BIBLIOS

Document type
Journal articles

Document subtype
Full paper

Title
Community scale 15N isoscapes: tracing the spatial impact of an exotic N2-fixing invader

Participants in the publication
Katherine G. Rascher (Author)
Christine Hellmann (Author)
Cristina Máguas (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
cE3c
cE3c
Christiane Werner (Author)

Summary
Abstract\\nPlant–plant interactions are key processes shaping plant communities, but methods are lacking to accurately capture the spatial dimension of these processes. Isoscapes, i.e. spatially continuous observations of variations in stable isotope ratios, provide innovative methods to trace the spatial dimension of ecological processes at continental to global scales. Herein, we test the usefulness of nitrogen isoscapes (δ15N) for quantifying alterations in community functioning following exotic plant invasion. Nitrogen introduced by an exotic N2?fixing acacia could be accurately traced through the ecosystem and into the surrounding native vegetation by combining native species foliar δ15N with spatial information regarding plant location using geostatistical methods. The area impacted by N?addition was at least 3.5?fold greater than the physical area covered by the invader. Thus, downscaling isoscapes to the community level opens new frontiers in quantifying the spatial dimension of functional changes associated with invasion and in resolving the spatial component of within?community interactions.


Where published
Ecology Letters

Publication Identifiers
ISSN - 1461-023X

Publisher
Wiley



Document Identifiers
DOI - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01761.x
URL - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01761.x

Rankings
SCOPUS Q1 (2012) - 9.224 - Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Keywords
Acacia longifolia ecosystem changes exotic plant invasion invasive acacia isoscape N-cycle N-fixation plant-plant interaction spacial scale 15N stable isotope