Abstract
Invasive plants are among the top five drivers of biodiversity loss, primarily due to competition and allelopathy. By releasing root exudates, they alter soil properties, influencing both the abiotic and biotic characteristics of soil. The effects of invasive plants on soil characteristics and biota remain underexplored, with findings on this topic often being controversial and context-dependent. This study aimed to understand the impact of two invasive species—black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima Mill.)—on soil abiotic characteristics, microbial and Collembola communities. Comparisons were made with soils under two types of native vegetation cover: holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) and herbaceous vegetation. In fall 2023, twelve sites within Vesuvius National Park (three per plant cover type) were sampled to assess soil characteristics, microbial biomass and activities, and Collembola communities. Tree of heaven increased soil pH (6.95), bacterial biomass (42.94 ng g−1) and Collembola density (2038 organisms m2) while reducing water content (10.6% d.w.) and organic carbon (1.21% d.w.). Black locust increased nitrogen content (0.70% d.w.) but reduced microbial biomass (22.85 ng g−1) and Collembola density (873 organisms m2). Tree of heaven soils showed a higher proportion of hemi-edaphic Collembola (48.3%) compared to black locust soils, which were dominated by eu-edaphic forms (42.2%). Despite these differences, Collembola species composition was poorly diversified under invasive plants, with Brachystomella parvula and Protaphorura armata dominating both types of cover. In conclusion, the presence of invasive plants was associated with declines in soil organism biodiversity, underscoring their disruptive influence on forest ecosystems.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Tree of heaven increased soil pH to 6.95.
- Taxon
- Tree of heaven
.jpg?width=60)
Ailanthus altissimuse0 - Outcome
- soil pHe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 6.95e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Tree of heaven increased soil pH (6.95)”
Claim · model-written summary
Tree of heaven increased bacterial biomass to 42.94 ng g−1.
- Taxon
- Tree of heavenAilanthus altissimuse0
- Outcome
- bacterial biomasse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 42.94 ng g−1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tree of heaven increased soil pH (6.95), bacterial biomass (42.94 ng g−1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Tree of heaven increased Collembola density to 2038 organisms m2.
- Taxon
- Tree of heavenAilanthus altissimuse0
- Interactor
- CollembolaCollembolae0other
- Outcome
- Collembola densitye0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 2038 organisms m2e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tree of heaven increased soil pH (6.95), bacterial biomass (42.94 ng g−1) and Collembola density (2038 organisms m2)”
Claim · model-written summary
Tree of heaven reduced soil water content to 10.6% d.w.
- Taxon
- Tree of heavenAilanthus altissimuse0
- Outcome
- water contente0
- Direction
- reducinge0
- Value
- 10.6% d.w.e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tree of heaven increased soil pH (6.95), bacterial biomass (42.94 ng g−1) and Collembola density (2038 organisms m2) while reducing water content (10.6% d.w.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Tree of heaven reduced soil organic carbon to 1.21% d.w.
- Taxon
- Tree of heavenAilanthus altissimuse0
- Outcome
- organic carbone0
- Direction
- reducinge0
- Value
- 1.21% d.w.e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tree of heaven increased soil pH (6.95), bacterial biomass (42.94 ng g−1) and Collembola density (2038 organisms m2) while reducing water content (10.6% d.w.) and organic carbon (1.21% d.w.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Black locust increased soil nitrogen content to 0.70% d.w.
- Taxon
- Black locust
Robinia pseudoacaciae0 - Outcome
- nitrogen contente0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 0.70% d.w.e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Black locust increased nitrogen content (0.70% d.w.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Black locust reduced microbial biomass to 22.85 ng g−1.
- Taxon
- Black locustRobinia pseudoacaciae0
- Outcome
- microbial biomasse0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 22.85 ng g−1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Black locust increased nitrogen content (0.70% d.w.) but reduced microbial biomass (22.85 ng g−1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Black locust reduced Collembola density to 873 organisms m2.
- Taxon
- Black locustRobinia pseudoacaciae0
- Interactor
- CollembolaCollembolae0other
- Outcome
- Collembola densitye0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 873 organisms m2e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Black locust increased nitrogen content (0.70% d.w.) but reduced microbial biomass (22.85 ng g−1) and Collembola density (873 organisms m2)”
Claim · model-written summary
Tree of heaven soils had a higher hemi-edaphic Collembola proportion of 48.3% than black locust soils.
- Taxon
- Tree of heavenAilanthus altissimuse0
- Interactor
- CollembolaCollembolae0other
- Outcome
- proportion of hemi-edaphic Collembolae0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 48.3%e0
- Comparator
- black locust soilse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tree of heaven soils showed a higher proportion of hemi-edaphic Collembola (48.3%) compared to black locust soils”
Claim · model-written summary
Eu-edaphic forms dominated black locust soils at 42.2%.
- Taxon
- black locustRobinia pseudoacaciae0
- Outcome
- eu-edaphic formse0
- Value
- 42.2%e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“black locust soils, which were dominated by eu-edaphic forms (42.2%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Collembola composition under invasive plants was poorly diversified, with two species dominating.
- Taxon
- invasive plantse0
- Interactor
- Brachystomella parvula
.jpg?width=60)
Brachystomella parvulae0other - Second interactor
- Protaphorura armata
Protaphorura armatae0other - Outcome
- Collembola species composition was poorly diversifiede0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Collembola species composition was poorly diversified under invasive plants, with Brachystomella parvula and Protaphorura armata dominating both types of cover”