Cuscuta australis restrains three exotic invasive plants and benefits native species

• Published in: Biological invasions Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 747 - 756
• Main Authors: Yu, Hua, Liu, Jian, He, Wei-Ming, Miao, Shi-Li, Dong, Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.03.2011; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological control; biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Community ecology; Cuscuta; Developmental Biology; Ecology; Field tests; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; growth traits; host-parasite relationships; hosts; Indigenous plants; Indigenous species; infection; Introduced plants; Invasive plants; invasive species; Ipomoea; Ipomoea cairica; leaf area; Life Sciences; Mikania micrantha; Native species; Nonnative species; nutrient content; Nutrients; Original Paper; Parasites; Parasitic plants; plant growth; Plant populations; Plant Sciences; reproduction; species diversity; Species richness; Wedelia; Wedelia trilobata; Community recovery; Biological control; Exotic invasive plant; Host–parasite interaction; Native agent
• ISSN: 1387-3547; 1573-1464
• DOI: 10.1007/s10530-010-9865-x

In this study we conducted field investigations to examine the effects of native Cuscuta australis on three exotic invasive plants (i.e. Ipomoea cairica, Mikania micrantha, and Wedelia trilobata) and on the invaded native communities. The results showed that C. australis produced high infection rates on the exotic invasive hosts but low ones on the native species. Furthermore, the results showed that C. australis exhibited vigorous growth and high reproduction when it grew on M. micrantha and W. trilobata, indicating that these exotic invasive plants are more rewarding hosts than are native plants for C. australis. C. australis infection was positively related to the growth traits (e.g. biomass, cover, and total leaf area) and nutrient contents (e.g. N, P, and K) of the exotic invasive plants. The infections of C. australis significantly decreased the growth and nutrient contents of exotic invasive hosts, and the host-parasite interactions benefited the native species with increased species richness and biodiversity, facilitating the recovery of invaded native communities. This study provides a model for a native agent to both resist exotic invasive plants and benefit other native species. Furthermore, it indicates that certain native agents in invaded regions can be an effective and environmentally benign alternative to traditional biological control.