ABSTRACT
Background: Promoting changes in abiotic conditions and ecosystem processes, such as decomposition, is a mechanism by which some exotic plant species displace native plants and become invasive.
Aims: We monitored ramets of Hedychium coronarium over 30 months to estimate the litter decay rate, biomass dynamics and litter accumulation over time in riparian sites invaded by the species in southeastern Brazil.
Methods: We measured the number, height, emergence and mortality of ramets in three environments invaded by H. coronarium (natural, rural and urban). We also measured litter decay in situ and in in vitro experiments. We used sinusoidal models to describe height fluctuation and exponential models to simulate litter decay and litter accumulation.
Results: Ramets of H. coronarium showed high seasonal variation in terms of height and emergence, as well as low litter decay. Accordingly, our models predicted high litter production and a seasonal pattern of litter accumulation in invaded sites.
Conclusions: H. coronarium produces a great amount of litter, which shows slow decay and hence seems to affect decomposition processes. Investigating seasonal variation on the effects of invasive species on ecosystem functioning shed light on the factors driving the success and impact of invasive plants.
Acknowledgements
We thank Marcelo B. Leite, Marcel L. Moitas, Pavel Dodonov, Hugo H. L. Saulino and Natasha S. Volcov assisted with fieldwork. We thank Karen Harper and Daniel Simberloff for the precious comments that greatly improved the manuscript.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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Notes on contributors
Wagner A. Chiba De Castro
Wagner A. Chiba De Castro is interested in using experimental approaches to clarify invasion mechanisms and in the impact of biological invasions on ecosystems.
Renata V. Almeida
Renata V. Almeida is a research fellow interested in plant ecology and biological invasions.
Rafael O. Xavier
Rafael O. Xavier is a post-doctoral researcher, interested in the response of herbaceous invasive species to environmental gradients and in the design of both cost-effective and ecologically sound strategies to control invasive species. R. O. Xavier is interested in the response of herbaceous invasive species to environmental gradients and in the design of both cost-effective and ecologically sound strategies to control invasive species.
Irineu Bianchini
Irineu Bianchini has interest in macrophytes, humic substances, carbon cycle, organic matter and debris in aquatic ecosystems.
Hamilton Moya
Hamilton Moya is a research fellow interested in plant ecology.
Dalva M. Silva Matos
Dalva M. Silva Matos is interested in biodiversity conservation, with special emphasis on terrestrial and freshwater plants.