RAPID COMMUNICATION
Does the invasion intensity of Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. and community invasibility increase as the number of plant species increases?
1
Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
2
Jingjiang College, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
These authors had equal contribution to this work
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article
Submission date: 2025-10-10
Acceptance date: 2026-01-23
Online publication date: 2026-09-07
Corresponding author
Congyan WANG
Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
HIGHLIGHTS
- Relative abundance of E. annuus reduced with increasing number of plant species
- Invasion intensity of E. annuus decreased with increasing number of plant species
- Community invasibility declined with increasing number of plant species
- Community invasibility was positively regulated by relative abundance of E. annuus
- Community invasibility was positively regulated by invasion intensity of E. annuus
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Habitats with different numbers of plant species (S) may exhibit varying levels of invasibility
when invaded by invasive plants (IPS). Nevertheless, there are still doubts about the
relationship between S and IPS’ invasion intensity as well as the community invasibility.
It is also unclear which environmental factor has the greatest influence on the community
invasibility, especially in habitats with different S. A cross-plot comparison approach
was employed to estimate the differences in IPS’ relative abundance and invasion intensity,
the community invasibility, and plant taxonomic diversity along a gradient of S under the
invasion of Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. Plant diversity, dominance, evenness, and richness
evidently increased with increasing S. The relative abundance and invasion intensity of
E. annuus, as also the mean, maximum, and minimum relative abundances of all plants,
and the community invasibility significantly decreased with increasing S. The community
invasibility was positively regulated by the relative abundance and invasion intensity of
E. annuus, but negatively regulated by plant diversity, dominance, evenness, and richness.
Therefore, protecting the diversity of native plants is crucial for enhancing the resistance
to IPS’ invasion.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are very grateful to the anonymous reviewers for
the insightful and constructive comments that greatly
improved this manuscript.
RESPONSIBLE EDITOR
Irena Suwara
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have declared that no conflict of interests exist.
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| eISSN: | 1899-007X |
| ISSN: | 1427-4345 |
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