Species composition and diversity characteristics of invaded community of Solidago canadensis in Nanjing

Abstract

In order to investigate the relationship between the invasion of the exotic plant Solidago canadensis and diversity of native plants in Nanjing, the species composition and diversity of its community were studied by using the tracking and quadrat methods. The results were as follows: (1) A total of 200 vascular plant species, including varieties and subspecies classification, were found in the invaded communities, belong to 156 genera and 62 families, including 195 angiosperms, one gymnosperm, and four ferns. The species-richest families were Asteraceae and Poaceae, with 25 and 24 species respectively. In terms of their life forms, herbaceous plants accounted for the majority, with 133 species (66.50%). In addition, there were 29 other alien plant species in these communities. The most dominant species in the community was Solidago canadensis, with a high ecological important value of 40.00%, followed by Vicia sativa (7.00%). (2) There were four floristic types of flora families in uninvaded communities, and only three types in invaded communities. Pantropic type, cosmopolitan type and north temperate type existed in both communities, while East Asia and North America disjunct type only in uninvaded communities. In the uninvaded communities, the floristic types were mainly cosmopolitan, with 13 families, accounting for 39.39% of all families. Pantropic was the dominant species in the invaded communities, with 16 families, accounting for 45.71% of the total. There were 10 floristic types of flora genera in uninvaded habitats and 12 in invaded habitats, with similar floristic composition, but the old-world temperate type and tropical Asia to tropical Australasia type only appeared in invaded communities. The north temperate and cosmopolitan type were the most important components of both invaded and uninvaded communities. The R/T values of invaded and uninvaded communities of genera were 0.58 and 0.38, and the species differentiation were 3.29 and 3.11, respectively. (3) The Margalef index (E) of heavily invaded communities was significantly lower than that of uninvaded and lightly invaded communities. In addition, the Simpson index (D), Shannon Weiner index (H′), and Pielou index(J) of heavily invaded communities were significantly reduced compared to uninvaded, lightly invaded, and moderately invaded communities. (4) There were no significant differences in E, D, H′, and J in different habitats. This study can provide basic data for the management, prevention and control, and ecological restoration of the invaded areas of S. canadensis in Nanjing, as well as further scientific research.

Keywords

• solidago canadensis
• invasive plant
• flora
• species diversity
• community characteristics