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Altered ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycles by plant invasion: a meta-analysis
Article first published online: 27 NOV 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02290.x
© The Authors (2007).
Additional Information
How to Cite
Liao, C., Peng, R., Luo, Y., Zhou, X., Wu, X., Fang, C., Chen, J. and Li, B. (2008), Altered ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycles by plant invasion: a meta-analysis. New Phytologist, 177: 706–714. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02290.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 27 NOV 2007
- Article first published online: 27 NOV 2007
- Received: 16 July 2007Accepted: 12 September 2007
Keywords:
- carbon and nitrogen pools and fluxes;
- litter quality;
- meta-analysis;
- plant invasion;
- soil nitrogen availability
Summary
- • Plant invasion potentially alters ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. However, the overall direction and magnitude of such alterations are poorly quantified.
- • Here, 94 experimental studies were synthesized, using a meta-analysis approach, to quantify the changes of 20 variables associated with C and N cycles, including their pools, fluxes, and other related parameters in response to plant invasion.
- • Pool variables showed significant changes in invaded ecosystems relative to native ecosystems, ranging from a 5% increase in root carbon stock to a 133% increase in shoot C stock. Flux variables, such as above-ground net primary production and litter decomposition, increased by 50–120% in invaded ecosystems, compared with native ones. Plant N concentration, soil
and 
concentrations were 40, 30 and 17% higher in invaded than in native ecosystems, respectively. Increases in plant production and soil N availability indicate that there was positive feedback between plant invasion and C and N cycles in invaded ecosystems. - • Invasions by woody and N-fixing plants tended to have greater impacts on C and N cycles than those by herbaceous and nonN-fixing plants, respectively. The responses to plant invasion are not different among forests, grasslands, and wetlands. All of these changes suggest that plant invasion profoundly influences ecosystem processes.