UC EVENTS

Talk Details

Plant invasion poses a major threat to native ecosystems in Australia and globally. To mitigate this threat, identifying the mechanisms by which exotics species invade and impact native systems is key. Interactions between plants and soil communities can influence plant performance to an extent that alters plant community dynamics.  We evaluated the response of key exotic and native plants and their associated soil microbial communities of Australian temperate grassy ecosystems, in order to understand the role of these interactions within the context of plant invasion.  We demonstrated that plant-soil interactions can alter plant performance and can be as important as the effects of plant competition. We found that plant-soil feedbacks are varied, and in some cases, advantaged invasive species. Also, by applying plant-soil feedback theory, we were able to use our experimental data of soil biotic and competitive effects to more accurately predict invasion outcomes in plant communities.