scholarly journals The non-native woody species of the flora of Ukraine: Introduction, naturalization and invasion

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. I. Burda ◽  
S. N. Koniakin
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Robinia Pseudoacacia ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Ailanthus Altissima ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Acer Negundo ◽  
Native Woody Species

The process of invasion, naturalization, dispersion and invasive activity of non-native woody species in 5 regional floras, 5 urban floras and over 30 floras of the protected areas is discussed. It has been established that 182 non-native species out of 95 genera and 45 families are currently at different naturalization stages in the spontaneous flora of Ukraine. In terms of life-forms, they may be divided as follows: trees – 41%, shrubs – 35%, trees/shrubs – 15%, lianas – 9%. Most species spread both via seed dispersal and the vegetative way – 56%, using only seed dispersal – 42%, only the vegetative way – 2%. According to the preliminary rating of species-wise invasive activity, 71 species (40%) have naturalized completely, among them 20 invasive species, including 12 transformer species, 29 potentially invasive species, and 22 naturalized species which demonstrate no invasive tendencies. The initial stages of invasion of 111 species are as follows: introduction – 9%, survival – 36%, adaptation of the reproductive sphere – 28%, establishment, formative of local populations – 27%. In terms of dispersion, non-naturalized species are divided as follows: rare – 45%, local – 16%, sporadic – 6%, unique – 12%, spreading under control beyond collections and expositions in botanical gardens and arboretums – 21%. Twelve transformer species, the greatest threat to local diversity, are Acer negundo, Ailanthus altissima, Amorpha fruticosa, Bupleurum fruticosum, Elaeagnus angustifolia, E. rhamnoides, Fraxinus ornus, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, P. vitacea, Robinia pseudoacacia, Rhamnus alaternus, Salix × blanda and 8 invasive proper species: Berberis aquifolia, Colutea orientalis, Daphne laureola, Prunus cerasifera, P. serotina, Quercus ilex, Viburnum tinus, Vitis vinifera. The list of alien species, most widespread in 50 regions of Europe, includes Robinia pseudoacacia (42 regions), Ailanthus altissima (40), Acer negundo (38), Prunus cerasus (34), Quercus rubra (34), Rosa rugosa (34), Prunus domestica (31). The mitigation of the impacts of these species on local biodiversity is possible via the restoration of local native plant communities, land use organization, strict selection of introduced species prior to the introduction, culture of planting management, preventive measures and extending awareness and sharing of information about plant invasions. Therefore, Ukraine’s spontaneous flora is notable for the active process of naturalization of non-native woody species with considerable involvement of invasive alien species. This is the first and preliminary evaluation of the invasive activity of woody species in Ukraine’s flora. The manifestations of the global tendency of increased involvement and invasive activity of alien woody species in domestic flora have been confirmed. These conclusions are also relevant for elaborating the system of preventive, containing and mitigating measures regarding plant invasions in Ukraine.

scholarly journals Urban Rivers as Dispersal Corridors: Which Factors Are Important for the Spread of Alien Woody Species along the Danube?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2185
Author(s):  
Sabrina Wagner ◽  
Dietmar Moser ◽  
Franz Essl
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Robinia Pseudoacacia ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Ailanthus Altissima ◽  
Fraxinus Pennsylvanica ◽  
Floodplain Forests ◽  
Urban Rivers ◽  
Urban Habitats ◽  
Acer Negundo ◽  
Gallery Forests

Cities are hotspots of invasions, and this is particularly the case for urban rivers, which are known to serve as corridors for the spread of alien plant species to floodplain forests. Here, we present a case study on woody (shrubs, trees) species invasions across a gradient from a metropolis (Vienna) to rural regions along the Danube River in eastern Austria. In total, we identified 44 native and 25 alien woody species in 75 plots. Five alien woody species occur in at least 10 plots. The most wide-spread ones were species of floodplain forests (Acer negundo, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Populus x canadensis), while Ailanthus altissima and Robinia pseudoacacia—which prefer dry sites—were recorded substantially less often. The average level of invasion—i.e., the relative proportion of alien to native woody species in plots—was high across all three study regions. Still, there was a moderate decline of alien woody species richness along the urban—peri-urban—rural gradient. Generalized Linear Mixed Models showed that population density and the proportion of urban habitats in the environs of the plots is significantly positively correlated with the presence of Acer negundo and Ailanthus altissima. Conversely, the occurrence of Robinia pseudoacacia is negatively correlated with surrounding population density and urban habitats. Occurrence of Acer negundo is positively correlated with urban habitats. For Fraxinus pennsylvanica, we found no significant relationships. Our results confirm that gallery forests at river banks are highly susceptible to invasions. We argue that managing alien woody species in urban and peri-urban sites is not appropriate and useful, given that re-invasion is likely in most cases (from adjacent urban green spaces). We acknowledge that this recommendation entails the implicit recognition that gallery forests along urban sections of the Danube will contain a substantial—and likely further increasing—proportion of alien woody species.

Spontaneous forest communities of introduced species in Kryvyi Rih area

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 3-16
Author(s):  
I. I. Korshіkov ◽  
Y. M. Petrushkevych ◽  
S. I. Shkuta
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Robinia Pseudoacacia ◽  
Ailanthus Altissima ◽  
Acer Platanoides ◽  
Rhamnus Cathartica ◽  
Ulmus Pumila ◽  
Acer Negundo ◽  
Trunk Diameter ◽  
North Western

The article is devoted to the study of woody plants communities, that spontaneously form in the abandoned areas of Kryvyi Rih Area as a result of spontaneous-invasive settling of species in previously established plantations. For the study, we laid 16 trial plots in 5 growth sites of such communities. We determined the species composition and biometric characteristics of primary woody plants and those, that formed these communities due to the invasion. In the first such community, which was formed due to the settling of other species in a 40-year-old plantation of Salix alba L., we found on 3 plots with an area of 625 m2 94 medium-sized trees Acer negundo L. having height (h) 11.8–13.6 m, trunk diameter (D) 16.8–17.3 cm and crown projection area (S) 9.5–10.4 m2, as well as 210 young generative trees, their height varies between 6.5–7.3 m, trunk diameter 5.0–5.4 cm, and the projection of the crown 2.5–6.3 m2. In this community also grow young and medium-generative trees of Robinia pseudoacacia L. – respectively 7 individuals – h = 7.2–11.7 m, D = 8.1–10.7 cm, S = 6.1–6.5 m2 and 7 ones – h = 13.5–14.0 m, D = 18.1–27.0 cm, S = 14.0–38.5 m2. Among self-seeding plants, such species predominate: Acer platanoides L. – 3905 specimens and Acer negundo – 1823 specimens. Three species dominate in the three dense forestation massive near the highway, which occupy an area of 250 m2: Robinia pseudoacacia, Ulmus pumila L., Fraxinus excelsior L. and Cerasus avium (L.) Moench. Robinia pseudoacacia is the most common among medium-generative plants, and Acer negundo, A. platanoides, A. tataricum L. – among young generative plants. Self-seeding of Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer platanoides, Fraxinus excelsior and Acer negundo is dominated in this area. In the abandoned Ulmus pumila plantation near the iron ore mine in three areas with an area of 625 m2, 12 to 33 specimens of medium-generative trees of this species with a height of 12.2–13.1 m with a trunk diameter of 14.7–16.0 cm and a crown projection of 25, 5–27.3 m2. Its self-seeding is quite active in all areas. Self-seeding plants of Acer negundo are also present here – 51 specimens and Acer platanoides – 35 ones. Self-seeding plants of A. platanoides – 9837 specimens, A. pseudoplatanus – 2111 specimens, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle – 396 specimens dominate in the neglected park on the territory of 500 m2, where Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer platanoides, Robinia pseudoacacia grow. A study was also carried out on the example of the Zelena gully in order to determine how invasive species spontaneously penetrate into the formed steppe feathergrass-fescue phytocenoses. In the upper part of the Zelena gully, located outside of Kryvyi Rih, more than 40 years ago, forest belts were created from many species of shrubs, which have already been listed. Crataegus fallacina Klokov and Rhamnus cathartica L. diffusely inhabit and clearly predominate in the 6 trial plots that were laid on the slopes of the south-eastern and north-western exposures. In the presence of a large number of seed donors from the previously mentioned species on the slopes of the gully firstly Crataegus fallacina settles. Morphometric parameters of shrubs of these species were slightly larger on the north-western slope than on the south-eastern: the height of Crataegus fallacina – 2.5–2.9 m, and the diameter of the crown – 3.5–4.3 m, while in Rhamnus cathartica – the height of the bush was 0.7–0.8 m, and the diameter of the crown – 0.5–1.1 m. Thus, invasive species of Ulmus pumila, Acer negundo, Robinia pseudoacacia and Ailanthus altissima, which are the main in spontaneous communities in abandoned anthropogenically disturbed areas of the city, do not penetrate into stable phytocenoses. Most of these species of woody plants show low invasive activity and do not form multispecies communities in weakly disturbed feather-fescue phytocenoses.

scholarly journals Preliminary results of studies on the distribution of invasive alien vascular plant species occurring in semi-natural and natural habitats in NW Poland

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Popiela ◽  
Andrzej Łysko ◽  
Zofia Sotek ◽  
Krzysztof Ziarnek
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Lycium Barbarum ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Lupinus Polyphyllus ◽  
Reynoutria Japonica ◽  
Acer Negundo ◽  
Bidens Frondosa ◽  
Clematis Vitalba ◽  
Nw Poland

Abstract In Western Pomerania, as in other areas of Europe, alien species play an increasingly important role. In particular, invasive plants tend to spread rapidly and in large numbers which may reduce diversity of native species, leading to the phenomenon of “trivialisation of flora”, and transform ecosystems. The list of invasive species (32 taxa) includes alien species occurring throughout Western Pomerania, and penetrating natural or semi-natural habitats. The second group consists of potentially invasive species (23 taxa), i.e. those distributed across the area under study and tending to increase the number of their localities in semi-natural and natural habitats, taxa invasive only locally, as well as species with missing data, which does not currently allow including them into the first group. Invasive weeds, as well as some epecophytes and archaeophytes occurring only on anthropogenic sites and tending to spread, were not taken into account. Among hemiagriophytes, the most common and troublesome ones are: Conyza canadensis, Erigeron annuus, Lolium multiflorum, Lupinus polyphyllus, Solidago canadensis, S. gigantea. Among holoagriophytes, i.e. the taxa which received the highest naturalisation status, very expansive species, successful in land colonisation, like Acer negundo, Bidens frondosa, B. connata, Clematis vitalba, Elodea canadensis, Epilobium ciliatum, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Impatiens glandulifera, I. parviflora, Padus serotina, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudoacacia, should be given particular attention. Among the invasive and potentially invasive species, most taxa penetrate plant communities of the Artemisietea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class, followed by Querco-Fagetea, Vaccinio-Piceetea, Stellarietea mediae, Salicetea purpurae and Koelerio-Corynophoretea. The number of invasive species is twice as high when compared to the situation of these species in Poland; on the contrary, the number of species inhabiting anthropogenic, semi-natural and natural habitats is two times lower, while that of holoagriophytes and hemiagriophytes is 56.3% and 43.7%, respectively. It seems that in the case of some invasive and potentially invasive species, a decrease in the number of their locations may be observed from the west to the east (e.g. for Acer negundo, Bromus carinatus, Clematis vitalba, Helianthus tuberosus, Lycium barbarum, Reynoutria japonica, Rosa rugosa, Vicia grandiflora). Distribution patterns for some species (e.g. for Parthenocytisus inserta or Xanthium albinum) are indicative of a likely major role of the Odra River valley in the spreading of invasive species. It should be kept in mind that the area of the North-West Poland is poorly examined in terms of its flora, so the results provided in this paper are tentative. Nevertheless, the maps illustrate colonisation trends and directions and, moreover, have been so far the only attempt to synthesise this problem in NW Poland.

Seed dispersal interactions promoting plant invasions.

2020 ◽  
pp. 90-104
Author(s):  
M. Celeste Díaz Vélez ◽  
Ana E. Ferreras ◽  
Valeria Paiaro
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Invasional Meltdown ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Origin Life

Abstract Animal dispersers are essential for many non-native plants since they facilitate seed movement and might promote seed germination and seedling establishment, thereby increasing their chances of invasion. This chapter reviews the published literature on seed dispersal of non-native plant species by native and/or non-native animals. The following questions are addressed: (i) Are interactions between non-native plants and their animal dispersers evenly studied worldwide? (ii) Which are the distinctive traits (i.e. geographical origin, life form, dispersal strategy and propagule traits) of non-native plants that are dispersed by animals? (iii) Which are the most studied groups of dispersers of non-native plants around the world? (iv) Does the literature provide evidence for the Invasional Meltdown Hypothesis (non-native plant-non-native disperser facilitation)? (v) What is the role of animal dispersers at different stages of the non-native plant regeneration process? Our dataset of 204 articles indicates that geographical distribution of the studies was highly heterogeneous among continents, with the highest number coming from North America and the lowest from Asia and Central America. Most of the non-native plants involved in dispersal studies were woody species from Asia with fleshy fruits dispersed by endozoochory. More than the half of the animal dispersal agents noted were birds, followed by mammals, ants and reptiles. The dominance of bird-dispersal interactions over other animal groups was consistent across geographical regions. Although most of the studies involved only native dispersers, interactions among non-native species were detected, providing support for the existence of invasional meltdown processes. Of the total number of reviewed articles reporting seed removal, 74% evaluated seed dispersal, but only a few studies included seed germination (35.3%), seedling establishment (5.4%) or seed predation (23.5%). Finally, we discuss some research biases and directions for future studies in the area.

scholarly journals The Alien Fraction of the Woody Flora of Yelanetskyi Step Nature Reserve, Southern Ukraine

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-332
Author(s):  
Valeriia O. Konaikova ◽  
Olena V. Vakarenko
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Robinia Pseudoacacia ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Carbonate Content ◽  
Steppe Communities ◽  
Trees And Shrubs ◽  
Southern Ukraine

AbstractResults of investigations on the patterns of distribution and dispersal of alien species of trees and shrubs in the territory of a steppe protected area, Yelanetskyi Step Nature Reserve (Mykolaiv Region, southern Ukraine), are presented. We registered within this protected area 10 alien woody species. For the most widespread ones (Ulmus pumila L., Gleditsia triacanthos L., Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Robinia pseudoacacia L.), we carried out ecological analyses. In order to establish the scope of impact of ecological factors upon these species, their specificity, and interdependence between ecological factors, the phytoindication method was applied (Didukh, 2012). The results of our analysis conducted on 12 main ecological factors (as outlined by Didukh, 2011), such as soil water regime (Hd), variability of damping (Fh), soil aeration (Ae), soil acidity (Rc), nitrogen content (Nt), salt regime (Sl), carbonate content in soil (Ca), thermoregime (Tm), climate humidity (Om), continentality (Kn), cryoregime (Cr), and light intensity (Lc), show that dispersal of model alien species does not have ecological limitation. However, E.angustifolia and R.pseudoacacia have the strongest capacity to penetrate the steppe communities, especially disturbed ones. Further dispersal of these alien species in the studied area and adjacent territories is hampered only by the integrity of the structure of steppe communities.

scholarly journals Influence of nitrogen form on growth of invasive species Acer negundo L. and Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) swingle

2012 ◽  
pp. 61-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matilda Djukic ◽  
Danijela Djunisijevic-Bojovic ◽  
Mihailo Grbic ◽  
Dragana Skocajic ◽  
Dragica Obratov-Petkovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Nitrogen Nutrition ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Ailanthus Altissima ◽  
Acer Negundo ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Aerial Parts ◽  
The Impact

Relative amounts of nutrients, especially nitrogen, the most abundant macro-element, and also the distribution of ammonium ions in relation to nitrate ions, in the soils of different ecosystems, are determined by many factors. The most important are: temperature, pH of substrate, accumulation of organic matter, presence of allelopathic compounds, degree of oxygenation, etc. The ability of plants to adapt to these variations influences their production of bio-mass, the rate of expansion in different habitats, and the impact on ecosystem and biodiversity. This paper analyzes the impact of different forms of nitrogen (NO3 - and NH4 +) on the growth of seedlings of invasive species Acer negundo L. and Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. The results show that nitrogen nutrition only in the form of NH4 + ions significantly affects the reduction in shoot dry weight. Compared to the nutrition with both forms of nitrogen together, aerial parts of Ailanthus altissima were reduced by 62.5%, and leaf area by 66.7%, while Acer negundo seedlings had reduction in dry mass of aboveground part by 89.5%, root by 81.2% and leaf area by 85.8%. Nutrition with nitrate form of nitrogen led to a proportionally small, but statistically significant decrease in dry mass of aboveground parts and roots as well as leaf area of Acer negundo, while in Ailanthus altissima seedlings, it was only the mass reduction of aboveground parts that was significantly influenced, so it can be assumed that this species is more resistant to the lack of both forms of nitrogen. The fact that both species produced significantly more biomass when nitrogen was present in both forms may be important in controlling the spread of alien species, or in their potential use in phytoremediation.

scholarly journals Herbivory may promote a non-native plant invasion at low but not high latitudes

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (5) ◽  
pp. 819-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinmin Lu ◽  
Minyan He ◽  
Saichun Tang ◽  
Yuqing Wu ◽  
Xu Shao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Middle Latitude ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Alternanthera Philoxeroides ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Low Latitude

Abstract Background and Aims The strengths of biotic interactions such as herbivory are expected to decrease with increasing latitude for native species. To what extent this applies to invasive species and what the consequences of this variation are for competition among native and invasive species remain unexplored. Here, herbivore impacts on the invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides and its competition with the native congener A. sessilis were estimated across latitudes in China. Methods An common garden experiment spanning ten latitudinal degrees was conducted to test how herbivore impacts on A. philoxeroides and A. sessilis, and competition between them change with latitude. In addition, a field survey was conducted from 21°N to 36.8°N to test whether A. philoxeroides invasiveness changes with latitude in nature as a result of variations in herbivory. Key Results In the experiment, A. sessilis cover was significantly higher than A. philoxeroides cover when they competed in the absence of herbivores, but otherwise their cover was comparable at low latitude. However, A. philoxeroides cover was always higher on average than A. sessilis cover at middle latitude. At high latitude, only A. sessilis emerged in the second year. Herbivore abundance decreased with latitude and A. philoxeroides emerged earlier than A. sessilis at middle latitude. In the field survey, the ratio of A. philoxeroides to A. sessilis cover was hump shaped with latitude. Conclusion These results indicate that herbivory may promote A. philoxeroides invasion only at low latitude by altering the outcome of competition in favour of the invader and point to the importance of other factors, such as earlier emergence, in A. philoxeroides invasion at higher latitudes. These results suggest that the key factors promoting plant invasions might change with latitude, highlighting the importance of teasing apart the roles of multiple factors in plant invasions within a biogeographic framework.

scholarly journals Clonality in Invasive Alien Macrophytes in Kashmir Himalaya: A Stage Based Approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
GOWHER WANI ◽  
Asgar Khan ◽  
Afshana Afshana ◽  
Mudasir Dar ◽  
Zafar Ahmad Reshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Aquatic Macrophytes ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Aquatic Habitats ◽  
Scatter Matrix ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Species Invasiveness

Abstract BackgroundThe invasion of non-native species is a major cause of the global biodiversity loss and creates enormous economic costs. What determines alien invasive species dominance over native plant species is still little known, but there is an emerging pattern that many of the world’s worst invasive plants are successful invaders due to the significant connection between their clonal traits and invasiveness. Freshwater ecosystems are relatively more prone to decline and extinction of species caused by biological invasion than terrestrial and marine ecosystems. In view of the lack of information about whether or not aquatic alien species at different stages of invasion exhibit any significant relation with clonality, the specific question addressed in this study was whether there is any relationship between clonality and invasiveness in aquatic macrophytes and how does it vary along different stages of invasion? ResultsWhile the link between clonality and species invasiveness has recently been recognized, whether and how clonality varies with different invasion-stages remains open questions. Hence, we tested the relationship between clonality and species invasiveness of Kashmir Himalayan aquatic macrophytes vis-à-vis its variability along different stages of invasion. The data on clonality, stage of invasion, and growth form was obtained through an extensive survey of literature and database like CLO-PLA (CLOnal PLAnts, version 3) and PLADIAS (Plant Diversity Analysis and Synthesis, 2014–2018) followed by evaluation of the clonal organs thorough intensive field surveys undertaken over a period of 3 years (2014-2017) in different aquatic habitats of the Kashmir valley. Our results showed that 84% of the studied species and almost 90% of the most invasive species (stage V sensu Colautti and MacIsaac 2004) are clonal. A strong positive correlation (r=0.94; p<0.05) between clonality and invasiveness was observed, which further substantiates this association at a broad geographical scale representing the whole region. From the scatter matrix and Pearson’s correlation matrix, clonality seems to have a strong positive correlation with fragments, rhizomes, runners, turions, tubers, and buds, thereby further affirming the strong nexus of clonality with species invasions.ConclusionsOur results showed strong association of clonal architecture with not only the stages of invasion but also the distribution pattern of alien species in aquatic habitats, thereby indicating the pivotal contribution of clonality to invasiveness. Future studies directed at unraveling the reasons behind clonality need to be undertaken from the genomic perspective, in order to evolve better models for proper management of alien aquatic invasive species.

scholarly journals Transformation of historical landscapes as a result of biological invasions

2020 ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
G. A. Soltani ◽  
D. S. Shilnikov
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Robinia Pseudoacacia ◽  
Ailanthus Altissima ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
Platycladus Orientalis ◽  
Laburnum Anagyroides ◽  
Robinia Pseudoacacia L ◽  
Parthenocissus Quinquefolia

Immovable objects of cultural heritage are inextricably linked to the place where they are located. The preservation of the object itself and its perception in the historical context guarantees the immutability of the protected area. Pyatigorsk historical and cultural heritage sites were used to assess the stability of their associated landscapes. The transformation of historical landscapes over time was established as a result of field research and analysis of the photo bank of data over a 125-year period. Landscape changes are associated with changes in vegetation during biological invasions, that is, they are the result of a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco, Laburnum anagyroides Medik., Syringa vulgaris L. participate in the transformation of the landscape of the Lermontov grotto, and Robinia pseudoacacia L., Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, and Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. participate in the transformation of the landscape of the Diana’s Grotto. All of them in previous years were introduced to the culture for use in landscaping Pyatigorsk. Their distribution and introduction to local cenoses began at the end of the XX century, after they entered the stage of naturalization. The listed invasive species have different geographical origins (Europe, Eas t Asia, North America) and belong to different life forms (coniferous tree, deciduous tree, deciduous shrub, deciduous liana). Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco, Syringa vulgaris L., Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle are phytocenozotransformers, that is, they are dangerous not only for the landscapes of cultural heritage sites, but also for native plant communities. Robinia pseudoacacia L., Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. And Laburnum anagyroides Medik. are currently epectophytes, which does not exclude the possibility of their transition to agriophytes. The restoration of historical landscapes requires human intervention.

Increased precipitation magnifies the effects of N addition on performance of invasive plants in subtropical native communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang-Qin Li ◽  
Sai-Chun Tang ◽  
Yu-Mei Pan ◽  
Chun-Qiang Wei ◽  
Shi-Hong Lü
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Native Communities

Abstract Aims Nitrogen (N) deposition, precipitation and their interaction affect plant invasions in temperate ecosystems with limiting N and water resources, but whether and how they affect plant invasions in subtropical native communities with abundant N and precipitation remains unclear. Methods We constructed in situ artificial communities with 12 common native plant species in a subtropical system and introduced four common invasive plant species and their native counterparts to these communities. We compared plant growth and establishment of introduced invasive species and native counterparts in communities exposed to ambient (CK), N addition (N+), increased precipitation (P+) and N addition plus increased precipitation (P+N+). We also investigated the density and aboveground biomass of communities under such conditions. Important Findings P+ alone did not enhance the performance of invasive species or native counterparts. N+ enhanced only the aboveground biomass and relative density of invasive species. P+N+ enhanced the growth and establishment performance of both invasive species and native counterparts. Most growth and establishment parameters of invasive species were greater than those of native counterparts under N+, P+ and P+N+ conditions. The density and aboveground biomass of native communities established by invasive species were significantly lower than those of native communities established by native counterparts under P+N+ conditions. These results suggest that P+ may magnify the effects of N+ on performance of invasive species in subtropical native communities where N and water are often abundant, which may help to understand the effect of global change on plant invasion in subtropical ecosystems.

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