Photo: Kochia, southwest Montana. © 2020 Delena Norris-Tull
The role of microbes in invasive plant success
Summaries of the research and commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, July 2020.
Rudgers and Orr (2009) found that “non-native plants can alter native microbe communities and ecosystem processes.” Previous studies found that an above-ground fungal endophyte found in non-native tall fescue can reduce tree growth, thus slowing plant succession from grassland to forest. These microbes can have indirect effects on native plant communities. They tested this further by growing seeds of nine native trees in soil in which tall fescue had been grown. They used five different treatments, including soil conditioned with the symbiotic fungal endophyte, and soil without the endophyte. They found that the fescue conditioned soil “reduced the biomass of three tree species” (Elaeagnus umbellata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Platanus occidentalis) and reduced the survival of Platanus occidentalis. But two species (Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Prunus serotina) grew larger under the same conditions. And two species (Ailanthus altissima and Fraxinus pennsylvanica) grew poorly in all soil treatments. And three species (Acer negundo, Quercus palustris, and Cercis canadensis) did not significantly respond to any treatments. Rudgers and Orr, 2009, concluded that “because tree species responded divergently to soil conditioning, the endophyte symbiosis has the potential to alter plant succession and the future composition of forest communities.”
Reference:
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The role of microbes in invasive plant success
Summaries of the research and commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, July 2020.
Rudgers and Orr (2009) found that “non-native plants can alter native microbe communities and ecosystem processes.” Previous studies found that an above-ground fungal endophyte found in non-native tall fescue can reduce tree growth, thus slowing plant succession from grassland to forest. These microbes can have indirect effects on native plant communities. They tested this further by growing seeds of nine native trees in soil in which tall fescue had been grown. They used five different treatments, including soil conditioned with the symbiotic fungal endophyte, and soil without the endophyte. They found that the fescue conditioned soil “reduced the biomass of three tree species” (Elaeagnus umbellata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Platanus occidentalis) and reduced the survival of Platanus occidentalis. But two species (Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Prunus serotina) grew larger under the same conditions. And two species (Ailanthus altissima and Fraxinus pennsylvanica) grew poorly in all soil treatments. And three species (Acer negundo, Quercus palustris, and Cercis canadensis) did not significantly respond to any treatments. Rudgers and Orr, 2009, concluded that “because tree species responded divergently to soil conditioning, the endophyte symbiosis has the potential to alter plant succession and the future composition of forest communities.”
Reference:
- Rudgers, J.A., & Orr, S. (March, 2009). Non-native grass alters growth of native tree species via leaf and soil microbes. Journal of Ecology, 97 (2), 247-255.
Next Sections on the success of invasive species:
Links to additional research on the success of invasive species: