The invasive cactus Opuntia stricta creates fertility islands in African savannas and benefits from those created by native trees

0547403 - BÚ 2022 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Novoa, Ana - Foxcroft, L. C. - Keet, J.-H. - Pyšek, Petr - Le Roux, J. J.
The invasive cactus Opuntia stricta creates fertility islands in African savannas and benefits from those created by native trees.
Scientific Reports. Roč. 11, č. 1 (2021), č. článku 20748. ISSN 2045-2322. E-ISSN 2045-2322
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GX19-28807X; GA ČR GA19-13142S
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : savanna * invasion * facilitation
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 4.997, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99857-x

We assessed how so-called islands of fertility in South-African savanna (discontinuous distribution of water, nutrient resources, and microbial communities in soil) affect the establishment and impact of invasive plants, using the invasion of Opuntia stricta as a model. We found that the presence of native trees and invasive O. stricta increases soil water content and nutrients, and the abundance and diversity of bacterial communities, and alters soil bacterial composition. Moreover, the percentage and speed of germination of O. stricta were higher in soils conditioned by native trees compared to soils collected from open patches. Finally, while S. africana and V. nilotica trees appear to germinate equally well in invaded and uninvaded soils, O. stricta had lower and slower germination in invaded soils, suggesting the potential release of phytochemicals by O. stricta to avoid intraspecific competition. These results suggest that the presence of any tree or shrub in savanna ecosystems, regardless of origin (i.e. native or alien), can create favourable conditions for the establishment and growth of other plants.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0325549