Exotic plantations differ in "nursing" an understory invader: A probe into invasional meltdown.

ABSTRACT: Forest plantations most likely promote exotic plant invasion. Using an in situ monitoring method, this study investigated the traits correlated with growth and reproduction of an understory invader, Phytolacca americana L., and ecological factors including understory irradiance, soil stoichiometry and microbial patterns associated with these traits in different exotic plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Pinus thunbergii Parl. at Mount Lao, Qingdao, China. We found that the traits of P. americana underneath the R. pseudoacacia stand might be situated at the fast side of the trait economic spectrum. The R. pseudoacacia stand appeared to "nurse" P. americana. Furthermore, we intended to explain the nurse effects of R. pseudoacacia

SUBMITTER: Wang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11116753 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature