Differences in Functional traits of invasive (Wedelia trilobata) and
native (Wedelia chinensis) plants under nitrogen enrichment and flooding
conditions
Abstract
Plant invasions are major threat to global change, which can be
determined through functional, traits of invasive and native species.
Therefore, greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to test whether high
water availability, nitrogen enrichment and their interaction promote
the growth and functional traits of invasive species (Wedelia trilobata,
WT), when competing with native species (Wedelia chinensis, WC) in
monoculture and mixed culture. While, considering the impact of flooding
(F) and nitrogen (N) as an individual factor, plant height of WC was
non-significant as compared to WT. However, in combination of flooding ×
additional nitrogen (F.N, F.2N) physiological parameters of WT were
encouragingly higher than those of WC, especially in mixed culture.
Variable relative competition intensity at different parameters and
higher phenotypic plasticity of WT at different physiological traits
make them more dominant than WC at flooding × additional nitrogen (F.N
and F.2N). In conclusion, growth of WT increased under combination of
nitrogen × flooding, because of higher plasticity and better competition
intensity that enhanced its competitiveness, playing an important role
for the successful invasion of WT in flooding and nitrogen enrichment
conditions.