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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Effects of nitrogen availability on the competitive interactions between an invasive and a native grass from Brazilian cerrado

Full text
Author(s):
Eller, Cleiton B. [1] ; Oliveira, Rafael S. [1]
Total Authors: 2
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Dept Plant Biol, Inst Biol, CP6109, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
Document type: Journal article
Source: PLANT AND SOIL; v. 410, n. 1-2, p. 63-72, JAN 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 4
Abstract

Nitrogen (N) deposition is currently widespread in many ecosystems and often promotes shifts in plant composition towards invasive species. In this study we evaluated how soil N availability affects the competitive interactions between a native Cerrado grass (Aristida riparia) and an invasive African grass (Melinis minutiflora). We evaluated the effects of increased soil N and the presence of another species on the relative growth rate (RGR), relative competition intensity (RCI), shoot N concentration and delta N-15, intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) and N productivity (A) of the two grasses in a glasshouse experiment. We found that the presence of M. minutiflora reduces the RGR of A. riparia by 52 % under high N availability, and by 29 % under low N availability. The shoot N and delta N-15 patterns of A. riparia when grown together with M. minutiflora indicate that the exotic species interferes with the native species' N acquisition. However, the lower RGR and iWUE of A. riparia observed only when grown together with M. minutiflora under high N availability suggests that other mechanisms might also limit A. riparia growth. We predict that the global trend of N deposition in ecosystems might facilitate the spread of M. minituflora in Cerrado areas. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/19555-2 - Water use and carbon balance dynamics of cloud forest woody species
Grantee:Cleiton Breder Eller
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 10/17204-0 - Climate change in Brazilian mountains: functional responses of native plants from campos rupestres and campos de altitude to extreme droughts
Grantee:Rafael Silva Oliveira
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 11/52072-0 - Soil-plant-atmosphere interactions in a changing tropical landscape
Grantee:Rafael Silva Oliveira
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE