Mycorrhizal status helps explain invasion success of alien plant species

0480227 - BÚ 2018 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Menzel, A. - Hempel, S. - Klotz, S. - Moora, M. - Pyšek, Petr - Rillig, M. C. - Zobel, M. - Kühn, I.
Mycorrhizal status helps explain invasion success of alien plant species.
Ecology. Roč. 98, č. 1 (2017), s. 92-102. ISSN 0012-9658. E-ISSN 1939-9170
R&D Projects: GA ČR GB14-36079G
Grant - others:AV ČR(CZ) AP1002
Program: Akademická prémie - Praemium Academiae
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : plant invasion * mycorrhiza * naturalization
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 4.617, year: 2017

We analyzed the association between mycorrhizal status of alien plant species in Germany and their invasion success. Non-naturalized aliens did not differ from naturalized aliens in the relative frequency of different mycorrhizal status categories. Mycorrhizal status significantly explained the occupied range of alien plants, with facultative mycorrhizal species inhabiting a larger range than non-mycorrhizal aliens and obligate mycorrhizal plant species taking an intermediate position. We conclude that being mycorrhizal is important for the persistence of aliens in Germany and constitutes an advantage compared to being non-mycorrhizal. Being facultative mycorrhizal seems to be especially advantageous for successful spread, as the flexibility of this mycorrhizal status may enable plants to use a broader set of ecological strategies.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0278313