Invasive Acer negundo outperforms native species in non-limiting resource environments due to its higher phenotypic plasticity

BMC Ecology

Research Article

Christopher J Lortie¹  Sylvain Delzon²  Annabel J Porté²  Richard Michalet²  Laurent J Lamarque³ 

[1] Department of Biology, York University, M3J 1P3, Toronto, Canada;UMR 1202 Biodiversité Gènes et Communautés, Université de Bordeaux, 33400, Talence, France;UMR 1202 Biodiversité Gènes et Communautés, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 33610, Cestas, France;UMR 1202 Biodiversité Gènes et Communautés, Université de Bordeaux, 33400, Talence, France;UMR 1202 Biodiversité Gènes et Communautés, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 33610, Cestas, France;Department of Biology, York University, M3J 1P3, Toronto, Canada;

关键词: Invasive Species;    Native Species;    Specific Leaf Area;    Riparian Forest;    Shade Treatment;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6785-11-28

 received in 2011-03-21, accepted in 2011-11-24,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTo identify the determinants of invasiveness, comparisons of traits of invasive and native species are commonly performed. Invasiveness is generally linked to higher values of reproductive, physiological and growth-related traits of the invasives relative to the natives in the introduced range. Phenotypic plasticity of these traits has also been cited to increase the success of invasive species but has been little studied in invasive tree species. In a greenhouse experiment, we compared ecophysiological traits between an invasive species to Europe, Acer negundo, and early- and late-successional co-occurring native species, under different light, nutrient availability and disturbance regimes. We also compared species of the same species groups insitu, in riparian forests.ResultsUnder non-limiting resources, A. negundo seedlings showed higher growth rates than the native species. However, A. negundo displayed equivalent or lower photosynthetic capacities and nitrogen content per unit leaf area compared to the native species; these findings were observed both on the seedlings in the greenhouse experiment and on adult trees in situ. These physiological traits were mostly conservative along the different light, nutrient and disturbance environments. Overall, under non-limiting light and nutrient conditions, specific leaf area and total leaf area of A. negundo were substantially larger. The invasive species presented a higher plasticity in allocation to foliage and therefore in growth with increasing nutrient and light availability relative to the native species.ConclusionsThe higher level of plasticity of the invasive species in foliage allocation in response to light and nutrient availability induced a better growth in non-limiting resource environments. These results give us more elements on the invasiveness of A. negundo and suggest that such behaviour could explain the ability of A. negundo to outperform native tree species, contributes to its spread in European resource-rich riparian forests and impedes its establishment under closed-canopy hardwood forests.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Porté et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011