Effects of different scenarios of temperature rise and biological control agents on interactions between two noxious invasive plants

Aim An increasing number of exotic plants and their biological control agents are being introduced into new regions. Therefore, it is necessary to study their interactions and to manage the future directions of plant invasions under different scenarios of temperature rise. Location China. Method We investigated the distribution patterns of the two most prevalent invasive aquatic plants in the world, Alternanthera philoxeroides and Eichhornia crassipes, at a large scale and studied the interactions of both invasive plants with their respective biological control agents, Agasicles hygrophila and Neochetina eichhorniae, in response to different scenarios of temperature rise. Results Both plants performed better in warmer climates in common garden experiments. However, large populations of A. philoxeroides occurred only in the temperate zone because this species experienced competitive exclusion from E. crassipes and suppression due to A. hygrophila herbivory in tropical and subtropical areas. Moreover, in both subtropical zones, where the two plants and A. hygrophila co-occur, and the temperate zone, where only A. philoxeroides occurs at present, A. hygrophila herbivory and the competition from E. crassipes hindered the performance of A. philoxeroides. Moreover, in the extreme high-temperature environment, A. philoxeroides performance improved, while E. crassipes performance worsened. In addition, the combination of N. eichhorniae herbivory and competition from A. philoxeroides also reduced the performance of E. crassipes, but E. crassipes still dominated when in competition with A. philoxeroides. Main conclusions Our results indicate that climate warming and the introduction of herbivores do not alter the interspecific relationship between E. crassipes and A. philoxeroides. Moreover, our study suggests that under climate warming, E. crassipes will replace A. philoxeroides as the dominant species in some communities in warm temperate zones, though extremely high-temperature events will slow this replacement process.

Automated summary

The study shows that climate warming and herbivore introductions do not change the interspecific relationship between E. crassipes and A. philoxeroides. It suggests that under climate warming, E. crassipes will replace A. philoxeroides as the dominant species in some warm temperate zones, although extremely high-temperature events will slow this replacement process.