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Indirect effects of non‐native S partina alterniflora and its fungal pathogen ( F usarium palustre ) on native saltmarsh plants in C hina
Author(s) -
Li Hui,
Zhang Xiameng,
Zheng Rushui,
Li Xiao,
Elmer Wade H.,
Wolfe Lorne M.,
Li Bo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.452
H-Index - 181
eISSN - 1365-2745
pISSN - 0022-0477
DOI - 10.1111/1365-2745.12285
Subject(s) - spartina alterniflora , biology , invasive species , introduced species , native plant , botany , colonization , pathogen , salt marsh , fungus , ecology , wetland , marsh , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary Pathogens can affect their hosts and change community composition and structure. Pathogens may be key determinants of biological invasions. However, few empirical studies exist examining how non‐native plants drive their invasions through indirect effects involved with pathogens. Here, indirect effects refer to how one species alters the effect that another species has on a third. Fusarium palustre was associated with the dieback of S partina alterniflora in its native N orth A merican saltmarshes. Native plant P hragmites australis was also found to die back in the D ongtan wetland of the C hinese Y angtze R iver estuary invaded by non‐native S partina alterniflora . This phenomenon suggests that S partina might not escape from its pathogen when being introduced from its native N orth A merica and has indirectly caused the dieback of P hragmites in C hina. To investigate the indirect effect of S partina involving F usarium , we sampled plants and soils in dieback patches to isolate the pathogen. Next, we used an artificial inoculation study to determine the virulence of F usarium to both P hragmites and S partina . Finally, the spatial distribution of F usarium was studied through examining its incidence in saltmarshes along the east coast of C hina. The endophytic fungus F . palustre was found to be closely associated with P hragmites dieback in the D ongtan wetland and it is likely that it was transported by non‐native S partina from its native N orth A merican saltmarshes to the C hinese saltmarshes. The spillover of F . palustre from non‐native S partina to native P hragmites might subsequently facilitate S partina invasion. Synthesis . Invasive plants do not only directly compete with native plants, but also indirectly cause pathogen infection on the latter, by acting as vectors and reservoirs for pathogens shared with native plants. Our findings highlight the significance of indirect effects involving pathogens in biological invasions. It is necessary to consider these pathogen‐mediated indirect effects of non‐native plant species in multi‐host‐pathogen systems for management and restoration purposes.