Evidence for allelopathy as a mechanism of community composition change by an invasive exotic shrub, Chrysanthemoides monilifera spp. rotundata
Date
2009
Authors
Ens, Emilie-Jane
French, Kris
Bremner, John B
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Publisher
Kluwer Academic Publishers
Abstract
Chemical interference is increasingly suggested as a mechanism facilitating exotic plant invasion and plant community composition. In order to explore this further, we employed a comprehensive extract-bioassay technique that facilitated detection and demarcation of phytotoxicity, direct allelopathy and indirect allelopathy of bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera spp. rotundata) compared to an indigenous dominant of the invaded system, acacia (Acacia longifolia var. sophorae). Extracts of the leaves and roots of both species exhibited phytotoxic effects against five indigenous plant species. Evidence for allelopathy between co-evolved indigenous plants was detected between acacia and Isolepis nodosa. Allelopathy between bitou bush and four indigenous plant species was also detected. Therefore we propose that both the acacia and bitou bush have the potential to chemically inhibit the establishment of indigenous plants. Eventual dominance of bitou bush is predicted, however, based on more ubiquitous effects on seedling growth.
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Keywords: allelopathy; bioassay; biological invasion; community composition; community dynamics; dominance; inhibition; invasive species; legume; seedling establishment; shrub; Acacia; Acacia longifolia; Chrysanthemoides monilifera; Isolepis nodosa Chemical interference competition; Community structure; Exotic plant invasion; Non-polar compounds
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Source
Plant and Soil
Type
Journal article
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2037-12-31
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