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

The timing of flowering and fruitingevents is an important trait for explaining plant invasion.Seasonally dry ecosystems are characterized bya restricted growing season which imposes limitationson species reproduction. In these ecosystems tosucceed, non-native species may have one of two phenologicalstrategies. Coupled phenology with nativesmight be a product of an adjustment to environmentalfilters, exposing open flowers altogether, thus increasingthe possibility of diluting some antagonist interactionsbut also mutualistic ones. Conversely, toleratinga wider range of environmental conditions mightgenerate uncouple phenology, due to using a Vacant niche or having longer phenological periods. Previousevidence observed that non-natives have divergentstrategies with natives in these ecosystems; thus, weexpect to find uncoupled phenology. This uncoupledphenology may be associated with changes in the timingor length of the reproductive period. The aim ofthis work was to analyze the flowering and fruitingphenological strategies developed by the most frequentnative and non-native woody species througha multi-year study. We measured the beginning andlength of flowering and fruiting of sixteen speciesduring four consecutive reproductive periods. Wefound that the phenology of non-native species wasuncouple with natives. Non-natives showed a delayin flowering and fruiting and had a longer fruitingphenology period. Moreover, unlike the natives, nonnativesfruited out of the growing season. The differentphenological strategies found in non-native speciesmay generate different interactions and windowsof opportunities that may explain invasion and haveprofound consequences on ecosystem processes andfunctions.