Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-29-2020

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Ecology

Volume

57

Issue Number

4

First Page

786

Last Page

793

Abstract

  1. The availability of compatible mutualistic soil microbes could influence the invasion success of non-native plant species. Specifically, there may be spatial variation in the distribution of compatible microbes, and species-specific variation in plant host ability to associate with available microbes. Although either or both factors could promote or limit invasion, the scale over which most studies are conducted makes it difficult to examine these two possibilities simultaneously. However, this is critical to identifying a role of soil microbes in invasion.
  2. A series of recent research projects focused on interactions between Australian Acacia and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) at multiple spatial scales, from the local to the inter-continental, has allowed us to evaluate this question. Collectively, this research reveals that nodulation, performance and rhizobial community composition are all broadly similar across spatial scales and differentially invasive species.
  3. Synthesis and applications. We argue that current research provides convincing evidence that interactions with rhizobia do not determine invasion success in Acacia, but instead highlights key knowledge gaps that remain unfilled. Importantly, the ease with which non-native Acacia species form mutualistic associations with rhizobia, regardless of invasive status, highlights the critical need to understand the impacts of all non-native Acacia on native soil communities.

Comments

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Wandrag, EM, Birnbaum, C, Klock, MM, Barrett, LG, Thrall, PH. Availability of soil mutualists may not limit non-native Acacia invasion but could increase their impact on native soil communities. J Appl Ecol. 2020; 57: 786– 793, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13577. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.

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