Fertilization by invasive species threatens nutrient-poor ecosystems
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - 10:30
in Earth & Climate
They can estimate whether native plants in the neighbourhood of invasive species incorporate the nitrogen fixed by the latter. The biologists examined the Sydney Golden Wattle (Acacia longifolia), an Australian shrub that has established itself in Mediterranean climates worldwide. They found that the invasive species threatens native ecosystems not only through its prolific growth but also by fertilizing the surrounding soil with nitrogen this effect markedly extended beyond the area occupied by the invader. This innovative method (called 15N isoscapes) is being published today in the renowned journal Ecology Letters.