Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Establishment Success of Coexisting Native and Exotic Trees Under an Experimental Gradient of Irradiance and Soil Moisture

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The exotic trees Ailanthus altissima, Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer negundo and Elaeagnus angustifolia coexist with the native trees Fraxinus angustifolia and Ulmus minor in river banks of central Spain. Similarly, the exotic trees Acacia dealbata and Eucalyptus globulus co-occur with the natives Quercus pyrenaica and Pinus pinaster in Northwest Spain. We aimed to identify the environmental conditions that favour or hamper the establishment success of these species. In spring 2008, seeds of the studied species were sown under an experimental gradient of light (100, 65, 35, 7% of full sunlight) combined with three levels of soil moisture (mean soil water potential = −0.97, −1.52 and −1.77 MPa.). During the first growing season we monitored seed emergence and seedling survival. We found that the effect of light on the establishment success was stronger than the effect of soil moisture. Both exotic and native species of central Spain showed a good performance under high light, A. negundo being the most shade tolerant. Water shortage diminished E. angustifolia and A. altissima success. Among NW Spain species, A. dealbata and P. pinaster were found to be potential competitors for colonizing high-irradiance scenarios, while Q. pyrenaica and E. globulus were more successful under moderate shade. High soil moisture favoured E. globulus but not A. dealbata establishment. These results contribute to understand some of the factors controlling for spatial segregation between coexisting native and exotic tree species, and can help to take decisions orientated to the control and management of these exotic species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Babu RC, Kandasamy O (1997) Allelopathic effect of Eucalyptus globulus Labill on Cyperus rotundus L and Cynodon dactylon L Pers. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 179:123–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baruch Z, Bilbao B (1999) Effects of fire and defoliation on the life history of native and invader C-4 grasses in a Neotropical savanna. Oecologia 119:510–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boring LR, Swank WT (1984) The role of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in Forest Succession. Journal of Ecology 72:749–766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Call LJ, Nilsen ET (2003) Analysis of spatial patterns and spatial association between the invasive tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and the native black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). American Midland Naturalist 150:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carballeira A, Reigosa MJ (1999) Effects of natural lecheates of Acacia dealbata Link in Galicia (NW Spain). Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica 40:87–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Castro J (2006) Short delay in timing of emergence determines establishment success in Pinus sylvestris across microhabitats. Annals of Botany 98:1233–1240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castro-Díez P, Navarro J, Pintado A, Sancho LG, Maestro M (2006) Interactive effects of shade and watering on the performance of seedlings of three Mediterranean Quercus species. Tree Physiology 26:389–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castro-Díez P, Navarro J, Maestro M (2007) Effects of moderate shade and irrigation with eutrophicated water on the nitrogen economy of Mediterranean oak seedlings. Flora 203(3):243–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Catalán Bachiller G (1993) Semillas de árboles y arbustos forestales. Colección Técnica Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación ICONA, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Chytrý M, Maskell LC, Pino J, Pysek P, Vilà M, Font X, Smart SM (2008) Habitat invasions by alien plants: a quantitative comparison among Mediterranean, subcontinental and oceanic regions of Europe. Journal of Applied Ecology 45:448–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daehler CC (2003) Performance comparisons of co-occurring native and alien invasive plants: implications for conservation and restoration. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolutions and Systematics 34:183–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deka RN, Wairiu M, Mtakwa PW, Mullins CE, Veenendaal EM, Townend J (1995) Use and accuracy of the filter-paper technique for measurement of soil matric potential. European Journal of Soil Science 46:233–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeWine JM, Cooper DJ (2007) Effects of river regulation on riparian box elder (Acer negundo) forest in canyons of the upper Colorado River basin, USA. Wetlands 27:278–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeWine JM, Cooper DJ (2008) Canopy shade and the successional replacement of tamarisk by native box elder. Journal of Applied Ecology Ecol 45:505–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erfmeier A, Bruelheide H (2005) Invasive and native Rhododendron ponticum populations: is there evidence for genotypic differences in emergence and growth? Ecography 28:417–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreras AE, Galetto L (2010) From seed production to seedling establishment: important steps in an invasive process. Acta Oecologica 36:211–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Fayos PC (2001) Bases ecológicas para la recolección, almacenamiento y germinación de semillas de especies de uso forestal en la Comunidad Valenciana. Banc de Llavors Forestals, Conselleria de Medi Ambient, Valencia

    Google Scholar 

  • González E, González-Sanchís M, Cabezas A, Comín FA, Muller E (2010) Recent changes in the riparian forest of a large regulated Mediterranean river: Implications for management. Environmental Management 45:669–681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grime JP (1977) Evidence for the existence of three primary strategies in plants and its relevance to ecological and evolutionary theory. American Naturalist 111:1169–1194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grotkopp E, Rejmánek M (2007) High seedling relative growth rate and specific leaf area are traits of invasive species: phylogenetically independent contrasts of woody angiosperms. American Journal of Botany 94(4):526–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones RH, Sharitz RR (1989) Potential advantages and disadvantages of germinating early for trees in floodplain forests. Oecología 81:443–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung SC, Matsushita N, Wu BY, Kondo N, Shiraishi A, Hogetsu T (2009) Reproduction of a Robinia pseudoacacia population in a coastal Pinus thunbergii windbreak along the Kujukurihama Coast, Japan. Journal of Forest Research 14:101–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabeya D, Sakai S (2003) The role of roots and cotyledons as storage organs in early stages of establishment in Quercus crispula: a quantitative analysis of the non-structural carbohydrate in cotyledons and roots. Annals of Botany 92:537–545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knapp LB, Canham CD (2000) Invasion of an old growth forest in New York by Ailanthus altissima: sapling growth and recruitment in canopy gaps. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 127:307–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kowarik I, Saumel I (2007) Biological flora of Central Europe: Ailanthus altissima (Mill) Swingle Pers. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 8:207–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzo P, Pazos-Malvido E, González L, Reigosa MJ (2008) Allelopathic interference of invasive Acacia dealbata: Physiological effects. Allelopathy Journal 22:452–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzo P, González L, Reigosa MJ (2010) The genus Acacia as invader: the characteristic case of Acacia dealbata Link in Europe. Annals of Forestry Science 67:101–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzo P, Palomera-Pérez A, Reigosa MJ, González L (2011) Allelopathic interference of invasive Acacia dealbata Link on the physiological parameters of native understory species. Plant Ecology 212:403–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney JM, Rood SB (1992) Response of an hybrid poplar to water table decline in different substrates. Forest Ecology and Management 54:141–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney JM, Rood SB (1998) Streamflow requirements for cottonwood seedling recruitment- an integrative model. Wetlands 18:634–645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masaka K, Yamada K (2009) Variation in emergence character of Robinia pseudoacacia L (Leguminosae) seeds at individual tree level. Journal of Forest Research 14:167–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller TE, Winn AA, Schemske DW (1994) The effects of density and spatial distribution of selection for emergence time in Prunella vulgaris (Lamiaceae). American Journal of Botany 81:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitrakos KA (1980) A theory for Mediterranean plant life. Acta Oecologica 1:245–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Molina A, Reigosa MJ, Carballeira A (1991) Release of allelochemical agents from litter, throughfall, and topsoil in plantations of Eucalyptus globulus labill in Spain. Journal of Chemical Ecology 17:147–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets Ü, Valladares F (2006) Tolerance to shade, drought, and waterlogging of temperate Northern hemisphere trees and shrubs. Ecological Monographs 76:521–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orshan G (1989) Plant Pheno-Morphological Studies in Mediterranean Type Ecosystems. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Pattison RR, Goldstein G, Ares A (1998) Growth, biomass allocation and photosynthesis of invasive and native Hawaiian rainforest species. Oecologia 117:449–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perglová I, Pergl J, Skálová H, Moravcová L, Jarosík V, Pysek P (2009) Differences in germination and seedling establishment of alien and native Impatiens species. Preslia 81:357–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Piotto B, Di Noi A (2001) Propagation of Mediterranean trees and shrubs from seed APAT––Agency for the protection of the environment and for technical services

  • Pysek P, Richardson DM (2007) Traits associated with invasiveness in alien plants: where do we stand. In: Nentwig, W (Ed). Biological Invasions Springer-Verlag, Berlin and Heidelberg, pp 97–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Gómez D, Valladares F, Zavala MA (2006a) Performance of seedlings of Mediterranean woody species under experimental gradients of irradiance and water availability: trade-offs and evidence for niche differentiation. New Phytologist 170:795–806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Gómez D, Zavala MA, Valladares F (2006b) Seedling survival responses to irradiance are differentially influenced by low water availability in four tree species of the Iberian cool temperate-Mediterranean ecotone. Acta Oecologica 30:322–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanz Elorza, M, Dana Sánchez, ED, Sobrino Vespertinas, E (2004) Atlas de plantas alóctonas invasoras en España. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente Madrid

  • Seiwa K (2000) Effects of seed size and emergence time on tree seedling establishment: importance of developmental constraints. Oecologia 123:208–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shafroth PB, Auble GT, Scott ML (1995) Emergence and establishment of the native plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides Marshall subsp monilifera) and the exotic Russian-Olive (Elaeagnus angsutifolia L). Conservation Biology 9:1169–1175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valladares F (2004a) Ecología del bosque mediterráneo en un mundo cambiante. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente Organismo Autónomo de Parques Naturales, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Valladares F (2004b) Global Change and radiation in Mediterranean forest ecosystems: a meeting point for ecology and management. In: Arianoutsou M, Papanastasis V (eds) Ecology, conservation and sustainable managements of Mediterranean type ecosystems of the world. Millpress, Rotterdam, pp 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Verdú M, Traveset A (2005) Early emergence enhances plant fitness: a phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis. Ecology 86:1385–1394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber E (2003) Invasive plant species of the world. A reference guide to environmental weeds. CABI Publishing, Zurich

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1999) Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the projects CGL2007-61873/BOS, CGL2010-16388/BOS of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and POII10-0179-4700 of the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha. Noelia González-Muñoz was supported by a grant of the SMSI (FPI fellowship, BES-2008-002457) and by a grant of Alcalá University. We acknowledge Rosendo Elvira and the staff of the Alcalá University Botanical Garden for their support to perform this experiment. We are grateful to the support of the REMEDINAL-2network (Comunidad de Madrid). We also thank Evelyn Beliën for her valuable help with the plant measurements.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Alcalá University, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 28871, Spain

    Noelia González-Muñoz, Pilar Castro-Díez & Natalia Fierro-Brunnenmeister

Authors
  1. Noelia González-Muñoz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pilar Castro-Díez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Natalia Fierro-Brunnenmeister
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Noelia González-Muñoz.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

González-Muñoz, N., Castro-Díez, P. & Fierro-Brunnenmeister, N. Establishment Success of Coexisting Native and Exotic Trees Under an Experimental Gradient of Irradiance and Soil Moisture. Environmental Management 48, 764–773 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9731-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9731-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation