Changes in community functional structure and ecosystem properties along an invasion gradient by Ligustrum lucidum

FERNANDEZ, ROMINA DAIANA; CASTRO-DIEZ, PILAR; ARAGÓN, ROXANA; PEREZ-HARGUINDEGUY, NATALIA

JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2021

1100-9233

Questions: It is well documented that invasive alien plants can reduce species richness and36 diversity and modifyies the composition of invaded communities. However, our knowledge37 on the impacts of invasive alien plants on the community functional structure and38 ecosystem properties and the mechanisms underlying these changes is more limited. We39 evaluated how the community functional structure and ecosystem properties change along a40 gradient of Ligustrum lucidum abundance.41 Location: Subtropical mountain forest in NW Argentina.42 Methods: We conducted tree vegetation sampling in 164 plots distributed along a gradient43 of L. lucidum abundance. For L. lucidum and for the most abundant tree species in these44 plots we estimated six functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf tensile strength, leaf nitrogen45 concentration, leaf water potential, wood density and maximum plant height), as well as46 their relative growth rates. Then, we calculated indices of community functional structure47 (community-weighted means for each trait; richness, evenness, divergence and dispersion).48 We explored the extent to which the invasive success of L. lucidum and its impact may beattributed to niche differentiation or to fitness superiority. Finally, we explored how L.50 lucidum abundance alters ecosystem properties.51 Results: Some indicators of community functional structure changed linearly while others52 tended to saturate along the invasion gradient. L. lucidum had higher growth rate than53 resident species and it lays close to the periphery, but within the limits of the functional54 space defined by resident trees. L. lucidum tends to displace more functionally similar55 resident species. Soil moisture and N content declined, while soil C:N increased with L.56 lucidum abundance.57 Conclusions: Our findings suggest that both niche differentiation and fitness superiority58 contribute to explain the invasion success of L. lucidum and the changes in functional59 structure of the community along the gradient of L. lucidum abundance with evident60 impacts on ecosystem properties.