Community Assembly and Biological Invasions

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity Loss & Dynamics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2020) | Viewed by 6744

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
Interests: invasive species; phylogenetic comparative methods; plant-soil interactions; population dynamics; community assembly

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biological invasions are a key problem of conservation concern as well as a study system for addressing basic questions about community assembly. This Special Issue highlights new research that addresses: (i) lessons from biological invasions about community assembly; (ii) the role of biotic and abiotic drivers in invasion dynamics; (iii) novel approaches for understanding mechanisms of invasion; and (iv) comparative studies or syntheses that address the role of evolutionary history in invasions.

Assoc.Prof. Jean H. Burns
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Biological invasions
  • Community assembly
  • Biotic drivers
  • Abiotic drivers
  • Phylogeny
  • Darwin’s naturalization conundrum
  • Evolutionary history

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 1327 KiB  
Article
Interpreting Pattern in Plant-Soil Feedback Experiments with Co-occurring Invasive Species: A Graphical Framework and Case Study
by Emma Oschrin and Heather L. Reynolds
Diversity 2020, 12(5), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12050201 - 16 May 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3169
Abstract
Despite the ubiquity of multiple plant invasions, the underlying mechanisms of invasive-invasive interactions remain relatively unknown. Given the importance of plant–soil feedback (PSF) in contributing to single species invasions, it may be an important factor influencing invasive–invasive species interactions as well. PSF between [...] Read more.
Despite the ubiquity of multiple plant invasions, the underlying mechanisms of invasive-invasive interactions remain relatively unknown. Given the importance of plant–soil feedback (PSF) in contributing to single species invasions, it may be an important factor influencing invasive–invasive species interactions as well. PSF between multiple invaders has rarely been examined, but could inform the nature of invasive–invasive interactions and advance understanding of how multiple invaders impact plant communities. Alternative mechanisms of plant invasions include novel weapons and enemy escape. We develop graphical PSF predictions based on these mechanisms and other possible invasive–invasive dynamics. Comparing these predictions to observed results is a first step in interpreting PSF among co-occurring invasive species. We illustrate this with a case study of net pairwise PSF among three common invaders of tallgrass prairie: Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil), Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass), and Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle). We found that feedback among all pairwise combinations of these invasive species was neutral. Neutral feedback can arise from a mutual lack of soil borne pathogens, consistent with the enemy escape hypothesis, although we cannot rule out shared benefit from generalist mutualists. While both facilitative and competitive interactions among these three species have previously been shown, our data suggest that such interactions are unlikely to operate through a legacy effect of PSF. Our results inform follow-up PSF experiments that would help to confirm the existence and nature of PSF interactions among these species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Assembly and Biological Invasions)
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7 pages, 347 KiB  
Communication
Priority Treatment Leaves Grassland Restoration Vulnerable to Invasion
by Katharine L. Stuble and Truman P. Young
Diversity 2020, 12(2), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12020071 - 11 Feb 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3146
Abstract
Priority effects can be used to promote target species during restoration. Early planting can provide an advantage over later-arriving species, increasing abundance of these early-arrivers in restored communities. However, we have limited knowledge of the indirect impacts of priority effects in restoration. In [...] Read more.
Priority effects can be used to promote target species during restoration. Early planting can provide an advantage over later-arriving species, increasing abundance of these early-arrivers in restored communities. However, we have limited knowledge of the indirect impacts of priority effects in restoration. In particular, we do not understand how priority effects impact non-target species. Of particular conservation concern is how these priority effects influence establishment by non-native species. We use a field-based mesocosm experiment to explore the impacts of priority effects on both target and non-target species in California grasslands. Specifically, we seeded native grasses and forbs, manipulating order of arrival by planting them at the same time, planting forbs one year before grasses, planting grasses one year before forbs, or planting each functional group alone. While our study plots were tilled and weeded for the first year, the regional species pool was heavily invaded. We found that, while early-arrival of native grasses did not promote establishment of non-native species, giving priority to native forbs ultimately left our restoration mesocosms vulnerable to invasion by non-native species. This suggests that, in some cases, establishment of non-native species may be an unintended consequence of using priority treatments as a restoration tool. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Assembly and Biological Invasions)
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