Dataset Information

Nitrogen acquisition strategy and its effects on invasiveness of a subtropical invasive plant.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Preference and plasticity in nitrogen (N) form uptake are the main strategies with which plants absorb soil N. However, little effort has been made to explore effects of N form acquisition strategies, especially the plasticity, on invasiveness of exotic plants, although many studies have determined the effects of N levels (e.g. N deposition).

Methods

To address this problem, we studied the differences in N form acquisition strategies between the invasive plant Solidago canadensis and its co-occurring native plant Artemisia lavandulaefolia, effects of soil N environments, and the relationship between N form acquisition strategy of S. canadensis and its invasiveness using a ¹⁵N-labeling technique in three habitats at four field sites.

Results

Total biomass, root biomass, and the uptakes of soil dissolved inorganic N (DIN) per quadrat were higher for the invasive relative to the native species in all three habitats. The invader always preferred dominant soil N forms: NH₄ ⁺ in habitats with NH₄ ⁺ as the dominant DIN and NO₃ ^- in habitats with NO₃ ^- as the dominant DIN, while A. lavandulaefolia consistently preferred NO₃ ^- in all habitats. Plasticity in N form uptake was higher in the invasive relative to the native species, especially in the farmland. Plant N form acquisition strategy was influenced by both DIN levels and the proportions of different N forms (NO₃ ^-/NH₄ ⁺) as judged by their negative effects on the proportional contributions of NH₄ ⁺ to plant N (f _NH4 ⁺) and the preference for NH₄ ⁺ (β _NH4 ⁺). In addition, total biomass was positively associated with f _NH4 ⁺ or β _NH4 ⁺ for S. canadensis, while negatively for A. lavandulaefolia. Interestingly, the species may prefer to absorb NH₄ ⁺ when soil DIN and/or NO₃ ^-/NH₄ ⁺ ratio were low, and root to shoot ratio may be affected by plant nutrient status per se, rather than by soil nutrient availability.

Discussion

Our results indicate that the superior N form acquisition strategy of the invader contributes to its higher N uptake, and therefore to its invasiveness in different habitats, improving our understanding of invasiveness of exotic plants in diverse habitats in terms of utilization of different N forms.

SUBMITTER: Guan M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10475947 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Nitrogen acquisition strategy and its effects on invasiveness of a subtropical invasive plant.

Guan Ming M Pan Xiao-Cui XC Sun Jian-Kun JK Chen Ji-Xin JX Kong De-Liang DL Feng Yu-Long YL

Frontiers in plant science 20230821

<h4>Introduction</h4>Preference and plasticity in nitrogen (N) form uptake are the main strategies with which plants absorb soil N. However, little effort has been made to explore effects of N form acquisition strategies, especially the plasticity, on invasiveness of exotic plants, although many studies have determined the effects of N levels (e.g. N deposition).<h4>Methods</h4>To address this problem, we studied the differences in N form acquisition strategies between the invasive plant <i>Soli ...[more]

PMID: 37670857

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Project description:BackgroundLeaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption is a fundamental adaptation strategy for plant nutrient conservation. However, the relative roles that environmental factors and plant functional traits play in regulating N and P resorption remain largely unclear, and little is known about the underlying mechanism of plant functional traits affecting nutrient resorption. Here, we measured leaf N and P resorption and 13 plant functional traits of leaf, petiole, and twig for 101 representative broad-leaved tree species in our target subtropical transitional forests. We integrated these multiple functional traits into the plant economics spectrum (PES). We further explored whether and how elevation-related environmental factors and these functional traits collectively control leaf N and P resorption.ResultsWe found that deciduous and evergreen trees exhibited highly diversified PES strategies, tending to be acquisitive and conservative, respectively. The effects of PES, rather than of environmental factors, dominated leaf N and P resorption patterns along the elevational gradient. Specifically, the photosynthesis and nutrient recourse utilization axis positively affected N and P resorption for both deciduous and evergreen trees, whereas the structural and functional investment axis positively affected leaf N and P resorption for evergreen species only. Specific leaf area and green leaf nutrient concentrations were the most influential traits driving leaf N and P resorption.ConclusionsOur study simultaneously elucidated the relative contributions of environmental factors and plant functional traits to leaf N and P resorption by including more representative tree species than previous studies, expanding our understanding beyond the relatively well-studied tropical and temperate forests. We highlight that prioritizing the fundamental role of traits related to leaf resource capture and defense contributes to the monitoring and modeling of leaf nutrient resorption. Therefore, we need to integrate PES effects on leaf nutrient resorption into the current nutrient cycling model framework to better advance our general understanding of the consequences of shifting tree species composition for nutrient cycles across diverse forests.

Dataset Information

Nitrogen acquisition strategy and its effects on invasiveness of a subtropical invasive plant.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

Nitrogen acquisition strategy and its effects on invasiveness of a subtropical invasive plant.

Similar Datasets

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