Nitrogen Levels Affect Competition Between Native and Exotic Plant Species
Author Information
Author(s): Li Hong-li, Lei Guang-chun, Zhi Ying-biao, An Shu-qing, Huang He-ping, Ouyang Yan, Zhao Lei, Deng Zi-fa, Liu Yu-hong
Primary Institution: Beijing Forestry University
Hypothesis
Competition between Spartina anglica and Scirpus triqueter is one possible explanation for the ongoing decline of Spartina anglica in coastal China.
Conclusion
The study found that nitrogen levels significantly influence the competitive interactions between the native species Scirpus triqueter and the exotic species Spartina anglica.
Supporting Evidence
- S. anglica showed significantly lower biomass accumulation in mixture than in monoculture.
- The inter-specific relative neighborhood effect (RNE) was significantly higher than the intra-specific RNE in the control.
- S. triqueter exerted an asymmetric competitive advantage over S. anglica in low nitrogen conditions.
Takeaway
This study shows that different amounts of nitrogen in the soil can change how two types of plants compete with each other, which helps explain why one plant is struggling to survive.
Methodology
The study used a randomized block design with different nitrogen levels and species combinations to measure biomass, leaf area, and asexual reproduction of the two species.
Limitations
The study was conducted in controlled greenhouse conditions, which may not fully replicate natural environmental interactions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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