Invasive Plant Ecology and Belowground Mutualisms
Summary
Invasive plants often outcompete native flora through a combination of rapid growth, efficient resource acquisition and interference with soil communities. Belowground mutualisms—particularly those involving arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen‐fixing bacteria—are fundamental to plant nutrient uptake, stress tolerance and community stability. Many invaders release allelopathic compounds that disrupt these symbiotic partnerships, leading to declines in native plant performance, shifts in species composition and altered nutrient cycling. Recent work emphasises how environmental heterogeneity, invader abundance and variation in mutualism strength shape invasion outcomes. Integrating field experiments, physiological assays and predictive modelling now offers a clearer framework for managing invasions and restoring soil networks at local to global scales.
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Invasive Plant Ecology and Belowground Mutualisms publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in invasive plant ecology and belowground mutualisms across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Allelopathy: The production of secondary chemicals by a plant that inhibit the growth or function of neighbouring organisms.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF): A group of soil fungi that form mutualistic associations with plant roots, facilitating nutrient exchange via specialised structures called arbuscules.
Belowground mutualism: A symbiotic interaction between plant roots and soil microorganisms that enhances resource acquisition and plant fitness.
Mutualism disruption: The breakdown or impairment of beneficial interactions between plants and their symbiotic partners, often caused by invasive species or environmental change.
References
- Invasion‐mediated mutualism disruption is evident across heterogeneous environmental conditions and varying invasion intensities. Ecography (2023).
- Invasive Plant Suppresses the Growth of Native Tree Seedlings by Disrupting Belowground Mutualisms. PLOS Biology (2006).
- Negative effects of an allelopathic invader on AM fungal plant species drive community‐level responses. Ecology (2020).
- The role of plant–mycorrhizal mutualisms in deterring plant invasions: Insights from an individual‐based model. Ecology and Evolution (2019).
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