Research Article
Do plant traits predict the competitive abilities of closely related species?
Lauren M. Schwartz1,3*, David J. Gibson1 and Bryan G. Young2 1 Department of Plant Biology, Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
2 Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA Downloaded from 3 Present address: Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USA Received: 21 August 2015; Accepted: 10 December 2015; Published: 31 December 2015 Associate Editor: James F. Cahill Citation: Schwartz LM, Gibson DJ, Young BG. 2016. Do plant traits predict the competitive abilities of closely related species? AoB PLANTS 8: plv147; doi:10.1093/aobpla/plv147 http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.org/
Abstract. Invasive species are a threat to every ecosystem. There is a strong incentive to predict which species will become invasive before they become too widespread and unmanageable. Different approaches have been advocated to assess invasive species potential. These include examining plant functional traits, quantifying competitive ability and phylogenetic comparison. In this study, we conducted experiments based on the above approaches in a multi-year, temporally replicated, set of experiments to compare these assessment methods to determine the invasive potential of Japanese chaff flower (Achyranthes japonica). We compared plant traits and competitive ability of Japanese chaff
flower with two agricultural invasive species, Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and tall waterhemp (Amaranthus at Arkansas Multisite on January 21, 2016 tuberculatus), and one endangered plant species, bloodleaf (Iresine rhizomatosa), in the Amaranthaceae. Additionally, we assessed the invasive potential based on each of these approaches and determined the degree of agreement between them. A relatively conservative assessment integrating all three approaches would be that the competitive ability of closely related individuals with similar functional traits would share invasive potential. In a greenhouse experi- ment, each of the study species and soya beans were grown as monocultures and were evaluated to assess the draw- down of an aboveground (light) and a belowground (nitrogen) resource. In a field experiment, each study species was grown at varying densities per 15-cm-diameter pot with or without one or two soya bean plants, to simulate relative densities for soya beans grown in 38- and 76-cm-wide row spacing, respectively. In addition, Japanese chaff flower seed- lings were planted either as un-manipulated seedlings or as a seedling cut back to the soil surface at the four-node stage (cut Japanese chaff flower) at which point seedlings have reached a perennial growth stage. The greenhouse experiment showed that each species drew down light differently, but not nitrogen. Shading decreased the aboveground biomass of the species in comparison with unshaded controls. Nitrogen, however, increased the aboveground biomass of Palmer amaranth and Japanese chaff flower. In the field experiment, a competitive effect ranking was determined to be: tall waterhemp Palmer amaranth cut Japanese chaff flower uncut Japanese chaff flower bloodleaf, with the com- ≥ ¼ ≥ ≥ petitive response ranking being the inverse. These results suggest that under specific conditions, these closely related species do exhibit similar competitive abilities. Furthermore, the invasiveness and not the life history or habitat of these closely related species appeared to be the driving factor of competitiveness.
Keywords: Amaranthaceae; competition; early vegetative growth; invasive species; resource drawdown.
* Corresponding author’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properlycited.
AoB PLANTS www.aobplants.oxfordjournals.org & The Authors 2015 1 Fact Sheet: Ecology and Control of Japanese Chaf Flower
[Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai] Background Japanese chaf fower (Amaranthaceae) is a relatvely new exotc species that is natve to the eastern and south- eastern regions of Asia. This perennial herbaceous plant was frst found in North America in 1981 along the Tug Fork River in Martn County, Kentucky and has since spread down the Ohio River and its tributaries. Today, this species has been confrmed in 9 states and over 50 countes. The actual distributon of chaf fower in the United States is most likely underestmated due to the lack of public awareness. Water and animals, which includes birds, deer, and people, are the primary cause of spread. The longevity of Japanese chaf fower seed in the soil is unknown, but it is believed that the seeds can remain viable for a number of years. Impacts/Characteristcs High germinaton rate (~62% in drought years and ~94% in average years) High seed output (up to ~2,000/plant) ~ 60% of seedlings survive to produce seed in frst year Produces over 80 stems/m2 (~16,000 seeds) Similar compettve capabilites of other species in the same family (i.e., Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) or common waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus)) Contnual fushes of germinaton Outcompetes natve and invasive species (i.e., Japanese stltgrass (Microstegium viminuem)) Current distributon of Japanese chaf fower Allows very litle to no undergrowth due to dense canopy (map courtesy of www.eddmaps.org). Grows in areas with partal sun and moist soils, but can also grow in heavily shaded and dry areas Found in botomland and upland forests, along riverbanks, along agricultural feld margins, and in roadside ditches
Phenology Japanese chaf fower starts growing in late spring and fowers in the late summer. Flowers can contnue to develop into the early fall, even when seed is startng to be produced. The seeds are Progression of seed development mature in mid- to late-fall. As the plants die of in late fall or early (Photo by Travis Neal). winter the stems and remaining seed turn an orange-brown color. The dead plant stand can remain erect even into the winter untl heavy snow, ice, or foods cause the stems to break.
Descripton Perennial, herbaceous species (becomes perennial at three or four nodes) Grows up to three meters tall Leaves: opposite and simple Lopseed surrounded by Japanese chaf fower (Photo by Karla Gage). Stem: red at ground level (as well as the nodes) Flowers: erect spikes at the end of the stems and upper Commonly Misidentfed Species: branches (botle-brush appearance) lopseed (Phryma leptostachya) Fruits: two stf bracts aid in dispersal by ataching to hophornbeam copperleaf clothing, shoes, hair, or animal feathers/fur (Acalypha ostryifolia)
Mechanical Control: Infestatons with chaf fower having four nodes or less can be controlled by hand pulling the above ground plant and roots. It is not recommended to atempt to control perennial populatons by hand pulling alone due to chaf fower’s ability to resprout with increased branching and seed producton. In situatons where populatons of chaf fower are located along hiking trails, road sides and in urban areas, weed eatng and mowing could be a good opton to remove fowering heads and temporarily delay seed release. However, follow- up treatments with systemic herbicides are required to eliminate the plants. Chemical Control: All of the chemicals tested below are systemic herbicides designed to kill the aboveground plant as well as the perennial growth. The herbicides tested were all efectve in the control of chaf fower when sprayed as a 2% soluton in water. A non-ionic surfactant can be added to the soluton to help herbicide absorp- ton by the plant. Always read and follow the herbicide label. If making applicatons near standing water, aquatc- safe herbicides and surfactants must be used and an EPA NPDES permit may need to be obtained. Take every precauton to prevent impact to non-target plants in sensitve forestry sites. Aminopyralid may damage legumi- nous trees and certain evergreens. Applicators may exceed the 7/14 f. oz./acre rate limit if not careful. Of- target drif should always be a concern regardless of the chemical. Always read and follow the herbicide label; the label is the law. Chemical Name Trade Name Aquatc Safeness Herbicide Selectvity Manufacturer 2,4-D ester Various Do not apply to Selectve: Broadleaf Various standing water triclopyr amine Various Labeled for Selectve: Broadleaf Various aquatc use glyphosate Various Some labeled for Nonselectve Various aquatc use aminopyralid Milestone Do not apply to Selectve: Broadleaf Dow AgroSciences LLC Indianapolis, IN Specialty® standing water www.dowagro.com triclopyr and fu- PastureGard Do not apply to Selectve: Broadleaf Dow AgroSciences LLC Indianapolis, IN roxypyr HL® standing water www.dowagro.com aminopyralid and Opensight Do not apply to Selectve: Broadleaf Dow AgroSciences LLC Indianapolis, IN metsulfuron Specialty® standing water www.dowagro.com Actvites such as hiking and huntng can spread chaf fower seed. Make sure to thoroughly clean all seeds of of your clothing, equipment and pets if you are hiking, camping, or huntng in an area where this species occurs.
Reportng If you fnd any populatons of Japanese chaf fower, please contact the River to River CWMA (618-998-5920; [email protected]) or your local extension ofce, and alert other land managers in your area. Use resources like EddmapS (www.eddmaps.org) to check the current distributon of this species and to report any populatons that you come across. ______Citaton: Schwartz LM, KM Smith, C Evans, KL Gage, DJ Gibson, and BG Young. 2015. Fact Sheet: Close up of leaf orientaton and seed Ecology and Control of Japanese Chaf Flower [Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai]. htp:// head (Photo by Chris Evans). www.rtrcwma.org/Chaf_FactSheet.pdf
The authors would like to acknowledge Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and the Department of Plant Biology for their support; as well as, Dow AgroSciences and Cypress Creek Natonal Wildlife Refuge for chemicals.
Japanese chaf fower seedling. Infestaton of Japanese chaf fower. Achyranthes japonica: A new invader
Lauren M. Schwartz David J. Gibson Outline
• Achyranthes japonica
• Distribution
• Research at SIUC
• What we know
• Ongoing Research
• Things to Remember! Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai • Amaranthaceae • Perennial • Herbaceous • Reaches 3 meters tall • Native range: Korea, Japan and China • Habitat: Marshes, wetlands and rice paddies • Used and studied in Asian food and drug industry • Continual germination
(Evans 2010, Evans & Taylor 2011, Schwartz 2014) Achyranthes japonica
• Previous ecological studies Invasive on Korean Island (Pearson 2010, Choi et al. 2010) Entangling native Swinhoe’s storm-petrels • Mode of Transport Epizoochory 2 stiff bracts on seed Attaches to fur, feather, clothing Hydrochory Population following river floodplains • Allelopathy Korean rice paddy weed High levels of phenol (Kim 1993)
Dan Pearson Achyranthes japonica
• Previous ecological studies Invasive on Korean Island (Pearson 2010, Choi et al. 2010) Entangling native Swinhoe’s storm-petrels • Mode of Transport Epizoochory 2 stiff bracts on seed Attaches to fur, feather, clothing Hydrochory Population following river floodplains • Allelopathy Korean rice paddy weed High levels of phenol (Kim 1993) • Reproduces Seeds Rhizomes
Travis Neal RTRCWMA Current Distribution 1995 Louisville, KY 2008 Massac County, IL 1981 Martin County, KY 2011 Mississippi County, MO
Gibson Lab
• Currently the only lab studying A. japonica Gibson Lab Research on A. japonica • Seed viability/germination rate • Vector transport • Susceptibility to herbicides • Effects of herbivory • Population dynamics • Use of resources • Competitive effects/responses Research: Lindsay Shupert
Achyranthes japonica
350 100 Chestnut Hills 2012 2013 90 Cypress Creek 300
80 250 70
200 60 Chestnut Hills Cypress Creek
150 50 Log % survivorship % Log 100 40
Average Number of Seeds/Plant Number Average 50 Flowering Flowered Died Died 30 0 0 50 100 150 200 250 Chestnut Hills Cypress Creek Days Site • 57% seedling survivorship • 98% germination; high fecundity Research: Travis Neal
• Dispersal vectors – White tailed deer – Turkey feather – Clothing
A. japonica seed
Research: Katie Smith
• Herbicide titration on plants with 3 nodes • 6 herbicides • Field and greenhouse experiments Herbicide Active Mode of Action Field Rate Used Ingredient (2% equivalent) Radar LV® 2,4-D Ester Synthetic Auxin 1,264.91 g ai/ha
Element 3A Triclopyr Synthetic Auxin 1009.123 g ai/ha Specialty®
Bullzeye® Glyphosate Amino Acid 1,345.40 g ai/ha Synthesis Inhibitor
Milestone Aminopyralid Synthetic Auxin 672.8 g ai/ha Specialty®
PastureGard Triclopyr + Synthetic Auxin+ 1,345.68 g ae/ha HL® Fluroxypyr Synthetic Auxin
Opensight Aminopyralid + Synthetic Auxin+ 240.36 g ae/ha Specialty® Metsulfuron Amino Acid Synthesis Inhibitor Results 0.03 a 0.025 /ha)
ai 0.02
0.015
0.01 50 value (g 50 value - b
GR b 0.005 b b b
0
Herbicide
Bullzeye requires significantly more chemical to reduce growth by 50% Element 3A requires the least amount of chemical Research: Lauren Schwartz
600
) 500 -1 m -1
400 mols