Effects of Elevated Temperature and High and Low Rainfall on the Germination and Growth of the Invasive Alien Plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i>
The impact of climate change on the germination and growth of invasive alien plants varies depending on the plant species and invasion process. We experimentally assessed the responses of the invasive alien plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> to future climate change scenarios—namely, elevated...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2633 |
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| author | Tshililo Kharivha Sheunesu Ruwanza Gladman Thondhlana |
| author_facet | Tshililo Kharivha Sheunesu Ruwanza Gladman Thondhlana |
| author_sort | Tshililo Kharivha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The impact of climate change on the germination and growth of invasive alien plants varies depending on the plant species and invasion process. We experimentally assessed the responses of the invasive alien plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> to future climate change scenarios—namely, elevated temperature as well as high and low rainfall. <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> was grown at an elevated air temperature (+2 °C), high rainfall (6 mm per day), and low rainfall (1.5 mm per day), and its germination and growth performance were measured over five months. We further examined changes in soil nutrients to assess if the above-mentioned climate change scenarios affected soils. Both elevated temperature and high rainfall did not influence <i>A. mearnsii</i> germination and seedling growth. In contrast, we observed reductions in <i>A. mearnsii</i> germination and growth in the low rainfall treatment, an indication that future drought conditions might negatively affect <i>A. mearnsii</i> invasion. We noted that elevated temperature and rainfall resulted in varied effects on soil properties (particularly soil C, N, Ca, and Mg content). We conclude that both elevated temperature and high rainfall may not enhance <i>A. mearnsii</i> invasion through altering germination and growth, but a decrease in <i>A. mearnsii</i> invasiveness is possible under low rainfall conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:16:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ec4cec9c3734d3c8b57d7e90125cf90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:16:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ec4cec9c3734d3c8b57d7e90125cf902023-11-23T21:30:46ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-10-011119263310.3390/plants11192633Effects of Elevated Temperature and High and Low Rainfall on the Germination and Growth of the Invasive Alien Plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i>Tshililo Kharivha0Sheunesu Ruwanza1Gladman Thondhlana2Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140, South AfricaDepartment of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140, South AfricaDepartment of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140, South AfricaThe impact of climate change on the germination and growth of invasive alien plants varies depending on the plant species and invasion process. We experimentally assessed the responses of the invasive alien plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> to future climate change scenarios—namely, elevated temperature as well as high and low rainfall. <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> was grown at an elevated air temperature (+2 °C), high rainfall (6 mm per day), and low rainfall (1.5 mm per day), and its germination and growth performance were measured over five months. We further examined changes in soil nutrients to assess if the above-mentioned climate change scenarios affected soils. Both elevated temperature and high rainfall did not influence <i>A. mearnsii</i> germination and seedling growth. In contrast, we observed reductions in <i>A. mearnsii</i> germination and growth in the low rainfall treatment, an indication that future drought conditions might negatively affect <i>A. mearnsii</i> invasion. We noted that elevated temperature and rainfall resulted in varied effects on soil properties (particularly soil C, N, Ca, and Mg content). We conclude that both elevated temperature and high rainfall may not enhance <i>A. mearnsii</i> invasion through altering germination and growth, but a decrease in <i>A. mearnsii</i> invasiveness is possible under low rainfall conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2633global changebiological invasionswarmingsoil droughtplant response |
| spellingShingle | Tshililo Kharivha Sheunesu Ruwanza Gladman Thondhlana Effects of Elevated Temperature and High and Low Rainfall on the Germination and Growth of the Invasive Alien Plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> Plants global change biological invasions warming soil drought plant response |
| title | Effects of Elevated Temperature and High and Low Rainfall on the Germination and Growth of the Invasive Alien Plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> |
| title_full | Effects of Elevated Temperature and High and Low Rainfall on the Germination and Growth of the Invasive Alien Plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Elevated Temperature and High and Low Rainfall on the Germination and Growth of the Invasive Alien Plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Elevated Temperature and High and Low Rainfall on the Germination and Growth of the Invasive Alien Plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> |
| title_short | Effects of Elevated Temperature and High and Low Rainfall on the Germination and Growth of the Invasive Alien Plant <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> |
| title_sort | effects of elevated temperature and high and low rainfall on the germination and growth of the invasive alien plant i acacia mearnsii i |
| topic | global change biological invasions warming soil drought plant response |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2633 |
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