Work

Impact of Alligator Weed ( Alternanthera philoxeroides ) Invasion on Floral Composition and Soil Microbiota

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Plant invasion modifies the aboveground and belowground biota directly or indirectly via allelopathic effect. This study aimed to ascertain if the invasive species Alternanthera philoxeroides impacts plant diversity, plant composition, and soil microbes or not. The soil microbial activity (CO 2 release) and soil pH were also recorded. The plant communities invaded and uninvaded with Alternanthera philoxeroides were examined using the quadrat method. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 10 cm depth, and the culture method was used for soil microbial analysis. The plant species richness and soil fungi were found to be reduced at A. philoxeroides invaded plots than at uninvaded plots. The IVI of all common species such as Cynodon dactylon , Bidens pilosa, and Trifolium repens was highly suppressed in the invaded zone. The parameters like plant diversity indices, colony count of soil microbes, soil microbial activity (CO 2 release), and soil pH were found to be reduced at invaded sites than at uninvaded sites. The results indicated that the invasive A. philoxeroides modifies the plant community composition, and the underlying mechanism for the change is possibly by altering the soil microbiota, microbial respiration, and soil pH with their successful invasion.

Source: Scientifica

DOI: 10.1155/sci5/7359416

Authors: Shristi Khanal, Hari Sharan Adhikari, Mukesh Kumar Chettri

Institutions: Tribhuvan University, Bhaktapur Multiple Campus

Language: English

Topic: Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies

Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,000