Altitudinal patterns illustrate the invasion mechanisms of alien plants in temperate mountain forests of northern China

Zhang, Wenxin; Yin, Dong; Huang, Dizhou; Du, Ning; Liu, Jian; Guo, Weihua; Wang, Renqing

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2015.05.004

Cited by 30 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…; Zhang et al. ). The DEFH has also been identified as relevant at both small and large spatial scales (Seipel ; Dainese et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…As a result, high-elevation sites with low species richness would comprise only widespread species, while lowland sites with high species richness would contain more range-restricted species (Wright & Reeves 1992). Several studies that looked at species richness and community structure of alien species along elevation gradients have, without implicitly testing for it, found that the DEFH plays a role in their studies (Py sek et al 2011;Pollnac et al 2012;Seipel et al 2012;Andersen et al 2015;Zhang et al 2015). The DEFH has also been identified as relevant at both small and large spatial scales (Seipel 2011;Dainese et al 2014;Pollnac & Rew 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alien plant species that invade high elevations are generalists: support for the directional ecological filtering hypothesis

Steyn

Greve

Robertson

et al. 2016

J Vegetation Science

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Questions The richness of invasive alien plant species tends to decrease with increasing elevation. This pattern may be due to alien plant species requiring traits allowing survival at high elevations (the Abiotic Limitation Hypothesis; ALH). In contrast, the more recent Directional Ecological Filtering Hypothesis (DEFH) suggests that only species with broad environmental tolerances will successfully spread from lowlands (where most introductions occur) to high elevations. Here we test support for the DEFH and ALH along an elevational gradient by asking: (1) are alien species that occur at higher elevations generalists; and (2) do alien species occurring at higher elevations exhibit traits that distinguishes them from lowland alien species? Location Sani Pass, Maloti‐Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area, South Africa. Methods A nestedness analysis was conducted to test whether alien species were nested along the elevational gradient, and ANOVA and Chi2 tests (supplemented by resampling procedures) were used to determine if functional traits differed between high‐ and low‐elevation alien species. Results Significant nestedness of the alien flora indicates that alien species occurring at high elevations are generalists, being widespread across the elevational gradient. Compared to low‐elevation aliens, plant height was lower and cold tolerance weaker for high‐elevation species. Conclusion We found support for the DEFH, with the majority of high‐elevation aliens being widespread generalists. Overall only two of the 11 functional traits differed between high‐ and low‐elevation alien species, with only one trait supporting the ALH: shorter plant stature at higher elevations. Therefore, complementing nestedness analyses with trait data provides a more nuanced insight into the determinants of alien richness patterns along elevational gradients, and highlights how the two contemporary hypotheses might not be mutually exclusive.

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“…; Zhang et al. ). The DEFH has also been identified as relevant at both small and large spatial scales (Seipel ; Dainese et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alien plant species that invade high elevations are generalists: support for the directional ecological filtering hypothesis

Steyn

Greve

Robertson

et al. 2016

J Vegetation Science

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“…In this study, we selected four woody angiosperm species (two native species and two alien species) that are widespread across the temperate zone (Zhang et al ). We defined g s as the drought stress level indicator, and we combined both the stomatal regulation and water potential dynamics to elucidate the drought response strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and physiological responses to successional water deficit and recovery in four warm‐temperate woody species

Wang

Liu

et al. 2019

Physiologia Plantarum

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Plant responses to drought and their subsequent rehydration can provide evidence for forest dynamics within the context of climate change. In this study, the seedlings of two native species (Vitex negundo var. heterophylla, Quercus acutissima) and two exotic species (Robinia pseudoacacia, Amorpha fruticosa) to China were selected in a greenhouse experiment. The gas exchange, stem hydraulic parameters, plant osmoprotectant contents and antioxidant activities of the seedlings that were subjected to sustained drought and rehydration (test group) as well as those of well-irrigated seedlings (control group) were measured. The two native species exhibited a greater degree of isohydry with drought because they limited the stomatal opening timely from the onset of the drought. However, the two exotic species showed a more 'water spender'-like strategy with R. pseudoacacia showing anisohydric responses and A. fruticosa showing isohydrodynamic responses to drought. Severe drought significantly decreased the leaf gas exchange rates and hydraulic properties, whereas the instantaneous water use efficiency and osmoprotectant contents increased markedly. Most of the physiological parameters recovered rapidly after mild drought rehydration, but the water potential and/or supply of nonstructural carbohydrates did not recover after severe drought rehydration. The results demonstrate that the xylem hydraulic conductivity and shoot water potential jointly play a crucial role in the drought recovery of woody plants. In brief, the native species may play a dominant role in the future in warm-temperate forests because they employ a better balance between carbon gain and water loss than the alien species under extreme drought conditions.

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“…Second, evidence is mounting of the upward spread of non‐native species (e.g. Alexander, Naylor, Poll, Edwards, & Dietz, ; Alexander et al., ; Arevalo et al., ; Averett et al., ; Chown et al., ; Loarie et al., ; Pauchard et al., ; Seipel et al., ; Zhang et al., ), likely a consequence both of climate change and of changing land use associated with growth in human activities (Alexander et al., ; Jakobs, Kueffer, & Daehler, ; Marini, Gaston, Prosser, & Hulme, ). Therefore, much interest exists in understanding how these changes in non‐native elevational ranges may impact native species and communities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, evidence is mounting of the upward spread of non-native species (e.g. Arevalo et al, 2005;Chown et al, 2013;Loarie et al, 2009;Pauchard et al, 2009;Seipel et al, 2012;Zhang et al, 2015), likely a consequence both of climate change and of changing land use associated with growth in human activities . Therefore, much interest exists in understanding how these changes in non-native elevational ranges may impact native species and communities.…”

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confidence: 99%

A global analysis of elevational distribution of non‐native versus native plants

Guo

Fei

Shen

et al. 2018

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Much is known about the elevational diversity patterns of native species and about the mechanisms that drive these patterns. A similar level of understanding is needed for non‐native species. Using published data, we examine elevational diversity patterns of non‐native plants and compare the resulting patterns with those observed for native plants. Location Global. Methods We compiled data from 65 case studies on elevational diversity patterns of non‐native plants around the world (including 32 cases in which both non‐native and native plants were sampled). We compared the elevational distributions (upper and lower limits, and extents) and diversity patterns of non‐native and native species. Results Compared to native plant species, the elevational diversity patterns of non‐native plant species were more negative (47% vs. 13%) and less unimodal (44% vs. 84%). That is, non‐native species richness tended to be highest at lower elevations, whereas native species richness peaked at mid‐elevations. In cases where species richness for both non‐native and native species on the same mountains showed unimodal patterns in relation to elevation, maximum values in species richness occurred at lower elevations for non‐native species. Main conclusions At present levels of invasion, non‐native and native species show different patterns in both distribution and diversity along elevational gradients worldwide. However, our observations constitute a snapshot of ongoing, long‐term invasion processes. As non‐native species typically show strong associations with human activities, future changes in human population (e.g. growth and migration), land use and climate change may promote upward spread of non‐native species and may thus increase risks of impact on native species and communities.

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Altitudinal patterns illustrate the invasion mechanisms of alien plants in temperate mountain forests of northern China

Cited by 30 publications

References 51 publications

Alien plant species that invade high elevations are generalists: support for the directional ecological filtering hypothesis

Alien plant species that invade high elevations are generalists: support for the directional ecological filtering hypothesis

Growth and physiological responses to successional water deficit and recovery in four warm‐temperate woody species

A global analysis of elevational distribution of non‐native versus native plants

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