Abstract
Context Ox-eye daisy (OED; Leucanthemum vulgare) has invaded subalpine communities in Australia. Aims We evaluated the effect of OED on subalpine grassland diversity in Kosciuszko National Park through addition and removal experiments. Methods In 2023 and 2024, we conducted two experiments on grassland that had been partly invaded by OED: (1) addition of OED seed to uninvaded plots, hypothesised to reduce α– and β-diversity; and (2) removal of OED plants by herbicide treatment and hand-pulling, hypothesised to temporarily reduce diversity. After 3 years, half the plots were slashed to mimic fire disturbance. We used generalised additive models to assess the treatment effects on diversity. Key results α-diversity increased and β-diversity decreased over time, regardless of the treatment. In disturbed plots where OED was added, OED had a negative effect on plot richness and diversity of rosette forbs. The effect on β-diversity was positive. When OED plants were removed, there was a temporary reduction in α-diversity following herbicide application with most measures returning to pre-treatment levels after 11 years. However, Xerochrysum subundulatum (a native forb) was severely affected by herbicide and did not recover fully. Conclusions OED affected grassland diversity, possibly through an allelopathic effect on recruitment. Despite OED abundance, the grassland community appeared resilient to invasion when undisturbed. Herbicides had a lasting effect on few native species. However, repeated applications will be required to prevent OED re-invasion. Implications The slow decline in α-diversity following OED invasion means that managers of subalpine grassland have time to address negative impacts on threatened species. Prevention and rapid response remain the most critical tools for OED management.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Grassland alpha diversity rose over time regardless of treatment.
Verbatim
e0“α-diversity increased and β-diversity decreased over time, regardless of the treatment”
t0“subalpine grassland”
Claim · model-written summary
Grassland beta diversity fell over time regardless of treatment.
Verbatim
e0“α-diversity increased and β-diversity decreased over time, regardless of the treatment”
t0“subalpine grassland”
Claim · model-written summary
Added ox-eye daisy reduced plot richness in disturbed plots.
- Taxon
- Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.
Leucanthemum vulgaret0 - Treatment
- OED was addede0
- Outcome
- plot richnesse0
- Direction
- negativee0
- Qualifier
- disturbed plotse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In disturbed plots where OED was added, OED had a negative effect on plot richness and diversity of rosette forbs”
t0“Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.”
Claim · model-written summary
Added ox-eye daisy reduced rosette forb diversity in disturbed plots.
- Taxon
- Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.Leucanthemum vulgaret0
- Treatment
- OED was addede0
- Outcome
- diversity of rosette forbse0
- Direction
- negativee0
- Qualifier
- disturbed plotse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In disturbed plots where OED was added, OED had a negative effect on plot richness and diversity of rosette forbs”
t0“Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.”
Claim · model-written summary
Added ox-eye daisy positively affected beta diversity.
- Taxon
- Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.Leucanthemum vulgaret0
- Outcome
- β-diversitye0
- Direction
- positivee0
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The effect on β-diversity was positive”
t0“Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.”
Claim · model-written summary
Herbicide removal of ox-eye daisy temporarily reduced alpha diversity.
- Taxon
- Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.Leucanthemum vulgaret0
- Treatment
- herbicide applicatione0
- Outcome
- α-diversitye0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Qualifier
- temporarye0
- Comparator
- pre-treatment levelse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“When OED plants were removed, there was a temporary reduction in α-diversity following herbicide application with most measures returning to pre-treatment levels after 11 years”
t0“Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.”
Claim · model-written summary
Xerochrysum subundulatum was severely affected by herbicide and did not fully recover.
- Taxon
- Xerochrysum subundulatum
Xerochrysum subundulatume0 - Treatment
- herbicidee0
- Outcome
- recovere0
- Direction
- did not recover fullye0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Xerochrysum subundulatum (a native forb) was severely affected by herbicide and did not recover fully”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend repeated applications to prevent ox-eye daisy reinvasion.
- Taxon
- Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.Leucanthemum vulgaret0
- Outcome
- prevent OED re-invasione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“repeated applications will be required to prevent OED re-invasion”
t0“Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.”