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Resource use efficiency and community effects of invasive Hypochaeris radicata (Asteraceae) during primary succession
Author(s) -
Schoenfelder Anna C.,
Bishop John G.,
Martinson Holly M.,
Fagan William F.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.3732/ajb.0900383
Subject(s) - biology , botany , invasive species , biomass (ecology) , agrostis , introduced species , ecology , poaceae
• Premise of the study : We sought to better understand the impacts and mechanisms underpinning a successful invasion of resource‐poor sites by a nonnative plant on Mount St. Helens volcano (MSH). • Methods : We investigated the short‐term effects of the nonnative plant Hypochaeris radicata on growth of native species colonizing drought‐prone primary successional surfaces under N‐limited and N‐augmented conditions. To understand the success of H. radicata , we compared its resource use efficiency to that of a closely related native colonist, Hieracium albiflorum , under the same conditions. • Key results : Removing H. radicata did not affect growth of the most common colonists, but N addition demonstrated strong N limitation to growth in H. albiflorum , H. radicata , and Agrostis spp. Nonnative H. radicata exhibited lower water‐use efficiency than H. albiflorum but did not differ in efficiency of N use. H. radicata biomass increased faster in response to an N pulse than did the native H. albiflorum , as did the pool of N held in H. radicata tissues. • Conclusions : Our findings contrast with results from Hawaiian volcanic sites, where higher short‐term resource use efficiency was reported for invasive species, including H. radicata . Our results suggest that at MSH, the success of H. radicata relies on rapid uptake and utilization of N rather than on higher efficiency. This strategy is especially advantageous at MSH because N pulses commonly occur as a consequence of herbivore‐induced mortality of Lupinus lepidus (Fabaceae).