COS 26-10 - Stomatal density and xylem properties of invasive shrubs differ from those of native species in a southeast Michigan forest

Tuesday, August 13, 2019: 11:10 AM
L004, Kentucky International Convention Center
Jeffrey Lake1, Paige Cubberly2, Margaret Amory2, Claire Allen2, Hannah Butchbaker2 and Robert Nowik2, (1)Biology and Environmental Science, Adrian College, Adrian, MI, (2)Biology, Adrian College, Adrian, MI
Background/Question/Methods

Invasive species continue to expand their range, abundance, and impacts throughout the United States. Yet, understanding how those invasive species succeed so well remains an open-ended question, particularly in the context of plant communities. Functional traits related to water transport and gas exchange may be impacting the relative success of invasive over native shrubs. This research considers stomatal density, vessel element and tracheid diameter, and the ratio of vessels elements to tracheids in native and invasive shrubs in a southeast Michigan forest. Study species include the invasive shrubs Lonicera maackii, L. morrowii, Rosa multiflora, Rhamnus cathartica, and Elaeagnus umbellata. Native species include Lindera benzoin, Ribes cyosbati, and Viburnum acerifolium.

Results/Conclusions

Invasive species do, on average, have higher stomatal density than native shrubs, but there is further variation based on habitat preferences. Species occurring primarily in moist to wet soils tend to have higher stomatal densities than those in drier habitats. Vessel elements tended to be larger, and in higher proportion, in most invasive species than natives, but again, soil moisture also contributes to these functional characteristics. These results suggest that invasive species have increased gas exchange and likely faster transport of water, but also may be more drought-sensitive than native shrubs.