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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2022, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (9): 13-25.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2021447

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Effects of Alternanthera philoxeroides invasion on plant diversity in the riparian zones of downtown Chongqing in the Three Gorges Reservoir area

Li-miao ZHANG(), Xue TAN, Zhi DONG, Jie ZHENG, Zhong-xun YUAN, Chang-xiao LI()   

  1. Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education),Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region,College of Life Sciences,Southwest University,Chongqing 400715,China
  • Received:2021-12-01 Revised:2022-03-14 Online:2022-09-20 Published:2022-08-12
  • Contact: Chang-xiao LI

Abstract:

To assess the impact of the Alternanthera philoxeroides invasion on the species composition and diversity in the urban riparian zone, 47 sample sites in the riparian zones of downtown Chongqing in the Three Gorges Reservoir area of China were investigated. The results were as follows: 1) In the main waterway riparian zones, both the Patrick richness index and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index were significantly lower than in the tributary riparian zones, and the Pielou evenness index in the main waterway riparian zone was significantly higher than in the tributary riparian zone. There was no significant difference in the Simpson diversity index between the main waterway and the tributary riparian zone. 2) As the cover of invading A. philoxeroides increased, the Simpson diversity index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and Pielou evenness index of the main waterway and tributary riparian zones fell, after initially rising, and each diversity index’s invasion threshold differed. While the Patrick richness index dropped significantly in the tributary, the main waterway had no significant change. 3) The main soil factors affecting the species diversity of the main waterway riparian zone were organic matter, nitrate nitrogen, and total nitrogen. The main soil factors affecting the species diversity of the tributary riparian zone were soil moisture, total nitrogen and available phosphorus. 4) The invasion of A. philoxeroides was mainly correlated with available potassium, organic matter, and total nitrogen in the main waterway riparian zone. In contrast, it was more correlated with available phosphorus, available potassium, and total nitrogen in the tributary riparian zone. Our studies have shown that A. philoxeroides is more likely to invade habitats with high soil nutrient content. A mild invasion of A. philoxeroides promotes species diversity in urban riparian zones. In contrast, moderate and severe invasions will reduce species diversity, especially in tributary riparian zones. Thus, we should do more work to keep track of this invasive species and develop effective and practical ways to stop it from spreading.

Key words: urban riparian zone, Alternanthera philoxeroides, biological invasion, species diversity, soil factors