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The invasive cactus Opuntia stricta creates fertility islands in African savannas and benefits from those created by native trees
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SYSNO ASEP 0547403 Document Type J - Journal Article R&D Document Type Journal Article Subsidiary J Článek ve WOS Title The invasive cactus Opuntia stricta creates fertility islands in African savannas and benefits from those created by native trees Author(s) Novoa, Ana (BU-J) ORCID
Foxcroft, L. C. (ZA)
Keet, J.-H. (ZA)
Pyšek, Petr (BU-J) RID, ORCID
Le Roux, J. J. (ZA)Article number 20748 Source Title Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group - ISSN 2045-2322
Roč. 11, č. 1 (2021)Number of pages 13 s. Language eng - English Country GB - United Kingdom Keywords savanna ; invasion ; facilitation Subject RIV EH - Ecology, Behaviour OECD category Ecology R&D Projects GX19-28807X GA ČR - Czech Science Foundation (CSF) GA19-13142S GA ČR - Czech Science Foundation (CSF) Method of publishing Open access Institutional support BU-J - RVO:67985939 UT WOS 000709931300094 EID SCOPUS 85117701489 DOI 10.1038/s41598-021-99857-x Annotation 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. Workplace Institute of Botany Contact Martina Bartošová, martina.bartosova@ibot.cas.cz, ibot@ibot.cas.cz, Tel.: 271 015 242 ; Marie Jakšová, marie.jaksova@ibot.cas.cz, Tel.: 384 721 156-8 Year of Publishing 2022 Electronic address https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99857-x
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