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Altered ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycles by plant invasion: a meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Liao Chengzhang,
Peng Ronghao,
Luo Yiqi,
Zhou Xuhui,
Wu Xiaowen,
Fang Changming,
Chen Jiakuan,
Li Bo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02290.x
Subject(s) - ecosystem , herbaceous plant , nitrogen cycle , terrestrial ecosystem , biology , wetland , environmental science , forest ecology , ecology , carbon cycle , plant litter , native plant , agronomy , nitrogen , introduced species , chemistry , organic chemistry
Summary• Plant invasion potentially alters ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. However, the overall direction and magnitude of such alterations are poorly quantified. • Here, 94 experimental studies were synthesized, using a meta‐analysis approach, to quantify the changes of 20 variables associated with C and N cycles, including their pools, fluxes, and other related parameters in response to plant invasion. • Pool variables showed significant changes in invaded ecosystems relative to native ecosystems, ranging from a 5% increase in root carbon stock to a 133% increase in shoot C stock. Flux variables, such as above‐ground net primary production and litter decomposition, increased by 50–120% in invaded ecosystems, compared with native ones. Plant N concentration, soil and concentrations were 40, 30 and 17% higher in invaded than in native ecosystems, respectively. Increases in plant production and soil N availability indicate that there was positive feedback between plant invasion and C and N cycles in invaded ecosystems. • Invasions by woody and N‐fixing plants tended to have greater impacts on C and N cycles than those by herbaceous and nonN‐fixing plants, respectively. The responses to plant invasion are not different among forests, grasslands, and wetlands. All of these changes suggest that plant invasion profoundly influences ecosystem processes.