Uncoupled flowering and fruiting phenology as the strategy of non-native invasive woody species in seasonally dry ecosystems

FERRERAS, A. E.; ASHWORTH, L.; GIORGIS, M. A.

BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS

SPRINGER

Año: 2022

1387-3547

Abstract The timing of flowering and fruiting events is an important trait for explaining plant inva-sion. Seasonally dry ecosystems are characterized by a restricted growing season which imposes limita-tions on species reproduction. In these ecosystems to succeed, non-native species may have one of two phe-nological strategies. Coupled phenology with natives might be a product of an adjustment to environmental filters, exposing open flowers altogether, thus increas-ing the possibility of diluting some antagonist inter-actions but also mutualistic ones. Conversely, tolerat-ing a wider range of environmental conditions might generate uncouple phenology, due to using a Vacantniche or having longer phenological periods. Previous evidence observed that non-natives have divergent strategies with natives in these ecosystems; thus, we expect to find uncoupled phenology. This uncoupled phenology may be associated with changes in the tim-ing or length of the reproductive period. The aim of this work was to analyze the flowering and fruiting phenological strategies developed by the most fre-quent native and non-native woody species through a multi-year study. We measured the beginning and length of flowering and fruiting of sixteen species during four consecutive reproductive periods. We found that the phenology of non-native species was uncouple with natives. Non-natives showed a delay in flowering and fruiting and had a longer fruiting phenology period. Moreover, unlike the natives, non-natives fruited out of the growing season. The differ-ent phenological strategies found in non-native spe-cies may generate different interactions and windows of opportunities that may explain invasion and have profound consequences on ecosystem processes and functions.