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Non-native grass invasion suppresses forest succession
1Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. sflory@indiana.edu
Oecologia
|June 29, 2010
Summary
Invasive plants like Microstegium vimineum hinder forest regeneration, especially for small-seeded tree species. Tree traits such as seed size and life stage influence invasion impacts on forest succession.
Area of Science:
- Forest Ecology
- Invasive Species Biology
- Plant Community Dynamics
Background:
- Forest succession is influenced by various factors, including seed dispersal, seedling survival, and environmental conditions.
- Invasions by non-native plants represent an understudied factor impacting forest succession by increasing competition and altering abiotic conditions.
- Functional traits of trees, such as seed size and life history stage, may mediate the effects of plant invasions on forest ecosystems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of the invasive plant Microstegium vimineum on tree regeneration and early growth.
- To determine if tree functional traits (seed size, life history stage) influence their susceptibility to invasion impacts.
- To assess both direct and indirect mechanisms by which Microstegium affects tree establishment and survival.
Main Methods:
- A multi-year field experiment was conducted using plots with planted and naturally regenerating trees.
- Nine tree species with varying seed sizes (small and large) were used, planted as seeds or saplings.
- Microstegium was experimentally introduced to half of the plots to assess its impact compared to control plots.
Main Results:
- Microstegium invasion negatively affected small-seeded tree species, particularly sweetgum, but not large-seeded species like oak and hickory.
- Natural regeneration of certain tree species (box elder, red maple, spicebush) was significantly reduced in invaded plots.
- While sapling survival and growth were unaffected, Microstegium invasion led to increased herbaceous and thatch biomass, reduced light availability, and greater vole damage.
Conclusions:
- Tree functional traits, specifically seed size and life history stage, are critical in determining the impact of Microstegium invasions on tree regeneration.
- Microstegium hinders tree regeneration through direct competition for resources and indirect effects like thatch accumulation and increased herbivory.
- Suppression of tree regeneration by this invasive species can slow forest succession rates and alter future tree species composition.
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