Effects of common reed (Phragmites australis) expansions on nitrogen dynamics of tidal marshes of the northeastern U.S.

Windham, Lisamarie; Meyerson, Laura A.

doi:10.1007/bf02823722

Cited by 98 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…In addition, these plants could take up significantly more N (both DON and DIN) than S. alterniflora, which is evidenced by our field experiment and greater N assimilation by introduced Phragmites. Numerous studies have shown that Phragmites demands in introduced Phragmites and S. alterniflora marsh zones Estuaries and Coasts (2010) 33:784-797>50% more N than the species it displaces in salt, brackish, and tidal fresh marshes (Templer et al 1998, Windham 2001, Windham and Ehrenfeld 2003, Windham and Meyerson 2003. The high affinity and greater uptake of N could reduce N availability in sediment porewater for the other species.…”

Section: Don Assimilationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Few studies have addressed how a nitrogen (N)-limited plant, such as Phragmites, can be so overwhelmingly successful in a N-limited system (Windham 1999, Windham andMeyerson 2003). This is particularly important since introduced Phragmites demands up to 50% more N than the species it is replacing (Windham and Ehrenfeld 2003), and inorganic N availability is typically limited by microbial activity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nitrogen Uptake by Native and Invasive Temperate Coastal Macrophytes: Importance of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen

Mozdzer

Zieman

McGlathery

2010

Estuaries and Coasts

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We investigated if the success of the invasive common reed Phragmites australis could be attributed to a competitive ability to use dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) when compared to the dominant macrophyte Spartina alterniflora in tidal wetlands. Short-term nutrient uptake experiments were performed in the laboratory on two genetic lineages of Phragmites (native and introduced to North America) and S. alterniflora. Our results provide the first evidence for direct assimilation of DON by temperate marsh plants and indicate that amino acids are assimilated intact by all plant types at similar rates. Both Phragmites lineages had significantly greater urea-N assimilation rates than S. alterniflora, and the affinity for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) species was the greatest in native Phragmites > introduced Phragmites > S. alterniflora. Field studies demonstrated uptake of both DON and DIN in similar proportion as those determined in the laboratory experiments. Based on these uptake rates, we estimate that DON has the potential to account for up to 47% of N demand for Phragmites plants, and up to 24% for S. alterniflora plants. Additionally, we suggest that differences in N uptake between native and introduced Phragmites lineages explain one mechanism for the success of the introduced type under increasingly eutrophic conditions.

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Section: Don Assimilationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen Uptake by Native and Invasive Temperate Coastal Macrophytes: Importance of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen

Mozdzer

Zieman

McGlathery

2010

Estuaries and Coasts

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“…Elevated nitrogen increases P. australis sexual reproduction and expansion in Chesapeake Bay (Kettenring et al 2011); increases P. australis density, height, and above-ground shoot biomass (Bastlova et al 2004;Engloner 2009); and allows seedlings to rapidly escape from a vulnerable life stage (Saltonstall and Stevenson 2007;Kettenring et al 2015;Hazelton et al 2014). P. australis stands have larger nitrogen pools than other marsh communities (Meyerson et al , 2000Windham and Meyerson 2003). Foliar nitrogen was higher in P. australis from Chesapeake Bay subestuaries with more agriculture, even if total human land use was relatively low, suggesting that even a relatively small amount of agriculture may raise nitrogen levels enough to benefit P. australis (King et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…australis stands have larger nitrogen pools than other marsh communities (Meyerson et al , 2000Windham and Meyerson 2003); and anthropogenic nitrogen can promote the expansion of the invasive P. australis strain (King et al 2007;Chambers et al 2008;Kettenring et al 2011). Compared to the native subspecies, the invasive one demands four times more nitrogen to support its biomass than the native subspecies (Mozdzer and Zieman 2010), but the invasive strain can exploit high nitrogen levels to achieve higher growth rates and biomass than the native strain and other species of marsh plants (Mozdzer et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local and regional disturbances associated with the invasion of Chesapeake Bay marshes by the common reed Phragmites australis

et al. 2016

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The invasion of wetlands by Phragmites australis is a conservation concern across North America. We used the invasion of Chesapeake Bay wetlands by P. australis as a model system to examine the effects of regional and local stressors on plant invasions. We summarized digital maps of the distributions of P. australis and of potential stressors (especially human land use and shoreline armoring) at two spatial scales: for 72 subestuaries of the bay and their local watersheds and for thousands of 500 m shoreline segments. We developed statistical models that use the stressor variables to predict P. australis prevalence (% of shoreline occupied) in subestuaries and its presence or absence in 500 m segments of shoreline. The prevalence of agriculture was the strongest and most consistent predictor of P. australis presence and abundance in Chesapeake Bay, because P. australis can exploit the resulting elevated nutrient levels to enhance its establishment, growth, and seed production. Phragmites australis was also positively associated with riprapped shoreline, probably because it creates disturbances that provide colonization opportunities. The P. australis invasion was less severe in areas with greater forested land cover and natural shorelines. Surprisingly, invasion was low in highly developed watersheds and highest along shorelines with intermediate levels of residential land use, possibly indicating that highly disturbed systems are

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“…Introduced P. australis attains greater photosynthetic rates, greater biomass, and greater % nitrogen (N) compared to native P. australis growing at the same site (Mozdzer and Zieman 2010), and nutrient additions have a disproportionately positive effect on introduced P. australis growth compared to native genotypes (Holdredge et al 2010), indicating that introduced genotypes flourish in environments with high levels of nutrients. Moreover, introduced P. australis accelerates N cycling rates compared to native Spartina patens (Windham and Ehrenfeld 2003;Windham and Meyerson 2003). Ongoing comparisons of microbial community composition and function between native and introduced P. australis by Crocker and Nelson (pers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

No apparent effects of soil inoculum on green frog (Lithobates clamitans Latreille) tadpole performance

Cohen

Blossey

2013

Aquat Ecol

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Invasions by nonnative plant species are transforming plant communities across the globe. An important challenge for ecologists is to understand how animals will respond to these changes. One way that plant invasions could affect aquatic animals is by changing the rate at which soil communities decompose litter, which could alter the flow of energy and nutrients from plant litter to aquatic communities. In this study, we measured larval amphibian responses to soil conditioned by either introduced or native genotypes of Phragmites australis L. (common reed) in northeastern North America. We collected soil from adjacent stands of introduced and native P. australis at three sites in central New York and inoculated outdoor aquatic mesocosms with soil extracts. Mesocosms contained six Lithobates clamitans Latreille (green frog) tadpoles and either low-or high-quality native P. australis americanus litter. We found that litter decomposition differed based on soil inoculum, and we observed a significant interaction between litter quality and soil inoculum; higher-quality litter tended to decompose faster when exposed to inocula from introduced P. australis, while lower-quality litter tended to decompose faster when exposed to inocula from native P. australis americanus. Tadpoles raised with high-quality litter developed faster and achieved greater body size, but soil inocula had no apparent effect on tadpoles. Our results suggest that plant invasions may alter microbial communities, causing subtle changes in litter decomposition rates, but these changes do not appear strong enough to influence larvae of a widespread amphibian.

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Effects of common reed (Phragmites australis) expansions on nitrogen dynamics of tidal marshes of the northeastern U.S.

Cited by 98 publications

References 53 publications

Nitrogen Uptake by Native and Invasive Temperate Coastal Macrophytes: Importance of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen

Nitrogen Uptake by Native and Invasive Temperate Coastal Macrophytes: Importance of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen

Local and regional disturbances associated with the invasion of Chesapeake Bay marshes by the common reed Phragmites australis

No apparent effects of soil inoculum on green frog (Lithobates clamitans Latreille) tadpole performance

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