Plant communities in harsh sites are less invaded: a summary of observations and proposed explanations

Zefferman, Emily P.; Stevens, Jens T.; Charles, Grace K.; Dunbar-Irwin, Mila; Emam, Taraneh M.; Fick, Stephen E.; Morales, Laura V.; Wolf, Kristina M.; Young, Derek J. N.; Young, Truman P.

doi:10.1093/aobpla/plv056

Cited by 73 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 233 publications

(298 reference statements)

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“…, Zefferman et al. ), often linked to differences in productivity and resource availability (Grime et al. , Ochoa‐Hueso et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential responses of canopy nutrients to experimental drought along a natural aridity gradient

Luo

Zuo

et al. 2018

Ecology

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The allocation and stoichiometry of plant nutrients in leaves reflect fundamental ecosystem processes, biotic interactions, and environmental drivers such as water availability. Climate change will lead to increases in drought severity and frequency, but how canopy nutrients will respond to drought, and how these responses may vary with community composition along aridity gradients is poorly understood. We experimentally addressed this issue by reducing precipitation amounts by 66% during two consecutive growing seasons at three sites located along a natural aridity gradient. This allowed us to assess drought effects on canopy nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in arid and semiarid grasslands of northern China. Along the aridity gradient, canopy nutrient concentrations were positively related to aridity, with this pattern was driven primarily by species turnover (i.e., an increase in the relative biomass of N- and P-rich species with increasing aridity). In contrast, drought imposed experimentally increased N but decreased P concentrations in plant canopies. These changes were driven by the combined effects of species turnover and intraspecific variation in leaf nutrient concentrations. In addition, the sensitivity of canopy N and P concentrations to drought varied across the three sites. Canopy nutrient concentrations were less affected by drought at drier than wetter sites, because of the opposing effects of species turnover and intraspecific variation, as well as greater drought tolerance for nutrient-rich species. These contrasting effects of long-term aridity vs. short-term drought on canopy nutrient concentrations, as well as differing sensitivities among sites in the same grassland biome, highlight the challenge of predicting ecosystem responses to future climate change.

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“…, Zefferman et al. ), often linked to differences in productivity and resource availability (Grime et al. , Ochoa‐Hueso et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential responses of canopy nutrients to experimental drought along a natural aridity gradient

Luo

Zuo

et al. 2018

Ecology

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“…There are two situations in particular where competition among plant species reduces restoration success. First, competition with non‐native invasive species can be a strong impediment to restoration success (Wilson & Gerry ; Dyer & Rice ; Brown & Rice ; Stromberg et al ), particularly in less stressful habitats (Zefferman et al ). In some plant communities (California U.S. grasslands in particular), competition with invasives is the single greatest impediment to restoration (Stromberg et al ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using priority effects to manipulate competitive relationships in restoration

Young

Stuble

Balachowski

et al. 2016

Restoration Ecology

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Restoration success is often hampered by the failure of less dominant competitors to establish. An emerging literature on priority effects suggests the manipulation of community assembly as a useful technique to help overcome these difficulties by altering competitive relationships. We present data from a set of four priority experiments, carried out at each of three sites in restoration settings in California grasslands. These data, combined with patterns summarized from the literature, indicate that both short‐term priority (1–3 weeks) and long‐term priority (1 year) can profoundly shift interspecific relationships and benefit otherwise subordinate plant species, but that these effects are sometimes transitory, asymmetric, and contingent on environmental conditions and species composition. Restoration interventions that can produce priority effects include staggered planting times, weed control, seed pre‐germination, plug planting, and spatial aggregation. Such interventions are likely to be at least initially effective, but their strength and persistence can differ considerably across systems in space and time. Further research may help identify the conditions that maximize the strength and persistence of priority effects in restoration settings.

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“…These cold regions are often viewed as resistant to biological invasions (Ruiz & Hewitt 2009, Bennet et al 2015, Zefferman et al 2015. Due to an extreme climate and limited accessibility, these areas have until recently been characterised by low human population density and relatively little direct human modification.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-native and native organisms moving into high elevation and high latitude ecosystems in an era of climate change: new challenges for ecology and conservation

et al. 2015

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Challenges ' (Flen, Sweden, 1-3 June 2015). The aims of the workshop were to (i) increase awareness about the growing importance of species expansion -both non-native and native -at high elevation and high latitude with climate change, (ii) review existing knowledge about invasion risks in these areas, and (iii) encourage more research on how species will move and interact in cold environments, the consequences for biodiversity, and animal and human health and wellbeing. The diversity of potential and actual invaders reported at the workshop and the likely interactions between them create major challenges for managers of cold environments. However, since these cold environments have experienced fewer invasions when compared with many warmer, more populated environments, prevention has a real chance of success, especially if it is coupled with prioritisation schemes for targeting invaders likely to have greatest impact. Communication and co-operation between cold environment regions will facilitate rapid response, and maximise the use of limited research and management resources.

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Plant communities in harsh sites are less invaded: a summary of observations and proposed explanations

Cited by 73 publications

References 233 publications

Differential responses of canopy nutrients to experimental drought along a natural aridity gradient

Differential responses of canopy nutrients to experimental drought along a natural aridity gradient

Using priority effects to manipulate competitive relationships in restoration

Non-native and native organisms moving into high elevation and high latitude ecosystems in an era of climate change: new challenges for ecology and conservation

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