Meta-analytic evidence that allelopathy may increase the success and impact of invasive grasses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the grass family, a disproportionate number of species have been designated as being invasive. Various growth traits have been proposed to explain the invasiveness of grasses; however, the possibility that allelopathy gives invasive grasses a competitive advantage has attracted relatively little attention. Recent research has isolated plant allelochemicals that are mostly specific to the grass family that can breakdown into relatively stable, toxic byproducts.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis of studies on grass allelopathy to test three prominent hypotheses from invasion biology and competition theory: (1) on native recipients, non-native grasses will have a significantly more negative effect compared to native grasses (Novel Weapons Hypothesis); (2) among

SUBMITTER: Singh M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9951799 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature