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Ecological Effects and Environmental Impact as well as Its Invasion Mechanisms

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 12097

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Daolin Du

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Guest Editor

School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: plant invasion; environmental ecotoxicology; microbial ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Jian Li

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Guest Editor

School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: biogeochemical cycle; soil microbiology; heavy metals pollution

Dr. Guanlin Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: plant invasion; soil greenhouse gas emission; soil microbes; carbon cycling; soil microplastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Hui Jia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: invasion ecology; ecological safety; green sustainable restoration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This article collection is to contribute to the invasion mechanisms and control fields and their impact on the environmental ecological, which requires a multidisciplinary approach. Globalization has rapidly facilitated the introduction of alien species across long distances and geographical barriers. Plant species have been exchanged and transported through different areas of the world, these economically important species tend to be fast growing or have wide environmental tolerances. Environmental changes, such as those associated with climate change, are also dramatically accelerating invasions. Invasive species are serious threats to ecosystems biodiversity and agriculture. On the other hand, invasion affecting soil resources, such as soil pollution, soil health, soil microbiology. Developing strategies for understanding the mechanisms involved in the invasion process is urgent and highly challenging，and environment sustainability evaluating model should be proposed. Through our published articles, we aim at helping societies become more sustainable.

We invite original research articles and critical reviews on the topics related (but not limited) to:

Invasive plant physio-ecological processes controlling uptake of nutrients from the soil, transport to the plant, partition of nutrients in invasive plant.
How does N deposition on invasive plant?
Plant nutrient status and pollutants accumulation.
Intrusion cost evaluating model.
Sustainable utilization of resources such as land, water, atmosphere and other biological resources.
Degradation of ecosystems and species, and concomitant risks to human well-being.
Governance, sustainability, and policy for sustainability.

(2) Suggest how the issue will usefully supplement (relate to) existing literature.

This special issue of Sustainability will serve as a collection of the latest research on 1. Biological/ecological effects and environmental impact as well as its invasion mechanisms/prevention of alien invasive species, and ecology mechanism. 2. Sustainable utilization of resources such as land, water and other biological resources. 3. Degradation of ecosystems and species, and concomitant risks to human well-being.

Prof. Dr. Daolin Du
Dr. Jian Li
Dr. Guanlin Li
Dr. Hui Jia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Plant invasion
Ecological impacts
Soil fertility
Soil health
Environmental and ecological sustainability
Green restoration
Soil microbiology
Life cycle assessment

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 1531 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Effects of Experimental Warming and Canada Goldenrod Invasion on the Diversity and Function of the Soil Nematode Community

by Guanlin Li, Jingquan Wang, Jiaqi Zhang, Yingnan Li, Enxi Liu, Yuechen Yu, Babar Iqbal, Zhicong Dai, Hui Jia, Jian Li and Daolin Du

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13145; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313145 - 27 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2045

Abstract

Both global warming and alien plant invasion can affect the biotic communities in the soil. Most studies are focused on the soil microbial community, but little is known about how global warming, along with alien plant invasion, affects the diversity and function of the soil nematode community. In this study, the individual and interactive effects of experimental warming and Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) invasion on soil nematode communities were measured. Experimental air warming, in combination with different levels of S. canadensis invasion, were applied. The results showed that S. canadensis invasion significantly increased chao1, maturity, and structure indexes of the nematode community by 31.44%, 25.57%, and 329.3%, respectively, and decreased the basal index by 48.70% (all p < 0.05). Only the Simpson index was affected by the interaction between warming and S. canadensis invasion. Warming enhanced the S. canadensis invasion effect on the soil nematode community. The changes in nematode community were correlated with shifts in nutrient availability and resource stoichiometry, as well as microbes in the soil. These findings demonstrated that global warming and S. canadensis invasion may, directly and indirectly, alter the soil nematode community, which may considerably affect the functioning of underground food webs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Effects and Environmental Impact as well as Its Invasion Mechanisms)

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23 pages, 9748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Sea Embankment Reclamation on Greenhouse Gas GHG Fluxes and Stocks in Invasive Spartina alterniflora and Native Phragmites australis Wetland Marshes of East China

by Jian Li, Zhanrui Leng, Yueming Wu, Guanlin Li, Guangqian Ren, Guirong Wu, Yongcan Jiang, Taitiya Kenneth Yuguda and Daolin Du

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12740; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212740 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2616

Abstract

The introduction of embankment seawalls to limit the expansion of the exotic C₄ perennial grass Spartina alteniflora Loisel in eastern China’s coastal wetlands has more than doubled in the past decades. Previous research focused on the impact of sea embankment reclamation on the soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks in salt marshes, whereas no study attempted to assess the impact of sea embankment reclamation on greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in such marshes. Here we examined the impact of sea embankment reclamation on GHG stocks and fluxes of an invasive Spartina alterniflora and native Phragmites australis dominated salt marsh in the Dongtai wetlands of China’s Jiangsu province. Sea embankment reclamation significantly decreased soil total organic C by 54.0% and total organic N by 73.2%, decreasing plant biomass, soil moisture, and soil salinity in both plants’ marsh. It increased CO₂ emissions by 38.2% and 13.5%, and reduced CH₄ emissions by 34.5% and 37.1%, respectively, in the Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis marshes. The coastal embankment wall also significantly increased N₂O emission by 48.9% in the Phragmites australis salt marsh and reduced emissions by 17.2% in the Spartina alterniflora marsh. The fluxes of methane CH₄ and carbon dioxide CO₂ were similar in both restored and unrestored sections, whereas the fluxes of nitrous oxide N₂O were substantially different owing to increased nitrate as a result of N-loading. Our findings show that sea embankment reclamation significantly alters coastal marsh potential to sequester C and N, particularly in native Phragmites australis salt marshes. As a result, sea embankment reclamation essentially weakens native and invasive saltmarshes’ C and N sinks, potentially depleting C and N sinks in coastal China’s wetlands. Stakeholders and policymakers can utilize this scientific evidence to strike a balance between seawall reclamation and invasive plant expansion in coastal wetlands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Effects and Environmental Impact as well as Its Invasion Mechanisms)

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Review

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11 pages, 1212 KiB

Open AccessReview

Interaction between Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Invasive Alien Plants

by Youli Zhang, Zhanrui Leng, Yueming Wu, Hui Jia, Chongling Yan, Xinhong Wang, Guangqian Ren, Guirong Wu and Jian Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020746 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3316

Abstract

Plant invasion is significantly affected by environmental factors in the recipient habitats and affects the stability and sustainable development of society. The invasiveness of alien plants may be increased by anthropogenic-mediated disturbances, such as fluctuations in nutrients caused by excessive emissions of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). To improve our understanding of the interactions between N and P fluctuations and invasive alien plants, the current report focuses on the biogeochemical behavior of N and P among invasive alien plants, native plants, and the soil within the plant–soil ecosystem. Our research, together with a synthesis of the literature, shows that fluctuations in N and P resources provide more opportunities and competitiveness for plant invasion. At the same time, the biogeochemical cycles of N and P are promoted because of their efficient and increased utilization and rate of release by invasive alien plants. However, there is no consensus on whether the N and P compositions of invasive species are different from those of the natives in their habitat. Quantitative studies that compare N and P contents in plant, litter, and soil between native plant communities and invaded communities on a global scale are an indispensable area of research focus for the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Effects and Environmental Impact as well as Its Invasion Mechanisms)

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21 pages, 892 KiB

Open AccessReview

Role of Endophytes and Rhizosphere Microbes in Promoting the Invasion of Exotic Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas: A Review

by Elsiddig A. E. Elsheikh, Ali El-Keblawy, Kareem A. Mosa, Anthony I. Okoh and Ismail Saadoun

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13081; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313081 - 26 Nov 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3395

Abstract

Endophytes and rhizospheric microorganisms support invasive species’ adaptation to environmental stresses. Here, we review the impacts of endophytes, rhizospheric microbes (particularly symbiotic nitrogen-fixers), mycorrhiza and pathogens on plant invasion in arid and semi-arid areas. Endophytes and soil microorganisms either enhance nutrient acquisition for enhancing the invasive plant immune system and/or negatively affect native plants. In addition, the positive feedback between mycorrhizal fungi and invasive plants enhances the competitive ability of the aliens, providing them more opportunities for success, establishment, and dominance. The microbes and their secondary metabolites promote invasive plant species by changing soil microbial community structure and carbon biomass as well as enzyme activity, which improves soil properties and processes. The negative impact of invasive exotic plants on the associated biota and the role of allelochemicals are also discussed. It could be concluded that endophytes interact with rhizosphere microbes to promote invasive plant species in arid and semi-arid areas in a way similar to what happens in other ecosystems; the differences are in the pathways and reactions, which depend upon the prevailing abiotic factors. More interdisciplinary field experiments integrating microbial, biotechnological, and molecular approaches are needed to understand the role of symbiotic microbes in invasion biology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Effects and Environmental Impact as well as Its Invasion Mechanisms)

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