Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhonghua Ning, Cong Chen, Tian Xie, Zhenchang Zhu, Qing Wang, Baoshan Cui, Junhong Bai
Summary: The invasion of Spartina species generally reduces biodiversity but increases coastal faunal abundance and fitness. The impact of invasive Spartina is dependent on habitat types, faunal taxa, trophic levels, and feeding types. Removal of invasive species can benefit native faunal communities, but the recovery process depends on specific measures and time.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Angelos Amyntas, Emilio Berti, Benoit Gauzens, Georg Albert, Wentao Yu, Alexandra S. Werner, Nico Eisenhauer, Ulrich Brose
Summary: Species-rich communities exhibit higher levels of ecosystem functioning compared with species-poor ones, and this positive relationship strengthens over time. One proposed explanation for this phenomenon is the reduction of niche overlap among plants or animals, which corresponds to increased complementarity and reduced competition. Our findings reveal that increased niche complementarity of plants can steepen the diversity-function relationships, while increasing complementarity among animals during community assembly can also have a positive effect but with considerable variability.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Catherine Fahey, Stephen Luke Flory
Summary: The study found that invasive plants and simulated drought did not have significant soil legacy effects on plant growth and competition, but soil microbes played a significant role in plant competition. In competitions, soil microbes created a competitive hierarchy where pine was more competitive than wiregrass and cogongrass.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lise Thouvenot, Olga Ferlian, Remy Beugnon, Tom Kuenne, Alfred Lochner, Madhav P. Thakur, Manfred Tuerke, Nico Eisenhauer
Summary: The study found that invasive earthworms have led to changes in plant communities in North American forests, but their impact on plant community biomass and cover is not significant. The functional trait responses of different plants to earthworm invasion are species-specific, with some traits showing opposite responses within the presence of earthworms.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Pengxiang Wu, Kai Shi, Tianhao Zhang, Megan L. Head, Runzhi Zhang
Summary: The fall armyworm poses a significant threat to Chinese agriculture and native species. The impact of fall armyworm abundance on native abundance and community metrics depends on the trophic level. Lower trophic levels experience greater declines in native abundance and community metrics at lower fall armyworm abundances, while higher trophic levels are not significantly affected. The negative impacts on community diversit and evenness are stronger than on species richness.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Madhav P. Thakur, Tom Kuenne, Sybille B. Unsicker, Arjen Biere, Olga Ferlian, Ulrich Pruschitzki, Lise Thouvenot, Manfred Tuerke, Nico Eisenhauer
Summary: Recent research has shown that invasive earthworms can reduce the concentrations of certain chemical defense compounds in P. balsamifera, potentially making them more susceptible to leaf-chewing insects. These potential impacts are likely to have implications for tree survival and competition, native tree biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kevin E. Scriber, Christine A. M. France, Fatimah L. C. Jackson
Summary: Invasive apple snails negatively impact non-native habitats, leading to eutrophication and reduced biodiversity, which in turn affects human well-being. Stable isotope analysis reveals that invasive apple snails shift their diet from generalist to specialist, with an increasing reliance on aquatic plants, particularly in disturbed native habitats and non-native habitats. These dietary differences may explain the variable ecological impacts of invasive apple snails in native and non-native habitats.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Josie South, James W. E. Dickey, Ross N. Cuthbert, Jaimie T. A. Dick
Summary: Predicting future changes in interspecific interactions remains a challenge for environmental managers, especially with increasing biological invasions and changes in the strength of trophic interactions among native species. This study proposes the incorporation of a Resource Reproduction Qualifier (RRQ) into impact prediction methods to better estimate the magnitudes of interspecies interactions and ecological impacts. The empirical demonstration with an invasive species and two native species shows the utility and benefits of including RRQ in impact potential predictions.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Duo Chen, Mark van Kleunen, Yong-Jian Wang, Fei-Hai Yu
Summary: The study found that plant-soil feedback negatively affects plant growth. In the heterogeneous treatment with control and home-soil patches, the invasive species experienced a greater reduction in biomass compared to native species. In the heterogeneous treatment with both home and foreign-soil patches, the root biomass of invasive species was higher in the foreign-soil patches, while the opposite was true for native species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoxiao Li, Wei Yang, Xu Ma, Zhenchang Zhu, Tao Sun, Baoshan Cui, Zhifeng Yang
Summary: The invasive Spartina spp. colonizes bare tidal flats and promotes local ecosystem productivity. This study investigated the energy fluxes, stability, and net trophic effects in an invasive Spartina alterniflora habitat and two adjacent native habitats in China's Yellow River Delta. Results showed that the invasive habitat had comparable energy fluxes but lower trophic transfer efficiencies and food web stability compared to native habitats.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Yong-Jian Wang, Yuan-Yuan Liu, Duo Chen, Dao-Lin Du, Heinz Mueller-Schaerer, Fei-Hai Yu
Summary: This study manipulated the clonal integration of alien clonal plants and found that it played an important role in their invasion success. High species diversity and density hindered the invasion of alien plants. Additionally, clonal integration promoted the invasion success in low-density communities with low species diversity or nutrient addition.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Luna Zhang, Anqun Chen, Yanjiao Li, Duohui Li, Shiping Cheng, Liping Cheng, Yinzhan Liu
Summary: This study used a multi-species greenhouse experiment to investigate the responses of six different phenotypic traits in native and invasive species to different environmental factors. The results showed that the phenotypic plasticity hypothesis of plant invasion is inconsistent for different environmental factors and phenotypes.
Article
Agronomy
Linxuan Pan, Feng He, Qiuju Liang, Yanwen Bo, Xin Lin, Qaiser Javed, Muhammad Saif Ullah, Jianfan Sun
Summary: This study examined the effects of caffeic acid and its derivatives on the growth and competitiveness of the native plant Lantana indica and the invasive plant Solidago canadensis. The results showed that high concentrations of methyl caffeate and ethyl caffeate significantly reduced the seed germination rate and speed of L. indica. In addition, the control group of S. canadensis had higher plant height, stem diameter, biomass, and root length compared to the treated groups. However, the relative competitiveness of L. indica gradually decreased with increasing concentration of allelochemicals.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaolong Huang, Fan Ke, Jing Lu, Hongmin Xie, Yu Zhao, Chunyu Yin, Baohua Guan, Kuanyi Li, Erik Jeppesen
Summary: The decrease in diversity and distribution of native submerged plants has been observed globally, predominantly due to underwater darkening caused by radiation dimming and a decrease in transparency. This study compared the effects of light attenuation on the growth and photosynthesis traits of native and invasive submerged plants, revealing that light attenuation inhibits the growth of native plants but facilitates the growth of invasive species. Therefore, controlling underwater darkening through the reduction of external nutrient loading may help constrain the growth and spread of invasive plants.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Brittany C. Earl, Angus R. McIntosh, Ryan P. O'Regan, Saskia K. Brown, Helen J. Warburton
Summary: Freshwater ecosystems, especially ponds, are facing increasing threats from invasive species like Australian brown tree frogs. These frogs have spread across New Zealand and breed in shallow fishless ponds, potentially impacting pond community structure and function.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Bryan L. Brown, Jacob N. Barney
Summary: Invasion biology has combined both basic science and its application, and must continue to adopt new frameworks and paradigms to progress. The development of metacommunity theory, emphasizing multi-scale processes, has made significant contributions to invasion biology. The theory, focusing on dispersal dynamics and community structure, addresses key issues in invasion biology and can provide tools for control and management of invasive species.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Christopher C. Dickinson, John G. Jelesko, Jacob N. Barney
Summary: The native US vine Toxicodendron radicans, also known as poison ivy, is a competitive weed causing contact dermatitis in humans. Field studies showed that poison ivy seeds were more likely to initially colonize forest interiors, but seedlings were less likely to survive in the less competitive environment of forest interiors.
Article
Forestry
Rachel K. Brooks, Jacob N. Barney, Scott M. Salom
Summary: The invasive tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima, has been linked to a decrease in native plant species and diversity in the understory, but not in the seedbank. Additionally, nonnative woody diversity increases with the presence of A. altissima, and the impact on the nativity of the woody understory becomes more severe over time.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Daniel Zachariah Atwater, Jacob N. Barney
Summary: This study found that climatic niche shifts can impact the transferability of native- and introduced-range species distribution models, especially for species with large niche shifts. Considering niche shifts is crucial when modeling the potential geographic distributions of introduced species, as native-range data are often used to predict introduced-range distributions.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vasiliy T. Lakoba, Gregory E. Welbaum, John R. Seiler, Jacob N. Barney
Summary: This study found significant differences in cold tolerance between seeds and rhizomes of Johnsongrass, suggesting that the spread of the plant is likely limited by winter rhizome survival. Additionally, seeds showed evidence of local adaptation to land use and climate, with non-agricultural seeds germinating more and faster than agricultural seeds from colder climates.
Article
Education & Educational Research
David C. Haak, Scott Salom, Jacob N. Barney, Todd Schenk, Vasiliy T. Lakoba, Rachel K. Brooks, Rebecca A. Fletcher, Jeremiah R. Foley, Ariel Heminger, Lauren D. Maynard, Philip McElmurray, Hye-Jeong Seo, Gourav Sharma
Summary: Many graduate training programs recognize the importance of policy in global change, but few directly engage with diverse stakeholders. This study presents the results of a course that provided students with an immersive experience focusing on the flow of information between science, advocacy, policymaking, and management as they relate to invasive species.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Letter
Ecology
Emily M. X. Reed, Todd Schenk, Bryan L. Brown, Haldre Rogers, David C. Haak, Joseph C. Drake, Jacob N. Barney
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Daniel C. Brainard, Erin R. Haramoto, Ramon G. Leon, James J. Kells, Lee R. Van Wychen, Pratap Devkota, Mithila Jugulam, Jacob N. Barney
Summary: The study conducted an online survey to identify research priorities and gaps in weed science in the United States and Canada. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers, funding agencies, and academic institutions in allocating resources. The survey highlights the importance of cultural and preventative weed management, precision weed management, and robotics, as well as the possible mismatch between research priorities and expertise in certain areas.
Article
Biology
Emily M. X. Reed, Sara Cathey, Cameron Braswell, Prashasti Agarwal, Jacob N. Barney, Bryan L. Brown, Ariel Heminger, Ayda Kianmehr, Scott Salom, Todd Schenk, Gourav Sharma, David C. Haak
Summary: Despite the awareness of the threats of biological invasions, governments struggle to effectively prevent and control invasive species. A coordinated response, based on scientific research and attentive to the dynamics of policy-making, is crucial. A comprehensive survey of invasion-related laws and regulations in 21 eastern US states revealed inconsistencies in state policies regarding invasive species designation, particularly for invertebrate taxa.
Article
Ecology
Carolyn A. Copenheaver, John A. Peterson, Kyrille Goldbeck DeBose, Jacob N. Barney
Summary: Writings by naturalists in the 18(th) century provide detailed accounts of the flora, agricultural practices, and ecological and cultural landscape during the migration period to North America. Through a mixed methods approach, we compared the percentages of non-native and native plant species recorded, quantified the prevalence of non-native plants across eastern North America, and qualitatively evaluated descriptions of these plants. The writings revealed the introduction and establishment of numerous non-native plants during this time, particularly in densely populated human settlements and agricultural areas. Some of these non-native plants have become invasive species, posing a threat to native North American flora.
Article
Forestry
Rachel K. Brooks, Daniel Omdal, Samuel Brown, Collin J. Marshall, Joseph M. Hulbert, Marianne Elliott, Gary Chastagner
Summary: The recent discovery of the invasive fungus Cryptostroma corticale in Seattle, Washington, USA is concerning due to its potential impact on both trees and human health. The fungus, which causes sooty bark disease, has been found to be well-distributed throughout western Washington, with a high detection rate in mature bigleaf maple trees. Although signs of the disease were rarely observed on individual trees, the overall condition of the bigleaf maples surveyed was considered healthy. Increased awareness of this fungus and the disease it causes can inform management strategies and highlight the need for further research.
Article
Horticulture
Dongfang Zhou, Jacob N. Barney, Gregory E. Welbaum
Summary: The study revealed that the mucilage produced by sweet-basil fruit/seeds improves seed germination and early seedling development by providing a reservoir of loosely bound water at high water potential. The mucilage did not interfere with hydration and removal of mucilage did not inhibit seed germination. Seeds with mucilage showed higher seedling emergence and survival percentages compared to seeds without mucilage.