Abstract
Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant depending on its ability to naturalize and outcompete other species. To further understand the adaptive strategies of structures that could enhance its competitiveness, field surveys and experimental studies were conducted in plant communities where invasion may occur. The results showed that multistage branches of tendrils ensured that the plants could climb higher to strive for better photosynthetic opportunities. The single fleshy fruit of the infructescence was carpeted with slender white spines on which dense barbs were arranged, which could defend fruits against herbivores and contributed to long-distance dispersal. There would be beaklike lignified thorn forming to continue spreading when most of the barbed spines fell off during the fruit season. Rootstock was found in this herbaceous vine, which could accumulate various storage substances during development and helped the plants spread in harsh conditions. Moreover, the discovery of ants as new pollinators enriched the pollination system of S. angulatus, which greatly enhanced pollination efficiency. Above all, we conclude that this species has diverse adaptive strategies and a strong invasive capacity. It is urgent to find some way to slow or even stop its invasion effectively. ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Multistage tendril branches let Sicyos angulatus climb higher for better photosynthetic opportunities
- Taxon
- Sicyos angulatus
Sicyos angulatuse1 - Organ / stage
- multistage branches of tendrilse2
- Outcome
- climb highere2
- Qualifier
- better photosynthetic opportunitiese2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant”
e2“multistage branches of tendrils ensured that the plants could climb higher to strive for better photosynthetic opportunities”
Claim · model-written summary
Barbed spines on the fruit may defend fruits against herbivores
- Taxon
- Sicyos angulatusSicyos angulatuse1
- Organ / stage
- single fleshy fruite2
- Interactor
- herbivorese2herbivore
- Outcome
- defend fruits against herbivorese2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant”
e2“The single fleshy fruit of the infructescence was carpeted with slender white spines on which dense barbs were arranged, which could defend fruits against herbivores and contributed to long-distance dispersal”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit spines contributed to long-distance dispersal of Sicyos angulatus
- Taxon
- Sicyos angulatusSicyos angulatuse1
- Organ / stage
- single fleshy fruite2
- Outcome
- long-distance dispersale2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant”
e2“The single fleshy fruit of the infructescence was carpeted with slender white spines on which dense barbs were arranged, which could defend fruits against herbivores and contributed to long-distance dispersal”
Claim · model-written summary
Beaklike lignified thorns may form to continue spreading after barbed spines fall off
- Taxon
- Sicyos angulatusSicyos angulatuse1
- Organ / stage
- beaklike lignified thorne2
- Outcome
- continue spreadinge2
- Qualifier
- when most of the barbed spines fell offe2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant”
e2“There would be beaklike lignified thorn forming to continue spreading when most of the barbed spines fell off during the fruit season”
Claim · model-written summary
Rootstock was found in Sicyos angulatus, a herbaceous vine
- Taxon
- Sicyos angulatusSicyos angulatuse1
- Organ / stage
- Rootstocke2
- Outcome
- Rootstock was found in this herbaceous vinee2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant”
e2“Rootstock was found in this herbaceous vine, which could accumulate various storage substances during development and helped the plants spread in harsh conditions”
Claim · model-written summary
Rootstock may accumulate storage substances and help the plant spread in harsh conditions
- Taxon
- Sicyos angulatusSicyos angulatuse1
- Organ / stage
- Rootstocke2
- Outcome
- spread in harsh conditionse2
- Qualifier
- could accumulate various storage substances during developmente2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant”
e2“Rootstock was found in this herbaceous vine, which could accumulate various storage substances during development and helped the plants spread in harsh conditions”
Claim · model-written summary
Ants are new pollinators of S. angulatus that greatly enhanced pollination efficiency
- Taxon
- S. angulatusSicyos angulatuse1
- Interactor
- antsFormicidaee1pollinator
- Outcome
- pollination efficiencye1
- Qualifier
- greatly enhancede1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“the discovery of ants as new pollinators enriched the pollination system of S. angulatus, which greatly enhanced pollination efficiency”
Claim · model-written summary
Sicyos angulatus has diverse adaptive strategies and a strong invasive capacity
- Taxon
- Sicyos angulatusSicyos angulatuse1
- Outcome
- invasive capacitye2
- Qualifier
- a strong invasive capacitye2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant”
e2“we conclude that this species has diverse adaptive strategies and a strong invasive capacity”
Claim · model-written summary
Ways should be found to slow or stop the invasion of Sicyos angulatus
- Taxon
- Sicyos angulatusSicyos angulatuse1
- Outcome
- slow or even stop its invasione2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant”
e2“It is urgent to find some way to slow or even stop its invasion effectively”