Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic invertebrate community in intertidal wetlands

Abstract Exotic species invasions have profound effects on native ecosystems, with the ecological effects of non‐native plants being especially pervasive. We investigated the impacts of a plant invasion on benthic invertebrate assemblages in intertidal wetlands of the Yellow River Delta, comparing b...

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Main Authors: Kangle Lu, Guangxuan Han, Haitao Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-03-01
Series:Ecosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3963
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author Kangle Lu
Guangxuan Han
Haitao Wu
author_facet Kangle Lu
Guangxuan Han
Haitao Wu
author_sort Kangle Lu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Exotic species invasions have profound effects on native ecosystems, with the ecological effects of non‐native plants being especially pervasive. We investigated the impacts of a plant invasion on benthic invertebrate assemblages in intertidal wetlands of the Yellow River Delta, comparing benthic communities associated with exotic Spartina alterniflora against those associated with native plants (Tamarix chinensis, Suaeda salsa, and mudflat). Our study surprisingly found that the density, diversity, and richness of benthic invertebrates associated with S. alterniflora were higher than with native habitats. Multivariate analysis also revealed that the structure of benthic invertebrates in S. alterniflora habitats was different than in T. chinensis and mudflat habitats. The structure of invertebrates associated with the invasive S. alterniflora and native S. salsa was more similar, although the dominant species differed. Indicator species analyses indicated that each habitat was characterized by unique taxa. S. alterniflora invasion increased the beta diversity of the community, with the species turnover component being of most importance. Mollusks were most likely to be influenced by Spartina invasions. Given the extent of the S. alterniflora invasion in the Yellow River Delta, altered benthic invertebrate communities will likely have important implications for the ecology of the intertidal wetland ecosystems and deserve increased attention.
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spelling doaj.art-ab70b28e7039455cbc82494f1b033ae42022-12-21T23:53:58ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252022-03-01133n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.3963Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic invertebrate community in intertidal wetlandsKangle Lu0Guangxuan Han1Haitao Wu2Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun ChinaKey Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Yantai ChinaKey Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun ChinaAbstract Exotic species invasions have profound effects on native ecosystems, with the ecological effects of non‐native plants being especially pervasive. We investigated the impacts of a plant invasion on benthic invertebrate assemblages in intertidal wetlands of the Yellow River Delta, comparing benthic communities associated with exotic Spartina alterniflora against those associated with native plants (Tamarix chinensis, Suaeda salsa, and mudflat). Our study surprisingly found that the density, diversity, and richness of benthic invertebrates associated with S. alterniflora were higher than with native habitats. Multivariate analysis also revealed that the structure of benthic invertebrates in S. alterniflora habitats was different than in T. chinensis and mudflat habitats. The structure of invertebrates associated with the invasive S. alterniflora and native S. salsa was more similar, although the dominant species differed. Indicator species analyses indicated that each habitat was characterized by unique taxa. S. alterniflora invasion increased the beta diversity of the community, with the species turnover component being of most importance. Mollusks were most likely to be influenced by Spartina invasions. Given the extent of the S. alterniflora invasion in the Yellow River Delta, altered benthic invertebrate communities will likely have important implications for the ecology of the intertidal wetland ecosystems and deserve increased attention.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3963biological invasioncommunity structuremolluskthe Yellow River Deltaturnover
spellingShingle Kangle Lu
Guangxuan Han
Haitao Wu
Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic invertebrate community in intertidal wetlands
Ecosphere
biological invasion
community structure
mollusk
the Yellow River Delta
turnover
title Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic invertebrate community in intertidal wetlands
title_full Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic invertebrate community in intertidal wetlands
title_fullStr Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic invertebrate community in intertidal wetlands
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic invertebrate community in intertidal wetlands
title_short Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic invertebrate community in intertidal wetlands
title_sort effects of spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic invertebrate community in intertidal wetlands
topic biological invasion
community structure
mollusk
the Yellow River Delta
turnover
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3963
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