Differentiation between native and exotic plant species in a dry grassland: realized responses to perturbation, and comparison with fundamental responses

• Published in: Austral ecology Vol. 31; no. 8; pp. 984 - 995
• Main Authors: KING, WARREN MCG, WILSON, J. BASTOW
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Melbourne, Australia : Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.12.2006; Blackwell Publishing Asia; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptation; Comparative analysis; Environmental aspects; exotic; Grasslands; Grazing; greenhouse experimentation; Growth rate; guild; Indigenous species; Introduced plants; Introduced species; irrigation; Moisture content; Native species; New Zealand; Nonnative species; nutrients; perturbation; physiological response; Physiological responses; Plant species; Poaceae; soil fertility; Soil nutrients; Soil water; species diversity; Species richness; New Zealand

An area of dry grassland in New Zealand, comprising an equal mixture of native and exotic species, was subject to perturbations of irrigation, fertilization and cessation of grazing. The vegetation response was recorded for 3 years. Total cover, and the contribution of native species to that cover,...