Modeling top-down and bottom-up drivers of a regime shift in invasive aquatic plant stable states
Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers Media
Abstract
The evidence for alternate stable states characterized by dominance of either floating or submerged plant dominance is well established. Inspired by an existing model and controlled experiments, we conceptually describe a dynamic that we have observed in the field using a simple model, the aim of which was to investigate key interactions of the shift between invasive floating and invasive submerged plant dominance, driven by the rapid decomposition of floating plants as a consequence of herbivory by biological control agents. This study showed that the rate of switch between floating and submerged invasive plant dominance, and the point in time at which the switch occurs, is dependent on the nutrient status of the water and the density of biological control agents on floating plant populations. Therefore, top-down invasive plant biological control efforts using natural enemies can affect systems on a wider scale than the intended agent – plant level, and can be significantly altered by bottom-up changes to the system, i.e., nutrient loading. The implications of this are essential for understanding the multiple roles invasive plants and their control have upon ecosystem dynamics. The results emphasize the importance of multi-trophic considerations for future invasive plant management and offer evidence for new pathways of invasion. The model outputs support the conclusion that, after the shift and in the absence of effective intervention, a submerged invasive stable state will persist.
Description
CITATION: Strange, E. F., et al. 2019. Modeling top-down and bottom-up drivers of a regime shift in invasive aquatic plant stable states. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10:889, doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.00889.
The original publication is available at https://www.frontiersin.org
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
The original publication is available at https://www.frontiersin.org
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
Keywords
Floating macrophytes, Submerged macrophytes, Biological control systems -- Mathematical models, Invasive plants -- Biological control -- Mathematical models, Aquatic plants -- Biological control -- Mathematical models
Citation
Strange, E. F., et al. 2019. Modeling top-down and bottom-up drivers of a regime shift in invasive aquatic plant stable states. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10:889, doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.00889