Impact of invasive plants on the species richness, diversity and composition of invaded communities.
Abstract
The results show that the target neophytes strongly differ in all aspects of their impact upon the resident invaded communities - species richness, diversity and composition. The invaders with the most severe impact were found to be Fallopia sp. div. and Heracleum mantegazzianum.
In contrary, the community level impact of Helianthus tuberosus and Impatiens glandulifera was found to be minor, despite these species tall stature and rapid growth. The community level impact was found to be most associated with the relative dominance of the invader compared to that of the dominant species of the original uninvaded community.
When evaluating the invironmental impacts of neophytes, the character of the resident community needs to be also considered. Heracleum mantegazzianum, Lupinus polyphyllus and Rumex alpinus were most often found to invade semi - natural communities.