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<p><i>Ageratina adenophora</i> (Asteraceae) is considered one of the most aggressive invasive species across the globe, however, their ecological impact on native vegetation under different forest stands is still less explored. This study highlights the impact of invasive <i>A. adenophora</i> on species composition and soil properties in oak (<i>Quercus leucotrichophora</i>) and alder (<i>Alnus nepalensis</i>) forest stands in temperate ecosystems of Himalaya. The three forest stands; juvenile alder (JAS), a mature alder (MAS), and mature oak stand (MOS) were studied. Each selected sites categorized into two subsites i. e., <i>A. adenophora</i> invaded (AI) and non-invaded (NI) subsites, based on the area covered by <i>A</i>. <i>adenophora</i>. The vegetation attributes were assessed using 10 quadrats (5&#xa0;m × 5&#xa0;m) per subsites. Soil samples (0–15&#xa0;cm depth) were collected in triplicate from each subsite, and a composite sample was prepared to analyze soil physicochemical and biological properties. Our findings suggested that the density, basal area, and Importance Value Index of <i>A. adenophora</i> were higher in AI than in the NI subsites across the forest stands. Linear mixed effect model (LMM) exhibited significantly (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) higher soil moisture, soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and dehydrogenase enzyme activity (DHA) in AI than the NI, regardless of the forest stands. The correlation matrix test reflected a strong positive association between soil moisture and SOC (r = 0.79), total nitrogen (TN) (r = 0.56), MBC (r = 0.72), and basal respiration (r = 0.78). The principal component analysis reflected the significant contribution of AI (between AI and NI) and MOS (among JAS, MAS, and MOS) in the cumulative variance in the soil properties. These findings indicate that <i>A. adenophora</i> invasion not only outcompetes native species by forming dense groundcover but also alters soil physical and biochemical properties, facilitating its further spread by negatively impacting the native flora. This study underscores the need for proper management strategies to mitigate the ecological consequences of <i>A. adenophora</i> invasion and protect ecosystem sustainability in the central Himalayas.</p>

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Ageratina adenophora invasion alters vegetation structure and soil properties in alder and oak forests in the central Himalayas, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年3月5日

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  • Ritu Rao,
  • Shailendra Kumar,
  • Ambuj Mishra,
  • Satish Chandra Garkoti

摘要

Ageratina adenophora (Asteraceae) is considered one of the most aggressive invasive species across the globe, however, their ecological impact on native vegetation under different forest stands is still less explored. This study highlights the impact of invasive A. adenophora on species composition and soil properties in oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) and alder (Alnus nepalensis) forest stands in temperate ecosystems of Himalaya. The three forest stands; juvenile alder (JAS), a mature alder (MAS), and mature oak stand (MOS) were studied. Each selected sites categorized into two subsites i. e., A. adenophora invaded (AI) and non-invaded (NI) subsites, based on the area covered by A. adenophora. The vegetation attributes were assessed using 10 quadrats (5 m × 5 m) per subsites. Soil samples (0–15 cm depth) were collected in triplicate from each subsite, and a composite sample was prepared to analyze soil physicochemical and biological properties. Our findings suggested that the density, basal area, and Importance Value Index of A. adenophora were higher in AI than in the NI subsites across the forest stands. Linear mixed effect model (LMM) exhibited significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher soil moisture, soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and dehydrogenase enzyme activity (DHA) in AI than the NI, regardless of the forest stands. The correlation matrix test reflected a strong positive association between soil moisture and SOC (r = 0.79), total nitrogen (TN) (r = 0.56), MBC (r = 0.72), and basal respiration (r = 0.78). The principal component analysis reflected the significant contribution of AI (between AI and NI) and MOS (among JAS, MAS, and MOS) in the cumulative variance in the soil properties. These findings indicate that A. adenophora invasion not only outcompetes native species by forming dense groundcover but also alters soil physical and biochemical properties, facilitating its further spread by negatively impacting the native flora. This study underscores the need for proper management strategies to mitigate the ecological consequences of A. adenophora invasion and protect ecosystem sustainability in the central Himalayas.