Journal of Environmental Biology

Influence of invasive plant Coreopsis grandiflora on functional

diversity of soil microbial communities

Author Details

Chen Hua

Institute of Environment Research, Shandong University, Jinan - 250 100, P.R. China

Liu Jian

Institute of Environment Research, Shandong University, Jinan - 250 100, P.R. China

Zhang Yongli

Institute of Environment Research, Shandong University, Jinan - 250 100, P.R. China

Wang Qiang

Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan - 250 100,

P.R. China

Ge Xiuli

Institute of Environment Research, Shandong University, Jinan - 250 100, P.R. China

Wei Yinghua

Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan - 250 100,

P.R. China

Wang Renqing

(Corresponding author)

Institute of Environment Research, Shandong University, Jinan - 250 100, P.R. China

e-mail: wrq@sdu.edu.cn

Publication Data

Paper received:

19 April 2010

Revised received:

20 October 2010

Accepted:

20 November 2010

Abstract

Biological invasions are increasingly attracting the ecologists? attention. Invasive plants threaten the natural ecosystems not only by competing with the native plants, but also by altering the structure and function of soil microbial communities belowground. In this study, we studied the effects of the invasive plant Coreopsis grandiflora (C. grandiflora) on the functional diversity of soil microbial communities in Laoshan mountain in the province of Shandong, North of China. We sampled soil from plots that were invaded or not invaded by C. grandiflora. The functional diversity of microbial communities in the sampled soils was assessed by the Biolog procedure test. By the ANOVA analysis of average well color development (AWCD), Shannon index (H?), Shannon evenness (E), principle components analysis of the level physiological profiles (CLPP) and correlation analysis between the studied parameters, we found that the invasive species C. grandiflora enhanced the functional diversity of soil microbial communities where the habitat was invaded by the C. grandiflora. The study indicated that the successful invasive plants have profound effects on the function of soil microbial communities.

Key words

Biolog, Biological invasions, Carbon substrate consumption, Coreopsis grandiflora, Environmental tolerance, Soil microbial community

Copyright ? 2011 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).