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Meng Z, Mo X, Meng W, Hu B, Liu B, Li H, Liu J, Xu M, Hou Q, Lu X, He M. Microplastics could alter invasive plant community performance and the dominance of Amaranthus palmeri. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169275. [PMID: 38086482 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The increase in alien plant invasions poses a major threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem stability. However, the presence of microplastics (MPs) as an environmental stressor could impact the interactions between invasive and native species in an invasive plant community. Nevertheless, the community alterations and underlying mechanisms resulting from these interactions remain unclear. Herein, we systematically investigated the impacts of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) on invasive plant communities invaded by Amaranthus palmeri through soil seed bank. The results illustrated that MPs markedly declined community height and biomass, and altered community structure, low-dose MPs could prominently increase community invasion resistance, but reduced community stability. The niche width and niche overlap of A. palmeri and S. viridis declined when exposed to high-dose MPs, but MPs elicited a significant rise in the niche width of S. salsa. PP had the potential to reduce the diversity of invasive plant community. Structural equation model revealed that PP addition could change soil total phosphorus content, thereby leading to a reduction of the community stability. Our study helps to fill the knowledge gap regarding the effects of MPs on invasive plant communities and provide new perspectives for invasive plant management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zirui Meng
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Xunqiang Mo
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Weiqing Meng
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Beibei Hu
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Baiqiao Liu
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Hongyuan Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Mengyao Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Qidong Hou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xueqiang Lu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Mengxuan He
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China.
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Palmer TM, Riginos C, Milligan PD, Hays BR, Pietrek AG, Maiyo NJ, Mutisya S, Gituku B, Musila S, Carpenter S, Goheen JR. Frenemy at the gate: Invasion by Pheidole megacephala facilitates a competitively subordinate plant ant in Kenya. Ecology 2020; 102:e03230. [PMID: 33098658 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Biological invasions can lead to the reassembly of communities and understanding and predicting the impacts of exotic species on community structure and functioning are a key challenge in ecology. We investigated the impact of a predatory species of invasive ant, Pheidole megacephala, on the structure and function of a foundational mutualism between Acacia drepanolobium and its associated acacia-ant community in an East African savanna. Invasion by P. megacephala was associated with the extirpation of three extrafloral nectar-dependent Crematogaster acacia ant species and strong increases in the abundance of a competitively subordinate and locally rare acacia ant species, Tetraponera penzigi, which does not depend on host plant nectar. Using a combination of long-term monitoring of invasion dynamics, observations and experiments, we demonstrate that P. megacephala directly and indirectly facilitates T. penzigi by reducing the abundance of T. penzigi's competitors (Crematogaster spp.), imposing recruitment limitation on these competitors, and generating a landscape of low-reward host plants that favor colonization and establishment by the strongly dispersing T. penzigi. Seasonal variation in use of host plants by P. megacephala may further increase the persistence of T. penzigi colonies in invaded habitat. The persistence of the T. penzigi-A. drepanolobium symbiosis in invaded areas afforded host plants some protection against herbivory by elephants (Loxodonta africana), a key browser that reduces tree cover. However, elephant damage on T. penzigi-occupied trees was higher in invaded than in uninvaded areas, likely owing to reduced T. penzigi colony size in invaded habitats. Our results reveal the mechanisms underlying the disruption of this mutualism and suggest that P. megacephala invasion may drive long-term declines in tree cover, despite the partial persistence of the ant-acacia symbiosis in invaded areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd M Palmer
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32601, USA.,Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Corinna Riginos
- The Nature Conservancy, Lander, Wyoming, 82520, USA.,Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
| | - Patrick D Milligan
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32601, USA.,Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Brandon R Hays
- Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
| | - Alejandro G Pietrek
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32601, USA.,Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA (IBIGEO), Salta, Argentina
| | - Nelly J Maiyo
- Conservation Department, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Private Bag-10400, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Samuel Mutisya
- Conservation Department, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Private Bag-10400, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Benard Gituku
- Conservation Department, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Private Bag-10400, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Simon Musila
- Mammalogy Section, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Scott Carpenter
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
| | - Jacob R Goheen
- Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
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Miller HM, Fill JM, Crandall RM. Patterns of Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) Establishment in Wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana) Understories. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2019. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-182.2.276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hope M. Miller
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611
| | - Jennifer M. Fill
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611
| | - Raelene M. Crandall
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611
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Wohlwend MR, Schutzenhofer MR, Knight TM. Long‐term experiment manipulating community assembly results in favorable restoration outcomes for invaded prairies. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R. Wohlwend
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1 Halle (Saale) 06108 Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e Leipzig 04103 Germany
| | - Michele R. Schutzenhofer
- Division of Science and Mathematics McKendree University, 701 College Road Lebanon IL 62254 U.S.A
| | - Tiffany M. Knight
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1 Halle (Saale) 06108 Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e Leipzig 04103 Germany
- Department of Community Ecology Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research‐ UFZ, Theodor‐Lieser‐Straße 4 Halle (Saale) 06120 Germany
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