Invasive plants accelerate nitrogen cycling: evidence from experimental woody monocultures. (2nd February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jo, Insu; Fridley, Jason D.; Frank, Douglas A.
• Editors: Wilson, Gail W. T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of ecology. Volume 105:Number 4(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1105
• Page End: 1110
• Publication Date: 2017-02-02
• Subjects: Eastern United States -- inorganic nitrogen pool -- monoculture experiment -- nitrogen cycling -- plant invasions -- plant–soil feedback -- understory woody species; Plant ecology -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12732
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0477

Abstract

Summary: Although it is widely believed that non‐native invasive species threaten the functional integrity of forest ecosystems, their impact on important ecosystem processes such as nitrogen (N) cycling is not well understood. To examine how invasive species alter ecosystem N dynamics, we established monocultures of five phylogenetic pairs of native and non‐native invasive understory woody species common to Eastern U.S. forests. After 3 years, we found invaders increased N cycling by enhancing the flow of N to the soil through greater litter N production and litter N content, and increased the uptake of available soil N, via greater fine root production and specific root length. Synthesis . Our results highlight the importance of linking above‐ and below‐ground processes to better understand invader impacts on ecosystem nutrient processes. The rapid shifts in soil N processes as a result of invader dominance observed in our study suggest that invaders may be an important driver of forest ecosystem functioning. Abstract : Experimental evidence of how invaders alter ecosystem processes such as soil nitrogen (N) cycling is rare, particularly for woody invaders. Here, we present a 3‐year monoculture study that examined above‐ and below‐ground plant traits and soil properties to test how forest woody invaders alter soil N cycling. Our results suggest that invaders promote soil N cycling through greater litter input and faster soil N uptake than co‐occurring native species, which may significantly impact the dynamics of a key limiting nutrient in forest ecosystems.