Plant–soil feedbacks of exotic plant species across life forms: a meta-analysis

• Published in: Biological invasions 2014, Vol.16 (12), p.2551-2561
• Main Authors: Meisner, Annelein, Gera Hol, W. H, de Boer, Wietse, Krumins, Jennifer Adams, Wardle, David A, van der Putten, Wim H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Autoecology; Biologi; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Sciences; biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biota; communities; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; contribute; dependence; Developmental Biology; Ecology; ecosystems; forbs; Forest Science; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Grasses; growth performance; Indigenous plants; Indigenous species; Introduced plants; Introduced species; Invasive plants; invasive species; Life Sciences; Meta-analysis; native range; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Nematoda; Nonnative species; Original Paper; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; pathogens; Plant populations; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Plants and fungi; serpentine grassland; Skogsvetenskap; soil; Soil sciences; Soils; traits
• ISSN: 1387-3547; 1573-1464; 1573-1464
• DOI: 10.1007/s10530-014-0685-2

Invasive exotic plant species effects on soil biota and processes in their new range can promote or counteract invasions via changed plant–soil feedback interactions to themselves or to native plant species. Recent meta-analyses reveale that soil influenced by native and exotic plant species is affecting growth and performance of natives more strongly than exotics. However, the question is how uniform these responses are across contrasting life forms. Here, we test the hypothesis that life form matters for effects on soil and plant–soil feedback. In a meta-analysis we show that exotics enhanced C cycling, numbers of meso-invertebrates and nematodes, while having variable effects on other soil biota and processes. Plant effects on soil biota and processes were not dependent on life form, but patterns in feedback effects of natives and exotics were dependent on life form. Native grasses and forbs caused changes in soil that subsequently negatively affected their biomass, whereas native trees caused changes in soil that subsequently positively affected their biomass. Most exotics had neutral feedback effects, although exotic forbs had positive feedback effects. Effects of exotics on natives differed among plant life forms. Native trees were inhibited in soils conditioned by exotics, whereas native grasses were positively influenced in soil conditioned by exotics. We conclude that plant life form matters when comparing plant–soil feedback effects both within and between natives and exotics. We propose that impact analyses of exotic plant species on the performance of native plant species can be improved by comparing responses within plant life form.