| Popis: |
Successful biological invasion requires correspondence between invader functional traits and their utility in novel environments. We focused on specific phenological and ecophysiological characteristics of an herbaceous biennial, Alliaria petiolata, related to its successful invasion of deciduous forest groundlayers in eastern North America. We tested for phenological separation between A. petiolata and native groundlayer species during spring of its second year, when the plant accumulates 91% of its total biomass, and assessed importance of availability of high irradiance before tree canopy closure on growth and reproductive output. We experimentally shaded plants in situ during three intervals: Early: before native groundlayer was well developed (3 March–20 April), Mid: 21 April to tree canopy closure (18 May), and Late: after canopy closure to 29 May. We measured maximum photosynthetic rates (Amax) in early (13–14 April) and late (22–26 May) spring. Alliaria petiolata began rapid growth and re... |
