Competition, Legacy, and Priority and the Success of Three Invasive Species

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2014

Departmental Paper Identifier

NRM-175

Abstract

Competitive ability, the ability to generate legacy effects, and the potential to benefit from priority, individually or interactively, are traits that may increase the invasive potential of plants. In this project we examine these three traits in three invasive species (Agropyron cristatum, Bromus tectorum, and Taeniatherum caput-medusae). Specifically in this study, we examine competitive effects of these invasive species, the ability of these invasive species to generate legacy effects (as plant–soil feedback), and the potential of these three species benefit from priority (being sown concurrently, 30 days before, and 30 days after the restoration species) in a greenhouse study using field collected soil. Our results suggest that all three invasive species can benefit from priority and all three have high competitive ability. However, only A. cristatum benefited from legacy effects of plant–soil feedback.

Publication Title

Biological Invasions

Volume

16

Issue

12

First Page

2543

Last Page

2550

DOI of Published Version

10.1007/s10530-014-0684-3

Publisher

Springer

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