Soil microbial community associated with an invasive grass differentially impacts native plant performance

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Soil Science
• Plant Biology

Background:

• Invasive plant species can alter soil microbial communities.
• These alterations may impact the performance of native plant species.
• Understanding these interactions is crucial for ecosystem management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of invasive plant-associated soil microbes on native plant performance.
• To determine if soil microbial communities primed by invasive grass affect native plant growth.
• To assess the effects on both invasive and native plant species.

Main Methods:

• Greenhouse experiment using primed soils with specific rhizosphere microbial communities.
• Cultivated invasive grass (Aegilops triuncialis) and native plants (Lasthenia californica, Plantago erecta).
• Monitored plant performance metrics including flowering date, biomass, and root characteristics.

Main Results:

• Soil microbial communities in invaded soil differed from native soil, confirmed by fatty acid biomarkers.
• Lasthenia californica performance significantly decreased in invaded soil (delayed flowering, reduced biomass).
• Plantago erecta and Aegilops triuncialis performance were not significantly affected by invaded soil.

Conclusions:

• Invasive plant-induced soil microbial changes can negatively affect native plant performance.
• These changes may not impact all native species equally.
• A positive feedback loop could be established, promoting invasive species dominance.