title: Invasive species' leaf traits and dissimilarity from natives shape their impact on nitrogen cycling: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Many exotic species have little apparent impact on ecosystem processes, whereas others have dramatic consequences for human and ecosystem health. There is growing evidence that invasions foster eutrophication. We need to identify species that are harmful and systems that are vulnerable to anticipate these consequences. Species' traits may provide the necessary insights. We conducted a global meta-analysis to determine whether plant leaf and litter functional traits, and particularly leaf and litter nitrogen (N) content and carbon: nitrogen (C : N) ratio, explain variation in invasive species' impacts on soil N cycling. Dissimilarity in leaf and litter traits among invaded and noninvaded plant communities control the magnitude and direction of invasion impacts on N cycling. Invasions that caused the greatest increases in soil inorganic N and mineralization rates had a much greater litter N content and lower litter C : N in the invaded than the reference community. Trait dissimilarities were better predictors than the trait values of invasive species alone. Quantifying baseline community tissue traits, in addition to those of the invasive species, is critical to understanding the impacts of invasion on soil N cycling.
authors: Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
authors: Marissa R
authors: MR
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
authors: Emily S
authors: ES
authors: Bernhardt
authors: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, Leiden, 2333 CC, the Netherlands.
authors: Peter M
authors: PM
authors: van Bodegom
authors: Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, the Netherlands.
authors: J Hans C
authors: JH
authors: Cornelissen
authors: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans Knöll Str. 10, Jena, 07745, Germany.|German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig, 04103, Germany.
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Kattge
authors: Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand.
authors: Daniel C
authors: DC
authors: Laughlin
authors: Department of Plant Physiology, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, Tartu, 51014, Estonia.
authors: Ülo
authors: Ü
authors: Niinemets
authors: CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08193, Spain.|CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08193, Spain.
authors: Josep
authors: J
authors: Peñuelas
authors: Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA.|Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
authors: Peter B
authors: PB
authors: Reich
authors: Unité MECADEV mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution, UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, 4 avenue du Petit Château, Brunoy, 91800, France.|Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO-UMR 7204), Sorbonne Universités-MNHN-CNRS-UPMC, CP51, 55-61 rue Buffon, Paris, 75005, France.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Yguel
authors: Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
authors: Justin P
authors: JP
authors: Wright
mesh_terms: D058865:Introduced Species; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D058458:Nitrogen Cycle; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012987:Soil
keywords: functional trait; leaf carbon to nitrogen; leaf nitrogen content; mineralization; nitrogen cycling; nutrient-use strategy; plant invasions