocated butterflies of two origins (invaded vs. non-invaded habitats) to four different environments: invaded habitat, non-invaded habitat, invaded matrix, non-invaded matrix. Moreover, we tested whether the level of invasion may be related to the variation in morphological traits associated with flight (wing size, body mass) and genetic variability. Flight behaviour was affected by the high goldenrod cover and the sex of the butterflies, regardless of the butterflies’ origin. In the habitat and matrix invaded by goldenrod, the butterflies tended to display dispersal behaviour more often compared to the non-invaded ones. Flight distances were longest in the matrix with goldenrod and resting time was longest in habitats invaded by goldenrod. Analysis of morphological traits as well as eight microsatellite loci did not reveal significant differences in morphology or genetic variation among the populations studied.

A Review on Some Ecological Aspects of Invasive Flora Based on Comparative Analysis of “Tehri” and “Pauri” Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

The establishment of invasive plants in a particular area leads to significant ecological changes on the native species of that area, alters ecosystem services and is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss. In recent years, invasion by alien plants in the hilly regions has posed a severe threat to the ecosystem of these areas. A review was made in this context to study the Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) of “Tehri” and “Pauri” districts. Large number of invasive alien plants was identified under different genera and families from both the study areas. Based on the growth form of invasive plants, herbs contributed the maximum percentage. Asteraceae was found to be dominating over other families followed by Solanaceae. The native range indicated differences in nativity of invasive flora found in Tehri and Pauri with a large percentage of invasive plants coming from Asia (23%) and Tropical America (26%) and respectively. It was observed that invasive plants are invading higher elevation zones which parallels with the directional filtering theory. Due to higher proliferation rates outside their native range and absence of natural predators, it is quite difficult to control this increasing expansion of invasive plants which is a call for concern and needs immediate attention. Keywords: Invasive alien plant species (IAPS), Ecosystem services, Native species, Biodiversity, Directional filtering .

Increased dependence on nitrogen-fixation of a native legume in competition with an invasive plant

Suppression of roots and/or their symbiotic microorganisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia, is an effective way for alien plants to outcompete native plants. However, little is known about how invasive and native plants interact with the quantity and activity of nutrient-acquisition agents. Here a pot experiment was conducted with monoculture and mixed plantings of an invasive plant, Xanthium strumarium, and a common native legume, Glycine max. We measured traits related to root and nodule quantity and activity and mycorrhizal colonization. Compared to the monoculture, fine root quantity (biomass, surface area) and activity (root nitrogen (N) concentration, acid phosphatase activity) of G. max decreased in mixed plantings; nodule quantity (biomass) decreased by 45%, while nodule activity in N-fixing via rhizobium increased by 106%; mycorrhizal colonization was unaffected. Contribution of N fixation to leaf N content in G. max increased in the mixed plantings, and this increase was attributed to a decrease in the rhizosphere soil N of G. max in the mixed plantings. Increased root quantity and activity, along with a higher mycorrhizal association was observed in X. strumarium in the mixed compared to monoculture. Together, the invasive plant did not directly scavenge N from nodule-fixed N, but rather depleted the rhizosphere soil N of the legume, thereby stimulating the activity of N-fixation and increasing the dependence of the native legume on this N source. The quantity–activity framework holds promise for future studies on how native legumes respond to alien plant invasions.

Perceptions, Knowledge, and Invasion Extent of Lantana camara on Household Yards in Rural Communities in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Studies on human perceptions of Lantana camara invasion are needed to inform management. This study used a two-pronged approach to assess perceptions, knowledge, and uses of L. camara in rural communities as well as evaluate its invasion extent in household yards of the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo province of South Africa. Results from 300 face-to-face household interviews and household ecological surveys showed that most villagers know of L. camara but are not aware that it is an invasive alien plant. Both people’s responses and ecological household yard surveys show that the plant is on properties and is expanding. Few benefits compared to negative impacts were mentioned. Local communities are implementing control measures; however, they need assistance from the government. The results highlight the need to incorporate local and individual clearing initiatives into the current broader national control programmes, such as the Working for Water clearing programme.

The greater the proportion of Robinia pseudoacacia in a stand the greater its effect on the population characteristics of Erythronium dens-canis

Management of invasive alien plants is an increasing problem throughout the world. In some cases native rare or protected species can appear or even prefer habitats dominated by invasive alien plants, which raises questions about the optimal treatment of such areas. Erythronium dens-canis in Hungary is a protected species which only have several occurrences in the country and a number of these populations situated in Robinia pseudoacacia stands developed after harvesting native forests. In this study a total of five populations of E. dens-canis were surveyed between 2020 and 2022 in southwestern Hungary examining and comparing the ongoing demographic changes under native and Robinia stands by monitoring individual plants. Two populations were situated in forests composed of native tree species, two in Robinia pseudoacacia-dominated stands and one in a Robinia-native tree species mixed stand. We categorized the plants into five age-state categories: dormant, seedling, juvenile, vegetative adult, and reproductive adult. We found some considerable differences (e.g. leaf size, reproduction rate) between the populations situated in native and in Robinia stands, whereas the population in mixed forest showed intermediate character in most examined factors. Based on our results, R. pseudoacacia have a significant effect on the phenology and life history of E. dens-canis, and this effect is greater with higher proportion of R. pseudoacacia in a forest stand where the E. dens-canis occurs.

Potential Habitat Prediction of Invasive Species Flaveria Bidentis in China Based on ArcGIS and MAXENT

The flaveria bidentis, an alien invasive plant that poses a threat to ecological stability and agricultural output, has invaded China since the early 1990s and may have the potential to spread further. An accurate assessment of its potential spread can provide a basis for early warning and prevention. The flaveria bidentis's probable habitat in China under present ecological circumstances was predicted via a maxent model that was constructed based on dispersal data and environmental factors. The result showed that the suitable habitat of the flaveria bidentis is currently widely distributed in China, making up around 3.98% of China's total land area, having a total size of about 381,795km2. The Jackknife method showed that the main factors that affected the distribution of the flaveria bidentis were the precipitation seasonality and the minimum temperature of the most frigid month. The model's AUC was 0.987, which means the precision of the forecast was quite high. The flaveria bidentis will continue to spread, therefore the pertinent departments ought to pay particular scrutiny and react promptly to set up protective measures in place.

Environmental and anthropogenic drivers of invasive plant diversity and distribution in the Himalaya

Invasive alien species (IAS) are currently considered as one of the major causes of global environmental change. To manage the IAS, it is crucial to identify the different environmental and associated anthropogenic drivers that contribute to invasion of alien species in non-native regions. Although multiple drivers of invasion have been identified at a global scale, the relative roles of these are known to vary considerably at regional scales. Here, we investigate the role of key environmental and anthropogenic drivers in determining the diversity and distribution of selected invasive alien plant species in Kashmir Himalaya. We generated an extensive distribution dataset of these species through field sampling across the region and supplemented it with novel herbarium records. We also extracted data on the relevant environmental (climatic, soil and topographic) and anthropogenic drivers for the study region. The random forest model was employed to quantify the relative contribution of these drivers to determine the two common diversity metrics (species richness and abundance) of selected invasive alien plants. We found that soil water content followed by distance to city, the maximum air temperature, soil pH, soil temperature and human population density exerted the greatest influence on species richness of the invasive plants. Species abundance was significantly influenced by the maximum air temperature followed by soil temperature, distance to city, slope, soil pH and human population density. Overall, our findings help in disentangling the individual and interactive roles of multiple drivers of plant invasions, with wide-ranging implications for management in this Himalayan region and similar landscapes elsewhere.

The Possible Role of Bird Migrations on Introduction and Spread of Invasive Alien Plants: A Case Study, Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.

Solanum elaeagnifolium (SOLEL), a native plant of the Americas is a highly spread invasive alien species worldwide with impacts on biodiversity and agriculture. It has a long history in Mediterranean basin and the Middle East where Türkiye is located but there was no record except one in 2006 from the eastern the Mediterranean of Türkiye of which introduction was attributed to migrating birds. Despite widespread and large populations in neighboring countries, not detecting SOLEL in Türkiye had been questionable. The aims of the study were to find out new populations of SOLEL in Türkiye and understand the reason of less population occurred in Türkiye. Two areas were selected near the country borders of Türkiye which are known as migrating bird routes. Areas were visited unregularly several times from 2020 to 2023 to find out SOLEL populations. New populations were detected in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Regions of Türkiye which are over 1000 km apart from each other. SOLEL populations and bird migration routes through Türkiye and countries SOLEL has already been recorded were compared. It is concluded that SOLEL might be introduced by migrating birds. It is suggested that more detailed research is needed to explain the role of migrating birds in invasive alien plants’ introductions. Furthermore, plants around wetlands which birds use in their migration routes should be observed to prevent new plant invasions.

Corrigendum: Withdrawal of Standard PM 3/67(1) Guidelines for the management of invasive alien plants or potentially invasive alien plants which are intended for import or have been intentionally imported

Corrigendum: Withdrawal of Standard <scp>PM</scp> 3/67(1) <i>Guidelines for the management of invasive alien plants or potentially invasive alien plants which are intended for import or have been intentionally imported</i>

Canopy gaps facilitate establishment of invasive plants in a subtropical broadleaved forest of central Nepal

Plant invasions are major threats to the biodiversity and ecosystem function worldwide. In particular, forests are one of the highly affected ecosystems by invasive alien plant species (IAPS). In spite of several previous studies on plant invasion issues in forests, the role of tree canopy gaps in the establishment of IAPS is poorly understood, particularly in Nepal Himalaya. In this study, we examined the effect of tree canopy gaps on IAPS diversity and abundance in Shorea robusta dominated subtropical mixed broadleaved forest in central Nepal. Fifty pairs of plots (10 m × 10 m) were sampled, with a plot of a pair sampled in a canopy gap and its counterpart 20 m away into the forest interior within tree canopy. In every plot, the cover of the individual IAPS was estimated visually, and other environmental variables such as tree canopy, light intensity, slope, litter depth, tree basal area were measured. Higher number of IAPS (9 species) and their cover (31%) were measured in the canopy gaps than in the plots within tree canopy (6 species; 5% cover), suggesting that tree canopy in these forests provide moderate level of resistance to plant invasions. Moreover, the IAPS cover increased with increasing size of canopy gap. Similarly, IAPS richness increased with the age of gap but it was independent of the gap size. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed that the IAPS community within forest canopy was a subset of species found in forest gaps, suggesting that the canopy opening has facilitated establishment of IAPS in the studied forests. Therefore, monitoring forest gaps can be helpful in detecting IAPS in their early stage of invasion so that the effective control measures can be implemented before the IAPS are widespread and problematic at the landscape level.

Grasslands are more vulnerable to plant invasions than forests in south-central Nepal

Understanding the patterns of plant invasions across vegetation types and identifying the underlying drivers for such patterns is essential to prioritize sites for the effective management of invasive species. We sampled three forest types (Shorea robusta, Dalbergia sissoo, and Tropical deciduous riverine forest) and two grasslands in south-central Nepal to evaluate the richness of naturalized and invasive alien plant species (IAPS). Species richness of naturalized species and the IAPS among vegetation types within each physiographic region was compared using analysis of variance and t-test, and the ordination was used to analyze species-environment relations. Of the total 327 species of vascular plants recorded, 14 % were naturalized, and over a third of the naturalized species were invasive. Grasslands had the highest richness of naturalized species and the IAPS. In contrast, S. robusta forest had the lowest naturalized and IAPS richness. Naturalized species richness increased with native species richness. Ordination revealed that a high number of IAPS were associated with areas exposed to frequent fire and livestock grazing and close to human settlements. The results suggest that the grasslands closer to the human settlements and exposed to frequent disturbance are vulnerable to the establishment of IAPS. Early detection and control of IAPS in such frequently disturbed grasslands would prevent their spread into the surrounding landscapes.

Monitoring plant diversity in wind farm areas: An approach to early detection of alien plant species

AbstractThe presence of alien plant species in disturbed habitats is a well‐studied subject, however, the contribution of wind farm projects to alien plant invasion is often overlooked in environmental impact assessment. The present study tests a survey method for the assessment of plant diversity and the detection of alien plant invasion in two wind farm areas in Romania. Over 5 years, we recorded plant species incidence data in disturbed and undisturbed plots, making one visit per growing season each year. Using several plant community indicators and methods, such as species richness, beta diversity, non‐metric multidimensional scaling, and multinomial species classification, we reliably detected plant species assemblage, including 26 alien plant species among the 608 recorded. Disturbed plots harbor a higher number of alien plant species, supporting the hypothesis that disturbances caused by wind farms reduce habitats' resilience to alien plant invasions. Despite the presence of habitat specialist plant species in certain plots, the community of alien plants did not show a clear preference for disturbed or undisturbed plots. The results underscore the importance of surveying the wind farms beyond the disturbed sites through regular monitoring to accurately assess their impact on plant diversity and detect alien plant invasions. The regular monitoring of all plant species during growing seasons will provide useful data for informing conservation strategies for native plants, including the control and eradication of alien species in early invasion stages.

The promoting effects of soil microplastics on alien plant invasion depend on microplastic shape and concentration

Both alien plant invasions and soil microplastic pollution have become a concerning threat for terrestrial ecosystems, with consequences on the human well-being. However, our current knowledge of microplastic effects on the successful invasion of plants remains limited, despite numerous studies demonstrating the direct and indirect impacts of microplastics on plant performance. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a greenhouse experiment involving the mixtures of soil and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastic pellets and fragments at the concentrations of 0, 0.5 % and 2.0 %. Additionally, we included Solidago decurrens (native plant) and S. canadensis (alien invasive plant) as the target plants. Each pot contained an individual of either species, after six-month cultivation, plant biomass and antioxidant enzymes, as well as soil properties including soil moisture, pH, available nutrient, and microbial biomass were measured. Our results indicated that microplastic effects on soil properties and plant growth indices depended on the Solidago species, microplastic shapes and concentrations. For example, microplastics exerted positive effects on soil moisture of the soil with native species but negative effects with invasive species, which were impacted by microplastic shapes and concentrations, respectively. Microplastics significantly impacted catalase (P < 0.05) and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.01), aboveground biomass (P < 0.01), and belowground/aboveground biomass (P < 0.01) of the native species depending on microplastic shapes, but no significant effects on those of the invasive species. Furthermore, microplastics effects on soil properties, nutrient, nutrient ratio, and plant antioxidant enzyme activities contributed to plant biomass differently among these two species. These results suggested that the microplastics exerted a more pronounced impact on native Solidago plants than the invasive ones. This implies that the alien invasive species displays greater resistance to microplastic pollution, potentially promoting their invasion. Overall, our study contributes to a better understanding of the promoting effects of microplastic pollution on plant invasion.