LETTER

Community scale 15N isoscapes: tracing the spatial impact of an exotic N2-fixing invader

  1. Katherine G. Rascher1,
  2. Christine Hellmann1,
  3. Cristina Máguas2,
  4. Christiane Werner1,*

Article first published online: 12 MAR 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01761.x

Issue

Ecology Letters

Ecology Letters

Volume 15, Issue 5, pages 484–491, May 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Rascher, K. G., Hellmann, C., Máguas, C. and Werner, C. (2012), Community scale 15N isoscapes: tracing the spatial impact of an exotic N2-fixing invader. Ecology Letters, 15: 484–491. doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01761.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Experimental and Systems Ecology, University of Bielefeld, Universitätsstraße 25, D-33615 Bielefeld, Germany

  2. 2

    Centre for Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal

*E-mail:c.werner@uni-bielefeld.de

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 APR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 12 MAR 2012
  3. Editor, Josep Penuelas Manuscript received 19 December 2011 First decision made 12 January 2012 Manuscript accepted 11 February 2012

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Keywords:

  • Acacia longifolia;
  • ecosystem changes;
  • exotic plant invasion;
  • invasive acacia;
  • isoscape;
  • N-cycle;
  • N-fixation;
  • plant–plant interaction;
  • spatial scale;
  • 15N stable isotope

Ecology Letters (2012) 15: 484–491

Abstract

Plant–plant interactions are key processes shaping plant communities, but methods are lacking to accurately capture the spatial dimension of these processes. Isoscapes, i.e. spatially continuous observations of variations in stable isotope ratios, provide innovative methods to trace the spatial dimension of ecological processes at continental to global scales. Herein, we test the usefulness of nitrogen isoscapes (δ15N) for quantifying alterations in community functioning following exotic plant invasion. Nitrogen introduced by an exotic N2-fixing acacia could be accurately traced through the ecosystem and into the surrounding native vegetation by combining native species foliar δ15N with spatial information regarding plant location using geostatistical methods. The area impacted by N-addition was at least 3.5-fold greater than the physical area covered by the invader. Thus, downscaling isoscapes to the community level opens new frontiers in quantifying the spatial dimension of functional changes associated with invasion and in resolving the spatial component of within-community interactions.

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