10.5061/DRYAD.9F0N877
Lenda, Magdalena
University of Queensland
Skórka, Piotr
Polish Academy of Sciences
Knops, Johannes
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Żmihorski, Michał
Polish Academy of Sciences
Gaj, Renata
University of Life Sciences
Moroń, Dawid
Polish Academy of Sciences
Woyciechowski, Michal
Jagiellonian University
Tryjanowski, Piotr
University of Life Sciences
Data from: Multispecies invasion reduces the negative impact of single
alien plant species on native flora
Dryad
dataset
2019
competitive hierarchy
invasion meltdown
dominant invader
2019-02-19T21:15:36Z
2019-02-19T21:15:36Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12902
202808 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Aim: In the current Anthropocene, many ecosystems are being simultaneously
invaded by multiple alien species. Some of these invasive species become
more dominant and have greater environmental impacts than others. If two
potentially dominant species invade the same area, the combined impact has
been reported to be either (1) domination by one species, i.e., the
competitive dominance of one invader, or (2) invasion meltdown, where the
combined impact is much greater, i.e., a synergistic effect. We studied
the effects of the invasion of two alien plant species that are known to
strongly decrease native plant species diversity: the Persian walnut
Juglans regia and goldenrod Solidago canadensis. Location: We examined
native vegetation diversity in abandoned fields (in Poland) where neither
species had invaded, only one species had invaded, and both species had
invaded. Methods: Field survey data were analysed using generalized linear
mixed models and ordination techniques. Results: When goldenrod invaded
alone, it caused a larger decrease in species richness and cover (74%)
than when walnut invaded alone (58%). ¬When walnut and goldenrod
co-occurred in abandoned fields, walnut was dominant and strongly
decreased goldenrod density by 87%. However, the combined impact on native
species diversity was much lower (15% decrease in native plant diversity)
than when either goldenrod or walnut invaded alone. Main conclusions: In
contrast to many other studies, our study does not support the occurrence
of an invasion meltdown. Instead, our results show that even when one
invader dominates, its negative effect on plant diversity can be strongly
modified by the presence of another invasive species.
Data of plant surveys in heterogeneous abandoned fieldsThe file contains
data on native plant species growing in different habitat types within
heteregoeneous abandoned fieldsData_heterogeneous_fields.xlsxData of plant
surveys in homogeneous abandoned fieldsThe file contains data on native
plant species growing in different types of homogeneous abandoned
fieldsData_homogeneous_fields.xlsx