Abstract
The potential differences in ecophysiological traits between native and invasive plants can change ecosystem functioning. In this chapter, we discuss the effects of plant invasions on ecosystem carbon (C) cycling in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In general, plant invasions increase ecosystem C fluxes and pool sizes. Most experiments testing plant invasion effects on C cycling have focused primarily on plant aboveground production and its associated processes, especially in terrestrial ecosystems. The impacts of plant invasions on belowground C cycling are relatively poorly understood, especially belowground C decomposition and the associated root effects and microbial processes. In addition, most experiments have been conducted to examine the effects of plant invasions on C sequestration in laboratory or small-scale field conditions, whereas ecosystem-scale experiments are underrepresented. This chapter highlights the need for multifactorial experimental approaches to understanding invasion-induced changes in ecosystem C processes in the context of multiple global environmental changes. The combination of experimental and modelling studies will help to predict feedbacks between plant invasions and ecosystem C cycling in a changing world.
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Acknowledgments
We thank M. Vilà and two anonymous reviewers for comments on an earlier draft of this chapter. This research was financially supported by National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2013CB430404), National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41630528 and 31670491), the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (Grant No. 14DZ1206003), and Shanghai Pujiang Scholar Program (Grant No. 16PJ1400900).
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Nie, M., Shang, L., Liao, C., Li, B. (2017). Changes in Primary Production and Carbon Sequestration after Plant Invasions. In: Vilà , M., Hulme, P. (eds) Impact of Biological Invasions on Ecosystem Services. Invading Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45121-3_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45121-3_2
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