Abstract Ecologists have long sought to understand the relationships among species diversity, community productivity and invasion by non‐native species. Here, four long‐term observational datasets were analyzed using repeated measures statistics determine how plant richness resource capture (i.e. productivity) influenced invasion. Multiple factors results, including metric used quantify invasion, interannual variation spatial scale. Native was positively correlated with richness, but usually...

While there has been extensive interest in understanding the relationship between diversity and invasibility of communities, most studies have only focused on one component diversity: species richness. Although number can affect community invasibility, other aspects diversity, including identity evenness, may be equally important. several field examined how varies with by manipulating or results are often confounded resource heterogeneity, site history, disturbance. We designed a mesocosm...

Summary Prescribed burning is a key tool used in prairie and savanna restoration projects. The timing frequency of prescribed fires are important variables to consider because they can differentially affect the survival individual plant species, including noxious exotic species. We annual censuses population matrix analysis evaluate demographic consequences on populations invasive species spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa Michigan, USA, experiment. compared spring, summer autumn burns at...

Summary 1 Limiting similarity theory predicts that successful invaders should differ functionally from species already present in the community. This has been tested by manipulating functional richness of communities, but not other aspects diversity such as identity dominant species. Because are known to have strong effects on ecosystem functioning, I hypothesized be dissimilar community dominants. 2 To test this hypothesis, added seeds 17 different two experiments: one a natural oldfield...

Dominant species are known to exert strong influence over community dynamics, although little work has addressed how they affect invasibility. In this study, we examined whether dominant identity and abundance affected invasibility of old‐field plant communities. To quantify invasibility, added seeds 19 into plots dominated by one four different herbaceous perennial ( Andropogon virginicus , Bromus inermis Centaurea maculosa or Solidago canadensis ) . We found that, independent richness...

Understanding interactions between above- and belowground components of ecosystems is an important next step in community ecology. These may be fundamental to predicting ecological responses global change because indirect effects occurring through altered species can outweigh or interact with the direct environmental drivers. In a multiyear field experiment (2010–2015), we tested how experimental addition mutualistic leaf endophyte (Epichloë amarillans) associated American beachgrass...

An indirect consequence of plant invasions is the disruption native plant-pollinator interactions. We examined effects invasive baby's breath (Gypsophila paniculata) and spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) on floral visitors to federally threatened Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) in Lake Michigan dunes. In sweep net surveys, abundances pollinator taxa were five times higher invaded than naturally invader-free sites. However, plot-level G. paniculata removal treatments increased visits...

Abstract The mandate by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to increase renewable fuel production in USA has resulted extensive research into sustainability perennial bioenergy crops such as switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ) miscanthus Miscanthus× giganteus ). Perennial grassland have been shown support greater aboveground biodiversity ecosystem function than annual crops. However, management considerations, what crop plant or whether use fertilizer, may alter belowground...

Summary While many ecosystems depend on fire to maintain biodiversity, non‐native plant invasions can enhance intensity, suppressing native species and generating a fire–invasion feedback. These dynamics have been observed in arid semi‐arid ecosystems, but interactions temperate deciduous forests, where prescribed fires are often used as management tools diversity, rarely investigated. Here we evaluated the effects of widespread invasive grass behaviour eastern forests USA potential tree...

Ecosystem engineers are species that fundamentally influence their community and ecosystem by creating or altering the physical structure of habitats. However, function is variable can depend on abiotic biotic factors. In this study, we characterized engineering traits plant size tiller density for dune grass, Ammophila breviligulata , in 37 sites across a broad geographic gradient western Great Lakes region. We also measured 20 factors related to climate, soil chemistry, fungal symbionts...

While ecologists have studied succession for well over 100 y, there has been little characterization of diversity patterns in nonplant organisms or their interactions across successional gradients. In this study we examined herbaceous vertical vegetation structure and plants, arthropods, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) three Great Lakes sand dune chronosequences. Plant species richness increased linearly the primary gradients at sampling sites, while plant remained constant. Total...

Because of the economic and environmental importance stabilizing fragile sand dune habitats, restoration dunes has become a common practice. Restoration efforts in Great Lakes East Coast regions North America often consist planting monocultures dominant native grass species, Ammophila breviligulata . We evaluated 18 projects region conducted over past 25 years. characterized attributes diversity (plants insects), vegetation structure (plant biomass cover), ecological processes (soil...

Abstract The removal of invasive species is often one the first steps in restoring degraded habitats. However, studies evaluating effectiveness are limited spatial and temporal scale, lack evaluation both aboveground belowground effects on diversity key processes. In this study, we present results a large 3‐year effort species, Gypsophila paniculata , sand dunes northwest Michigan ( USA ). We measured G. abundance, plant richness, community diversity, non‐native cover, abundance Cirsium...

Ecosystem engineer species influence their community and ecosystem by creating or altering the physical structure of habitats. The function engineers is variable can depend on both abiotic biotic factors. Here we make use a primary successional system to evaluate direct interactive effects climate change (precipitation) fungal endophyte symbiosis population traits engineering grass species, Ammophila breviligulata. We manipulated presence in A. breviligulata combination with rain-out...