Co-invasion mediated by two invasive plants with closer genetic relationship can lead to stronger invasion intensity and more pronounced community invasibility
摘要
Multiple invasive plants (IPS) with different genetic relationships can form a co-invasion in the same habitat. This study aims to determine the differences in plant taxonomic diversity, IPS’ invasion intensity and community invasibility under different co-invasion scenarios mediated by two IPS with different genetic relationships. This study used a comparative field survey method in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China. The analyzed plant communities including the co-invasion mediated by two IPS with different genetic relationships, including those with the same genus, those with the same family but different genera and those with different families. IPS’ invasion intensity, community invasibility and the similarity of ecological niche of two co-invaded IPS under the co-invasion mediated by two IPS with closer genetic relationship were higher than those under the co-invasion mediated by two IPS with farther genetic relationship. There were no significant differences in plant taxonomic diversity under different co-invasion scenarios mediated by two IPS, regardless of the similarity of the genetic relationship of IPS. IPS’ invasion intensity and community invasibility were significantly negatively correlated with plant taxonomic diversity. In summary, the co-invasion mediated by two IPS with closer genetic relationship can lead to stronger invasion intensity and more pronounced community invasibility. However, the similarity of the genetic relationship of IPS may be not a significant factor affecting plant taxonomic diversity under the co-invasion mediated by two IPS.