Invasion intensity of invasive plants and community invasibility are significantly negatively correlated with the species number of plants under co-invasion
摘要
The mechanism driving the effects of the species number of plants (S, including native and invasive plants) on the invasion intensity of invasive plants (IPS) and community invasibility under co-invasion has not been fully elucidated. In addition, it is not clear which environmental factor has the strongest influence on the community invasibility under co-invasion across a gradient of S. This study aims to estimate the relationship among S, invasion intensity of IPS, and community invasibility, and the influence of environmental factors on the community invasibility under co-invasion mediated by two IPS across a gradient of S. The present study employed a comparative field survey method in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China. The appraised plant communities encompassed a co-invasion mediated by two IPS across a gradient of S ranging from three to eight plant species per community. As S, plant diversity, dominance, evenness, and richness increase, the invasion intensity of IPS and community invasibility significantly decreased. The invasion intensity of IPS was significantly positively correlated to the community invasibility. Thus, the community invasibility may be positively affected by the invasion intensity of IPS, but negatively affected by plant taxonomic diversity under co-invasion mediated by two IPS.