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Climate Change and Plant Invasions

This study explores the complex responses and consequences of climate change on plant invasions, focusing on two invasive species, Fallopia japonica and Pteridium aquilinum. Through microclimate simulations and data analysis, the research sheds light on the potential impacts of these invasions on ecosystem productivity and biodiversity.

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Climate Change and Plant Invasions

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  1. Climate Change and Plant Invasions Bruce Osborne & M. Angeles Rodriguez-Tunon UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4

  2. Climate Change: A Complexity of Responses and Consequences From Hellman et al., 2008; Conservation Biology 23, 534-543

  3. Plant Invasions • Largely speculative; no real comprehensive assessment • Based on pre-conceived ‘expectations’-species coming from warmer areas MUST establish/increase/have greater impact! • Predictions hardly ever community/ecosystem based • Limited by absence of EXPERIMENTAL DATA on establishment/impacts/spread

  4. Species Fallopia japonica Pteridium aquilinum

  5. Field Microclimate SimulationsPassive Enclosures Uninvaded (UI) And Associated Invaded (I) Areas (n=3); Installed for Duration of Growing season; continuous monitoring of microclimate inside/outside

  6. Microclimate Simulations

  7. Microclimatic DataAverageMaximum Values 2008 Fallopia japonica Pteridium aquilinum All significant at p<0.001

  8. Biomass Production Fallopia japonica Invasion: p<0.001 Litter production/microclimate (invaded areas) close to significance

  9. Biomass Production Pteridium aquilinum Invasion: p<0.03 Microclimate (Invaded) p<0.03 Microclimate (Uninvaded) p<0.002

  10. DecompositionLitter Bags 2008 F. japonica P. aquilinum Invasion: p<0.01 Microclimate (Invaded): p<0.01

  11. Mycorrhizal Inoculum PotentialBioassay with White Clover F. japonica Invasion: p<0.0001 Microclimate (2007): p<0.001 Year p<0.0001 P. aquilinum Microclimate (2008): p< 0.0001 Year p<0.002

  12. Microarthropods2007

  13. Summary • Impacts of microclimate simulations species/site/ecosystem/year-dependent • Simulations can decrease/cause no change in productivity, but RELATIVE performance of invader can increase at ECOSYSTEM scale • Emphasizes the importance of ecosystem-level analyses at a range of locations • Effects can be rapid-decomposition, mycorrhizal inoculum potential

  14. Acknowledgements We thank the support of the EPA through the BIOCHANGE project, the UCD Plant Ecophysiology group and Eugene Sherry, Ingrid Arts, Maria Long and Ralph Twomey for support. We also thank the landowners for access to sites, and the NPWS and Co. Clare Heritage Officers for assistance.

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