Older populations of the invader Solidago canadensis exhibit stronger positive plant-soil feedbacks and competitive ability in China
Data files
Aug 03, 2022 version files 78.83 KB
-
PSF_Biomass_Solidago.xlsx
10.06 KB
-
PSF_Height_Solidago.xlsx
9.96 KB
-
README_file.txt.txt
14.16 KB
-
RII_Biomass_Community.xlsx
14.82 KB
-
RII_Biomass_Solidago.xlsx
14.93 KB
-
RII_Height_Solidago.xlsx
14.89 KB
Abstract
PREMISE
The enemy release hypothesis predicts that release from natural enemies, including soil-borne pathogens, liberates invasive plants from a negative regulating force. Nevertheless, invasive plants may acquire novel enemies and mutualists in the introduced range, which may cause variable effects on invader growth. However, how soil microorganisms may influence competitive ability of invasive plants along invasion chronosequences has been little explored.
METHODS
Using the invasive plant Solidago canadensis, we tested whether longer residence times are associated with stronger negative plant-soil feedbacks and thus weaker competitive abilities at the individual level. We grew S. canadensis individuals from 36 populations with different residence times in competition versus no competition and in three different types of soils: (1) conspecific rhizospheric soils, (2) soil from uninvaded patches, and (3) sterilized soil. For our competitor treatments, we constructed synthetic communities of four native species Bidens parviflora, Solanum nigrum, Kalimeris indica, and Mosla scabra, which naturally co-occur with S. canadensis in the field.
RESULTS
Solidago canadensis populations with longer residence times experienced stronger positive plant-soil feedbacks and had greater competitive responses (i.e., produced greater above-ground biomass and grew taller) in conspecific rhizospheric soils than in sterilized and uninvaded soils. Moreover, S. canadensis from older populations significantly suppressed above-ground biomass of the native communities in rhizospheric and uninvaded soils but not in sterilized soil.
CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that older populations of S. canadensis experience stronger positive plant-soil feedback, which may enhance their competitive ability against native plant communities.