Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions provide new insights into the phenotypic plasticity of the invasive species Carpobrotus sp. pl. in different coastal habitats

0577428 - BÚ 2024 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Pérez-Diz, M. - Rodríguez-Addesso, B. - Hussain, M. I. - Rodríguez, Jonatan - Novoa, Ana - González, L.
Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions provide new insights into the phenotypic plasticity of the invasive species Carpobrotus sp. pl. in different coastal habitats.
Science of the Total Environment. Roč. 873, May 15 (2023), č. článku 162470. ISSN 0048-9697. E-ISSN 1879-1026
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA19-13142S; GA ČR(CZ) GX19-28807X
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : invasive plant * adaptation * plasticity
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 9.8, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162470

The genus Carpobrotus N.E.Br. comprises several aggressive invasive species that threaten biodiversity in coastal areas worldwide. We studied the phenotypic plasticity of Carpobrotus sp. pl. invading four coastal habitats in the north-western Iberian Peninsula (coastal cliffs, disturbed areas, dunes and coastal forests). We measured morphological traits and carbon (delta 13C) and nitrogen (delta 15N) stable isotope compositions of Carpobrotus sp. pl. individuals collected in each habitat. Our results indicated that leaf carbon content (% C) and dry shoot weight were higher on cliffs and lower in mixed forests. In contrast, leaf hydration was higher in mixed forests and lower on cliffs. Leaf nitrogen content (% N) was higher in forests, which might be due to the presence of Acacia longifolia, an alien tree that accumulates N in the soil through symbiotic associations with N fixing bacteria. Differences in delta 15N showed the use of different N sources in each habitat. Values were higher in disturbed areas with greater human activity and lower on cliffs and forests. delta 13C was higher in cliffs and dunes, suggesting CAM activity where drought and salinity are more intense. Water use effi-ciency (iWUE) and delta 13C were higher on cliffs and dunes, suggesting an adaptation and high tolerance of Carpobrotus sp. pl. to unfavourable conditions such as drought or salinity in the invaded areas.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0348086