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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (2): 115-123.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2020286

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The stoichiometric characteristics of Alternanthera philoxeroides with different invasive degrees and their comparison with the coexisting species Gomphrena celosioides

Ju-hong WANG1(), Ze-xuan XU1, Wen CHEN2, Hui ZHU1(), Long-jun HUANG1, Jia-wei LI1   

  1. 1.College of Food Technology and Life Science,Hanshan Normal University,Chaozhou 521041,China
    2.School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management,Hanshan Normal University,Chaozhou 521041,China
  • Received:2020-06-23 Revised:2020-09-27 Online:2021-02-20 Published:2021-01-19
  • Contact: Hui ZHU

Abstract:

Invasion by alien species affects the diversity level and the stability of ecosystems. This study explored the nutritional strategy and successful invasion mechanism of Alternanthera philoxeroides with different degrees of invasion (mild, moderate, and heavy invasion) by measuring carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) contents and their stoichiometry of soils, plant organs and comparing these with a coexisting species, Gomphrena celosioides. It was found that: 1) The element contents in soils increased with alien species invasion. The available phosphorus (AP) content in soil with heavy invasion is higher than the other habitats; 2) N and P contents of A. philoxeroides organs in the three invasive degrees were the leaf>roots and stems, indicating that the elements N and P were more allocated to the leaves; 3) N content in organs, and P content in leaves of A. philoxeroides were significantly higher thanthatof G. celosioides, showing that alien species have strong absorption and utilization of the elements N and P; 4) The C∶P and N∶P ratios of A. philoxeroides leaves were significantly lower than those of G. celosioides, indicating that the growth rate of the invasive species, A. philoxeroides, was higher than that of the companion. The N∶P ratio in roots and stems of A. philoxeroides was greater than G. celosioides. It indicates that invasive plant A. philoxeroides by absorption and utilization of resources, and rapid growth of aboveground parts increases competitiveness, and further expansion.

Key words: ecological stoichiometry, Alternanthera. philoxeroides, Gomphrena celosioides, nutrient strategy, invasive species