Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cuscuta australis restrains three exotic invasive plants and benefits native species

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biological Invasions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study we conducted field investigations to examine the effects of native Cuscuta australis on three exotic invasive plants (i.e. Ipomoea cairica, Mikania micrantha, and Wedelia trilobata) and on the invaded native communities. The results showed that C. australis produced high infection rates on the exotic invasive hosts but low ones on the native species. Furthermore, the results showed that C. australis exhibited vigorous growth and high reproduction when it grew on M. micrantha and W. trilobata, indicating that these exotic invasive plants are more rewarding hosts than are native plants for C. australis. C. australis infection was positively related to the growth traits (e.g. biomass, cover, and total leaf area) and nutrient contents (e.g. N, P, and K) of the exotic invasive plants. The infections of C. australis significantly decreased the growth and nutrient contents of exotic invasive hosts, and the host–parasite interactions benefited the native species with increased species richness and biodiversity, facilitating the recovery of invaded native communities. This study provides a model for a native agent to both resist exotic invasive plants and benefit other native species. Furthermore, it indicates that certain native agents in invaded regions can be an effective and environmentally benign alternative to traditional biological control.

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
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen SE (1989) Chemical analysis of ecological materials. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpert P (2006) The advantages and disadvantages of being introduced. Biol Invasions 8:1523–1534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alpert P, Bone E, Holzapfel C (2000) Invasiveness, invasibility, and the role of environmental stress in preventing the spread of non-native plants. Perspect Plant Ecol Evol Syst 3:52–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aritua V, Adipala E, Carey EE, Gibson RW (1998) The incidence of sweet potato virus disease and virus resistance of sweet potato grown in Uganda. Ann Appl Biol 132:399–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bacher S, Schwab F (2000) Effect of herbivore density, timing of attack and plant community on performance of creeping thistle Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Asteraceae). Biocontrol Sci Technol 10:343–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bremner JM, Mulvaney CS (1982) Nitrogen-total. In: Page AL et al (eds) Part 2: methods of soil analysis. America Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 595–624

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooker RW, Callaghan TV (1998) The balance between positive and negative plant interactions and its relationship to environmental gradients: a model. Oikos 81:196–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM, Maron JL (2006) What have exotic plant invasions taught us over the past 20 years? Trends Ecol Evol 21:369–374

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM, Pennings SC (1998) Impact of a parasitic plant on the zonation of two salt marsh perennials. Oecologia 114:100–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Culliney TW (2005) Benefits of classical biological control for managing invasive plants. Crit Rev Plant Sci 24:131–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Genovesi P (2005) Eradications of invasive alien species in Europe: a review. Biol Invasions 7:127–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He WM, Feng YL, Ridenour WM, Thelen GC, Pollock JL, Diaconu A, Callaway RM (2009) Novel weapons and invasion: biogeographic differences in the competitive effects of Centaurea maculosa and its root exudate (±)-catechin. Oecologia 159:803–815

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson S, Dawson TP, Whittaker RJ (2006) Progress in invasive plants research. Prog Phys Geogr 30:25–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koch AM, Binder C, Sanders IR (2004) Does the generalist parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris selectively forage in heterogeneous plant communities? New Phytol 162:147–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li JM, Dong M (2009) Fine-scale clonal structure and diversity of invasive plant Mikania micrantha H.B.K. and its plant parasite Cuscuta campestris Yunker. Biol Invasions 11:687–695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Stiling P (2006) Testing the enemy release hypothesis: a review and meta-analysis. Biol Invasions 8:1535–1545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Dong M, Miao SL, Li ZY, Song MH, Wang RQ (2006) Invasive alien plants in China: role of clonality and geographical origin. Biol Invasions 8:1461–1470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Stiling P, Pemberton RW (2007) Does enemy release matter for invasive plants? Evidence from a comparison of insect herbivore damage among invasive, non-invasive and native congeners. Biol Invasions 9:773–781

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louda SM, Stiling P (2004) The double-edged sword of biological control in conservation and restoration. Conserv Biol 18:50–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe S, Browne M, Boudjelas S, Poorter MD (2001) 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species. A selection from the global invasive species database. Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), Auckland

    Google Scholar 

  • Marvier MA, Smith DL (1997) Conservation implications of host use for rare parasitic plants. Conserv Biol 11:839–848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGlynn CA (2009) Native and invasive plant interactions in wetlands and the minimal role of invasiveness. Biol Invasions 11:1929–1939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medel R (2000) Assessment of parasite-mediated selection in a host–parasite system in plants. Ecology 81:1554–1564

    Google Scholar 

  • Messing RH, Wright MG (2006) Biological control of invasive species: solution or pollution? Front Ecol Environ 4:132–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyerson LA, Mooney HA (2007) Invasive alien species in an era of globalization. Front Ecol Environ 5:199–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyerson LA, Reaser JK (2003) Bioinvasions, bioterrorism, and biosecurity. Front Ecol Environ 1:307–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muller-Scharer H, Schaffner U, Steinger T (2004) Evolution in invasive plants: implications for biological control. Trends Ecol Evol 19:417–422

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parker JD, Hay ME (2005) Biotic resistance to plant invasions? Native herbivores prefer non-native plants. Ecol Lett 8:959–967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker JD, Burkepile DE, Hay ME (2006) Opposing effects of native and exotic herbivores on plant invasions. Science 311:1459–1461

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson DE, Callaway RM (2003) Indirect effects of host-specific biological control agents. Trends Ecol Evol 18:456–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennings S, Callaway R (2002) Parasitic plants: parallels and contrasts with herbivores. Oecologia 131:479–489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Press MC, Phoenix GK (2005) Impacts of parasitic plants on natural communities. New Phytol 166:737–751

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon SP, Creed RP (1995) Use of a native insect as a biological-control for an introduced weed. Ecol Appl 5:1122–1132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon SP, Creed RP (2003) The effect of a native biological control agent for Eurasian watermilfoil on six North American watermilfoils. Aquat Bot 76:259–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen H, Ye W, Hong L, Huang H, Wang Z, Deng X, Yang Q, Xu Z (2006) Progress in parasitic plant biology: host selection and nutrient transfer. Plant Biol 8:175–185

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simberloff D (2005) The politics of assessing risk for biological invasions: the USA as a case study. Trends Ecol Evol 20:216–222

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simberloff D (2009) We can eliminate invasions or live with them. Successful management projects. Biol Invasions 11:149–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simberloff D, Parker IM, Windle PN (2005) Introduced species policy, management, and future research needs. Front Ecol Environ 3:12–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons MT (2005) Bullying the bullies: the selective control of an exotic, invasive annual (Rapistrum rugosum) by oversowing with a competitive native species (Gaillardia pulchella). Restor Ecol 13:609–615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stamp N (2003) Theory of plant defensive level: example of process and pitfalls in development of ecological theory. Oikos 102:672–678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas MB, Reid AM (2007) Are exotic natural enemies an effective way of controlling invasive plants? Trends Ecol Evol 22:447–453

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torchin ME, Mitchell CE (2004) Parasites, pathogens, and invasions by plants and animals. Front Ecol Environ 2:183–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang BS, Wang YJ, Liao WB, Zan QJ, Li MG, Peng SL, Han AC, Zhang WY, Chen DP (2004) The invasion ecology and management of alien weed Mikania micrantha H.B.K. Science press, Beijing, pp 152–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu YQ, Hu YJ (2004) Researches on photosynthetic characteristics of exotic plants Wedelia trilobata, Pharbitis nil and Ipomoea cairica. Acta Ecol Sin 24:2332–2339

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z, Raven PH, Garden MB (1994) Flora of China. Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Chen Z, Peng S (2006) Allelopathic potential of invasive weeds: Alternanthera philoxeroide, Ipomoea cairica and Spartina alterniflora. Allelopathy J 17:279–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu H, Yu FH, Miao SL, Dong M (2008) Holoparasitic Cuscuta campestris suppresses invasive Mikania micrantha and contributes to native community recovery. Biol Conserv 141:2653–2661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu H, He WM, Liu J, Miao SL, Dong M (2009) Native Cuscuta campestris restrains exotic Mikania micrantha and enhances soil resources beneficial to natives in the invaded communities. Biol Invasions 11:835–844

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuncker TG (1932) The genus Cuscuta. Mem Torrey Bot Club 18:138–140

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate Dr. Shu-Min Zhang for her help on experiment design, Dr. Wen-Bo Liao for his support for specimen identification, Drs. Qi-Jie Zan and Ai-Ping Wu for their assistance during field investigation, Drs. Hong Liu, Daniel Simberloff, Laura Meyerson, Ragan M. Callaway and Peter Hyde for their valuable and constructive suggestions on improving this manuscript. This study was supported by the Grant for Oversea Distinguished Scholars of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (58246G1215) and China Post-doctoral Foundation (20090450329).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100093, Beijing, China

    Hua Yu, Wei-Ming He, Shi-Li Miao & Ming Dong

  2. Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 100193, Beijing, China

    Hua Yu

  3. Institute of Environment Research, Shandong University, 250100, Jinan, China

    Jian Liu

Authors
  1. Hua Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jian Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wei-Ming He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shi-Li Miao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ming Dong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ming Dong.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yu, H., Liu, J., He, WM. et al. Cuscuta australis restrains three exotic invasive plants and benefits native species. Biol Invasions 13, 747–756 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9865-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9865-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation