Journal Article

Soil quality: a key factor in understanding plant invasion? The case of Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br

Novoa, A., González, L., Richardson, D., Rodríguez, R.

2014

Overview

The cycles of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus are essential components of the processes and functioning of ecosystems. The functional capacity of the soil microbial community that drives these cycles varies among soils dominated by different plant species. This work aims to quantify changes in soil features of coastal ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula caused by the invasion of Carpobrotus edulis by analysing soil chemical properties and extracellular soil enzymes. We also analyse the influence of these changes on the germination and early development of native species Malcolmia littorea (L.) R.Br. and Scabiosa atropurpupea L. and the alien C. edulis . Our results reveal that when C. edulis invades a dune ecosystem, it causes significant changes to pH, enzymatic activities, nutrients, salinity and moisture content of the soil (the level of the change depends on the initial characteristics of the invaded ecosystem). These changes alter the germination process of native and invasive plants in different ways. The results of this work suggest mechanism whereby C. edulis competes with native species at an early stage and breaks the initial abiotic resistance of newly invaded landscapes. This study highlights the importance of studying the effects of invasive plant-soil interactions on the germination and emergence of different plant species in order to fully understand the effects of invasion and to consider options for restoration activities in areas invaded by C. edulis .

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Animal, plant and microbial ecology / Applied ecology / Biological and medical sciences / Biomedical and Life Sciences / carbon / Carbon cycle / Carpobrotus edulis / Chemical properties / Coastal ecosystems / Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife / Developmental Biology / early development / ecological invasion / Ecology / ecosystems / Enzymatic activity / enzyme activity / Flowers & plants / Freshwater & Marine Ecology / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / General aspects / germination / Iberian Peninsula / Indigenous species / Invasive plants / invasive species / landscapes / Life Sciences / Malcolmia / Moisture content / nitrogen / Nonnative species / nutrients / Original Paper / Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking / phosphorus / Plant reproduction / Plant Sciences / Plant species / salinity / Scabiosa / soil chemical properties / soil enzymes / Soil fertility / soil microorganisms / Soil properties / Soil quality / soil water content / Studies