Species diversity mediated negative impacts of plant invasion on
native-community flowering synchrony
Abstract
Plant invasion is major global driver to structure and functioning of
natural communities. Species diversity is a fundamental determinant of
community regeneration and dynamics through flowering phenology and
groups. However, the impacts of plant invasion on native plant flowering
phenology and how species diversity regulates the process remain
unclear. We conducted a field experiment to assess the effects of plant
invasion (Solidago canadensis) and community species diversity on
flowering phenology of native plants from different flowering functional
groups (FFGs) at community and species levels. We found that at
community level, plant invasion shortened flowering duration (FD), and
reduced flowering synchrony of native communities. Furthermore, high
diversity reduced the negative impacts of plant invasion on flowering
synchrony. Among FFGs, the late and mid flowering species responded more
negatively to plant invasion than the early flowering species. SEM
indicated that plant invasion suppressed plant height and FFD or LFD by
reducing light availability to native plants, which in turn affected
flowering phenology. However, high diversity counteracted the negative
effects. Our findings confirm the role of high species diversity in
resisting alien plant invasions on flowering phenology and reproduction
of native plant communities, and suggest that high diversity with
different FFGs should be considered to efficiently restore native
communities invaded by alien plants such as S. canadensis.