Exotic tree and shrub invasions alter leaf-litter microflora and arthropod communities

Woodworth, Gerald R.; Ward, Jennifer N.; Carr, David E.

doi:10.1007/s00442-020-04657-1

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…According to the hypothesis of Woodworth et al (2020) that claimed that native habitats support a greater abundance of arthropods than invaded ones because of leaf litter quantity that reaches the soil, we found higher abundances of soil meso-and macrofauna in non-invaded than in invaded forest. These results are consistent with those found in habitats invaded by other alien plants such as Fallopia sp, a perennial herbaceous species, invading riparian grasslands and shrubs in Europe (Gerber et al 2008), and Ailanthus altissima, a semi-deciduous tree invading riparian forest of Spain (Gutiérrez-López et al 2014;Motard et al 2015).…”

Section: R a F Tsupporting

confidence: 53%

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Ligustrum lucidum invasion decreases abundance and relative contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition but increases decomposition rate in a subtropical montane forest of northwestern Argentina

et al. 2022

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Invasive plant species can alter litter decomposition rates through changes in litter quality, environment conditions and decomposer organisms (microflora and soil fauna) but limited research has examined the direct impact on soil fauna. We assessed the abundance and relative contribution of soil meso- and macrofauna to litter decomposition in invaded forest by Ligustrum lucidum and non-invaded forest in a subtropical mountain forest of northwest Argentina using litterbags (0.01, 2 and 6 mm mesh size). Additionally, we analyzed litter quality and soil properties of both forest types. Soil fauna abundance was lower in invaded than in non- invaded forest. The contribution of soil macrofauna to litter decomposition was important in both forest types, but soil mesofauna contribution was only significant in non-invaded forest. Litter decomposition was significantly faster in invaded than in non-invaded forest, consistent with its highest quality. Invaded forest had significantly lower litter accumulation, lower soil moisture and greater soil pH than non-invaded forest. Our results showed that, although soil fauna was less abundant and played a less pronounced role in litter decomposition in invaded forest; these changes did not translate into a reduced litter decomposition rate due to the higher quality of litter produced in the invaded forest.

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Section: R a F Tsupporting

confidence: 53%

“…There is growing evidence that invasive alien plants have negative impacts on soil fauna abundance (Gerber et al 2008;Gutiérrez-López et al 2014;Motard et al 2015;Sterzyńska et al 2017;Woodworth et al 2020).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ligustrum lucidum invasion decreases abundance and relative contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition but increases decomposition rate in a subtropical montane forest of northwestern Argentina

et al. 2022

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“…Invasive plants may represent an initial pulse of novel resources for leaf litter arthropods, thereby showing some benefit early on. However, following decomposition, there is an overall negative effect of invasive plants on leaf litter arthropods [69].…”

Section: Invasive Species Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Forest Management Effects on Terrestrial Leaf Litter Inhabiting Arthropods

Hartshorn

2020

Forests

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Leaf litter arthropods are some of the most abundant and diverse communities in forests and provide myriad ecosystem services from decomposition and mineralization to pollination and predation. They are important to forest health and management and, in turn, are affected by how we manage our forests. Various forest management techniques such as clear cutting, burning, and chemical control of invasive species all have differing effects on ground dwelling arthropods and, despite their importance, a review of the literature on these effects does not currently exist. My objective with this paper is to review the effects of different types of forest management on arthropods in leaf litter systems.

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“…The ability to produce these enzymes allows fungi to live in various natural conditions, being classically recognized as key organisms in nutrient cycling in forests [29,30]. Recently, there has been much interest in the changes promoted by litter produced by invasive species on fungal communities [31][32][33]. However, the effects are diverse, and the direction and magnitude of these effects are dependent on the ecosystem [34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Invasive Tradescantia zebrina Affects Litter Decomposition, but It Does Not Change the Lignocellulolytic Fungal Community in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Castro

Vaz

Matos

et al. 2023

Plants

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Invasive plants affect ecosystems across various scales. In particular, they affect the quality and quantity of litter, which influences the composition of decomposing (lignocellulolytic) fungal communities. However, the relationship among the quality of invasive litter, lignocellulolytic cultivated fungal community composition, and litter decomposition rates under invasive conditions is still unknown. We evaluated whether the invasive herbaceous Tradescantia zebrina affects the litter decomposition in the Atlantic Forest and the lignocellulolytic cultivated fungal community composition. We placed litter bags with litter from the invader and native plants in invaded and non-invaded areas, as well as under controlled conditions. We evaluated the lignocellulolytic fungal communities by culture method and molecular identification. Litter from T. zebrina decomposed faster than litter from native species. However, the invasion of T. zebrina did not alter decomposition rates of either litter type. Although the lignocellulolytic fungal community composition changed over decomposition time, neither the invasion of T. zebrina nor litter type influenced lignocellulolytic fungal communities. We believe that the high plant richness in the Atlantic Forest enables a highly diversified and stable decomposing biota formed in conditions of high plant diversity. This diversified fungal community is capable of interacting with different litter types under different environmental conditions.

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Exotic tree and shrub invasions alter leaf-litter microflora and arthropod communities

Cited by 8 publications

References 49 publications

Ligustrum lucidum invasion decreases abundance and relative contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition but increases decomposition rate in a subtropical montane forest of northwestern Argentina

Ligustrum lucidum invasion decreases abundance and relative contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition but increases decomposition rate in a subtropical montane forest of northwestern Argentina

A Review of Forest Management Effects on Terrestrial Leaf Litter Inhabiting Arthropods

The Invasive Tradescantia zebrina Affects Litter Decomposition, but It Does Not Change the Lignocellulolytic Fungal Community in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

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