Density-dependent role of an invasive marsh grass, Phragmites australis, on ecosystem service provision.

ABSTRACT: Invasive species can positively, neutrally, or negatively affect the provision of ecosystem services. The direction and magnitude of this effect can be a function of the invaders' density and the service(s) of interest. We assessed the density-dependent effect of an invasive marsh grass, Phragmites australis, on three ecosystem services (plant diversity and community structure, shoreline stabilization, and carbon storage) in two oligohaline marshes within the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NCNERR), USA. Plant species richness was equivalent among low, medium and high Phragmites density plots, and overall plant community composition did not vary significantly by Phragmites density. Shoreline change was most negative (landward retreat) where Ph

SUBMITTER: Theuerkauf SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5325552 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature