Evidence for a new regime shift between floating and submerged invasive plant dominance in South Africa

Strange, Emily F; Hill, Martin P; Coetzee, Julie A

Title: Evidence for a new regime shift between floating and submerged invasive plant dominance in South Africa
Creator: Strange, Emily F
Creator: Hill, Martin P
Creator: Coetzee, Julie A
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2018
Date: 2018
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/423993
Identifier: vital:72114
Identifier: xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3506-2"
Description: Classical biological control for the management of floating invasive plants has been highly successful in South Africa. However, restoring ecosystem services has been compromised by a new suite of submerged invasive plants. This study proposes that biological control of floating invasive macrophytes acts as a catalyst in a regime shift between floating and submerged invasive plant dominance. Regime shifts are large and sudden changes in the structure and functioning of ecosystems. The proposed shift is driven by the rapid decomposition of floating plants and subsequent increase in availability of nutrients and light. A mesocosm experiment explored the effect of biological control on floating Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae) upon the growth of invasive submerged Egeria densa Planch. (Hydrocharitaceae), and native submerged plant species of the same family; Lagarosiphon major (Ridl.) Moss (Hydrocharitaceae). The results revealed a cascade effect of biological control of P. stratiotes on the availability of nitrogen, resulting in increased relative growth rates and invasive capacity for E. densa. In contrast, the native L. major could not compete with healthy or damaged P. stratiotes. These findings highlight the vulnerability of South African freshwater systems to submerged plant invasions and demonstrate the importance of a more holistic approach to invasive plant management.
Format: computer
Format: online resource
Format: application/pdf
Format: 1 online resource (14 pages)
Format: pdf
Publisher: SpringerLink
Language: English
Relation: Hydrobiologia
Relation: Strange, E.F., Hill, J.M. and Coetzee, J.A., 2018. Evidence for a new regime shift between floating and submerged invasive plant dominance in South Africa. Hydrobiologia, 817, pp.349-362
Relation: Hydrobiologia volume 817 p. 349 2018 1573-5117
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the SpringerLink Terms of Use Statement ( https://link.springer.com/termsandconditions)
Rights: Closed Access

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Hill, Martin Patrick (Distinguished Professor)

Coetzee, Julie A (Prof)

RU Department of Zoology and Entomology

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RU Department of Botany

SDG 15. Life On Land

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