Biological Invasions (2015) 17, 1327-1339

Lei Shang, Lei Qiu, Jingxin Huang and Bo Li (2015)
Invasion of Spartina alterniflora in China is greatly facilitated by increased growth and clonality: a comparative study of native and introduced populations
Biological Invasions 17 (5), 1327-1339
Abstract: Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain invasion success of alien species, among which genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity are extensively studied. In order to explore whether the invasion of Spartina alterniflora is facilitated by enhanced phenotypes or trait plasticity, we conducted a common garden experiment on this clonal invasive plant, in which three native populations (from the US) and eight introduced populations (from China) were included and grown at two water levels. We measured their plant traits related to growth, reproductive phenology, reproductive output, and their plasticity in response to water availability. No difference in plant height was observed between native and introduced populations of S. alterniflora, but introduced populations had greater total biomass than the native ones at high water level. Reproductive performances facilitating invasion success were also found for introduced populations, indicated by the advanced initiation of phenological events, greater total number of ramets, and more investment of total biomass in rhizomes versus stalk and leaf in both water treatments. Finally, a non-significant difference in inflorescence biomass for flowering individuals and phenotypic plasticity of most measured traits was observed between native and introduced populations. In conclusion, enhanced growth and asexual reproduction make greater contributions to the invasion success of S. alterniflora in China.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Bo Li

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sporobolus alterniflorus (weed)