Le chêne rouge d’Amérique (Quercus rubra L.) est un arbre originaire d’Amérique du Nord et introduit en Europe à partir de la fin du XVIIème siècle pour l’ornementation et le commerce du bois. Le but de cette thèse est de comprendre les mécanismes écologiques et évolutifs qui contribuent à la dynamique et au succès de l’introduction de Q. rubra en Europe. Nous avons montré que cette espèce naturalisée et plantée dans certains pays européens parvient aisément à se développer de façon naturelle dans les forêts de feuillus et de conifères. La dispersion de ses glands est notamment rendue possible par des animaux fouisseurs-disperseurs, tels que les écureuils et les mulots, qui cependant préfèrent les glands du chêne natif Q. robur. Lors de l’introduction d’une espèce dans un nouvel environnement, des processus évolutifs sont susceptibles de se produire et d’engendrer des modifications phénotypiques et génétiques au sein des populations introduites. Une analyse comparative de la structure et de la diversité génétique des populations natives et introduites de Q. rubra a démontré que seulement deux des trois groupes génétiques de l’aire américaine sont actuellement présents en Europe. Aucun goulot d’étranglement fort n’a été détecté lors de l’introduction des populations en Europe laissant supposer que des introductions multiples ont pu maintenir la diversité génétique dans les populations introduites. Une analyse comparative des traits phénotypiques a permis de montrer que les populations introduites de Q. rubra présentent une croissance supérieure par rapport aux populations natives. Une différenciation génétique au sein des populations introduites est en cours pour le trait de débourrement foliaire suggérant une possible évolution adaptative rapide depuis l’introduction. / Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra L.) is a tree native to North America and introduced in Europe at the end of the 17th century as an ornamental and forestry species. The aim of this dissertation is to understand the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms contributing to its dynamics and success in Europe. We demonstrated that this species naturalized and planted insome European countries can easily naturally grow in deciduous and conifer forests. Acorn dispersal away from mother-trees was made possible by scatter-hoarding animals such as squirrels and mice that take away acorns, although the animals still preferred acorns of the native oak Q. robur. During species introduction in a new environment, evolutionary processes can occurand lead to phenotypic and genetic changes. A comparative analysis of the genetic structure and diversity of Q. rubra populations from the native and introduced ranges demonstrated that onlytwo of the three genetic clusters encountered in North America are currently present in Europe.No strong bottleneck event was detected during the introduction of Q. rubra populations in Europe suggesting that multiple introductions could have maintained genetic diversity in introduced populations. A comparative analysis of phenotypic traits showed that introduced populations of Q.rubra present a higher growth compared to that of native populations. A genetic differentiation within European populations is on going regarding phenology of leaf budburst suggesting apossible rapid adaptive evolution since introduction.

Les invasions biologiques se sont intensifiées au cours des dernières décennies en raison d’une accélération des échanges commerciaux. Ces invasions représentent une menace pour les écosystèmes et de nombreuses activités anthropiques, il est donc crucial de comprendre les mécanismes qui les sous-tendent afin de mieux prévoir et limiter leurs impacts. Dans cette thèse, j’aborde la question du potentiel dispersif d’espèces natives et non natives impliquées dans une association phorétique nouvellement formée. En particulier, je me focalise sur le cas de l’association entre un nématode invasif ravageur des pinèdes, le nématode du pin (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) et son insecte vecteur endémique en Europe (Monochamus galloprovincialis). J’ai tout d’abord étudié les flux de gènes de l’insecte vecteur seul afin d’identifier les barrières à sa dispersion. J’ai ensuite simulé l’expansion spatiale du couple nématode-vecteur à l’aide d’un modèle de dispersion, en intégrant l’effet synergique de cette nouvelle association. Les résultats obtenus au cours de cette thèse montrent qu’il existe un important potentiel de dispersion du nématode invasif en Europe par le biais de cette association phorétique. En revanche, certains paramètres de l’environnement tels que les reliefs et les températures basses qui leur sont associées, ainsi que les fortes densités en pins constituent des barrières à la dispersion du vecteur et donc des obstacles potentiels à l’expansion du nématode invasif. Au-delà des apports relatifs au modèle d’étude, cette thèse a conduit au développement de plusieurs méthodes pouvant être adaptées à d’autres cas d’associations phorétiques nouvelles et, par extension, contribuer à la compréhension de la dispersion des espèces au sein de ces systèmes complexes et peu étudiés. / Biological invasions dramatically increased over the last decades due to the intensification of international trade. These invasions constitute a threat for ecosystems and many anthropic activities, therefore it is crucial to understand underlying processes in order to better predict and manage their impacts. In this PhD thesis, I explore the potential of dispersion of native and non-native species involved in a novel phoretic association. I focus on the case of the association between a pest for pine forests, the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) introduced in Europe, and its endemic insect vector (Monochamus galloprovincialis). I first estimated gene flows of the insect vector alone in order to identify the barriers and corridors to dispersal of this species. Then I have simulated the spatial spread of the nematode-vector couple using a spread model, and accounting for the synergistic effect of this novel association. The results obtained during this PhD showed that the invasive nematode has an important potential to spread through this phoretic association. However, some environmental features such as elevation, areas with low temperatures, and the high pine densities constitute barriers to dispersal of the vector and so, potential obstacles to the spread of the invasive nematode. Beyond these results focused on the model of study, this thesis has led to the development of several methods that may be adapted to other cases of novel phoretic association and, by extension, may contribute to a better understanding of dispersal of species involved in those complex and poorly known systems.

Les invasions biologiques produisent des assemblages d'espèces souvent inédits et sources de nouvelles interactions spécifiques. L'impact écologique d'une invasion peut être : (i) indirect si l'espèce envahissante entre en compétition avec une ou des espèces résidentes, et (ii) direct si l'espèce envahissante consomme ou parasite une ou des espèces résidentes. Ces deux types d'impacts sont susceptibles de s'appliquer aux insectes envahissants du genre Megastigmus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), qui exploitent généralement une niche étroite partagée avec d'autres espèces résidentes, et contribuent à d'importantes mortalités dans les populations d'hôtes du fait de leur spécialisation sur les graines. L'objectif de cette thèse est de tester ces prédictions à travers l'étude de l'impact de l'invasion en France de Megastigmus schimitscheki sur : (i) M. pinsapinis, un compétiteur résident, et (ii) les populations en expansion de son hôte obligatoire, le cèdre de l'Atlas (Cedrus atlantica).Un suivi spatio-temporel des populations françaises de Megastigmus spp. révèle que l'expansion rapide de M. schimitscheki est associée à un déclin important de M. pinsapinis. Un modèle mécaniste et statistique a été développé afin de déterminer la contribution relative de la variabilité temporelle de la disponibilité en graines et des divergences de traits d'histoire de vie dans la dynamique de coexistence-exclusion de M. schimitscheki et M. pinsapinis. Nos résultats montrent que la phénologie plus précoce de M. schimitscheki est le principal facteur déterminant le succès de l'invasion de M. schimitscheki et l'exclusion compétitive de M. pinsapinis dans les zones de sympatrie des deux espèces.Nous avons développé une approche théorique de l'impact indirect de M. schimitscheki sur C. atlantica basée sur les modèles de réaction-diffusion. Nos résultats montrent qu'un effet Allee résultant de la prédation des graines sur un front d'expansion peut accroître la contribution des hôtes situés à l'arrière de ce front au pool génétique de la population. Ce phénomène a pour conséquence de freiner l'érosion de la diversité génétique au cours du processus de colonisation.Les approches expérimentales et théoriques développées au cours de cette thèse montrent que l'invasion de M. schimitscheki a un impact indirect négatif sur la démographie d'une espèce résidente occupant la même niche écologique, alors qu'elle pourrait favoriser directement le maintien de la diversité génétique des populations d'hôtes en pleine dynamique de régénération naturelle. / Biological invasions produce novel species assemblages in communities that likely result in novel interspecific interactions. Ecological impacts of invasions may be: (i) indirect, if the invader enters competition with resident species, and (ii) indirect if the invader is a predator or a parasite of resident species. Both indirect and direct ecological invasion impacts are likely to apply to invasive wasps of the Megastigmus genus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), which exploit narrow ecological niches that overlap with those of resident insect species, and contribute to high mortality levels in host plant populations due to their high specialization on seeds. This thesis aimed at testing such predictions by studying the impacts of the invasion of M. schimitscheki on: (i) its resident competitor for the seed resource M. pinsapinis, and (ii) the expanding populations of its obligatory host the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) in southeastern France.An extensive spatio-temporal survey of Megastigmus spp. populations indicated that the rapid expansion of M. schimitscheki was associated with a strong decline of M. pinsapinis. A mechanistic-statistical modelling approach allowed us to show that an earlier phenology of M. schimitscheki had a stronger explanatory power of both invasion success and the competitive exclusion of the resident than temporal variation in resource supply.A theoretical approach of the indirect impact of M. schimitscheki on C. atlantica expansion dynamics was based on reaction-diffusion models. We showed that an Allee effect resulting from seed predation at the expansion front of a host population may increase the genetic contribution of host individuals situated in the bulk of the expansion front. Interestingly, this phenomenon results in a limited erosion of genetic diversity during the expansion phase of the host population.The empirical and theoretical approaches developed showed that the invasion of M. schimitscheki in French cedar forests had a strong and negative indirect impact on the demography of a resident species, but, parallely, such invasion may directly favour the maintenance of genetic diversity in expanding host plant populations.

Les insectes phytophages forment un groupe d’organismes très diversifié et la plupart sont considérés comme spécialistes. Les patrons de spécialisation des insectes vis à vis de leurs plantes hôtes dépendent en partie de leur capacité à interagir avec les plantes (niche fondamentale) et aux facteurs environnementaux modulant ces interactions et aboutissant aux observations en milieu naturel (niche réalisée). La spécialisation fondamentale est déterminée par l'évolution conjointe de deux traits : la performance des larves et la préférence des femelles. Pour comprendre cette spécialisation, nous avons étudié une communauté de huit espèces de mouches des fruits (Diptera : Tephritidae) présentes à La Réunion. Dans un premier temps, nous avons déterminé la niche réalisée de chaque espèce et montré que ces niches étaient structurées par la phylogénie des plantes avec D. demmerezi, D. ciliatus et Z. cucurbitae spécialistes des Cucurbitaceae, N. cyanescensspécialiste des Solanaceae et C. catoirii, C. capitata et C. quilicii généralistes attaquant des plantes de différentes familles. Après l'invasion de B. zonata en 2000, C. capitata et C. quilicii ont subi une réduction de leur gamme d'hôtes. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons déterminé la niche fondamentale de ces espèces (sauf D. ciliatus). Nous avons évalué les préférences des femelles en mesurant la fécondité de chacune d’entre elles sur une gamme de 29 fruits, puis nous avons testé l'existence d'une corrélation entre la préférence des femelles et la performance des larves (mother knows best hypothesis). Nous avons montré une corrélation positive chez spécialistes des Cucurbitaceae qui pondent sur les plantes pour lesquelles les larves survivent le mieux contrairement aux généralistes pondant et survivant sur une large gamme d'hôtes mais sans corrélation entre ces deux traits.Enfin, la sélection de l'hôte par les femelles se faisant principalement grâce aux composés organiques volatils (COVs) émis par les fruits, nous avons montré que les fruits infestés par les généralistes ont pour point commun l'émission de COVs responsables de la maturation des fruits. Au contraire, les fruits de plusieurs Solanaceae émettent des COVs spécifiques suggérant la détection de ceux-ci par les femelles de N. cyanescens. Les Cucurbitaceae émettent des COVs abondants peu présents dans les autres familles suggérant une détection d'un mélange spécifique de ces COVs par les Tephritidae spécialistes des Cucurbitaceae. / Phytophagous insects are a very diverse group of organisms and most of them are considered as specialized. Patterns of specialization regarding their host plants depend on their ability to interact with their hosts (fundamental niche) and on environmental factors which modulate these interactions leading to observed patterns in the field (realized niche). Fundamental specialization is determined by the joint evolution of two traits: larval performance and female preference. To understand this specialization, we studied a community of eight fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) present in La Réunion.First, we determined the realized niche of each species and showed that they were structured by plant phylogeny with D. demmerezi, D. ciliatus and Z. cucurbitae as Cucurbitaceae specialists, N. cyanescens as Solanaceae specialist and C. catoirii, C. capitata et C. quilicii as generalists feeding on plants belonging to different families. After the invasion of B. zonata in 2000, C. capitata et C. quilicii were subjected to a decrease of their host range.Then, we determined the fundamental niche of these species (except D. ciliatus). We assessed female preferences by measuring their fecundity on 29 fruits, then we tested the presence of a correlation between female preference and larval performance (mother knows best hypothesis). We showed a positive correlation for Cucurbitaceae specialists laying eggs on plants where larvae survive the best, at the opposite of generalist species laying eggs and surviving on many hosts without any correlation between these two traits.Finally, host selection by females being mostly done thanks to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by fruits, we showed that fruits infested by generalist species have common VOCs responsible for fruit maturation. On the contrary, the fruits of several Solanaceae emit specific VOCs suggesting their detection by N. cyanescens females. Cucurbitaceae species emit abundant VOCs rarely present in other families suggesting a detection of a specific blend of these VOCS by Cucurbitaceae specialists.

Os impactos negativos que as espécies invasoras causam aos ecossistemas naturais ou seminaturais são noticiados há pelo menos seis décadas em diferentes partes do mundo. Diversos estudos têm sido realizados visando diagnosticar o processo de invasão, conhecer a ecologia das espécies invasoras e gerar subsídios para o manejo, controle ou erradicação daquelas que causam problemas. No Brasil, a invasão de ecossistemas naturais começou a ser estudada recentemente e muito conhecimento ainda precisa ser gerado para basear a tomada de decisões sobre o problema. Este estudo teve por objetivo descrever o processo de invasão do Cerrado por Pinus elliottii e buscar técnicas de manejo viáveis ecológica e economicamente para o controle da invasora. O estudo foi realizado na Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara, no munícipio de Águas de Santa Bárbara, São Paulo, em duas frentes de pesquisa: uma para estudar a ecologia da espécie invasora, e a outra para verificar qual seria a técnica de controle mais vantajosa ecológica e economicamente. O estudo de ecologia baseou-se na amostragem de cinco blocos de 10 parcelas, cada uma com área de 10 x 10 m, para o estudo de plantas nativas com altura a partir de 50 cm e, dentro de cada parcela, cinco subparcelas de 1 x 1 m para o estudo de plantas com altura inferior a 50 cm. Em cada bloco as parcelas foram instaladas de forma que todo o gradiente de invasão por P. elliottii (desde 0 até 100% invadido) fosse contemplado. A densidade e a riqueza de espécies vegetais, agrupadas quanto à forma de vida, foram analisadas como variáveis resposta ao processo de invasão. Nessas parcelas foram caracterizadas, como variáveis explanatórias, a área basal da espécie invasora, a profundidade da camada de acículas e a abertura de dossel, que poderiam explicar as perdas de diversidade. O experimento de manejo foi realizado em uma área de 70 x 50 m, subdividida em 35 parcelas de 10 x 10 m. Sete tratamentos de erradicação (com cinco réplicas) foram testados, correspondendo a diferentes técnicas de manejo, que foram aplicadas isoladas ou combinadas. As técnicas de controle incluíram o corte raso com motosserra, a injeção de herbicida nos troncos e a aplicação de queimada prescrita. Após a aplicação dos tratamentos, a vegetação espontânea de cerrado foi monitorada por dois anos e comparados os tratamentos, utilizando-se a densidade e a riqueza de plantas nativas em regeneração como indicadores ecológicos de sucesso das técnicas. A viabilidade econômica foi analisada com base em todos os custos envolvidos em cada técnica, discutidos mediante a estimativa do custo do controle precoce da invasão. A pesquisa como um todo possibilitou a descrição, em detalhes, do processo de invasão, assim como a quantificação das perdas de diversidade e identificação dos filtros ecológicos envolvidos no processo. O estudo ecológico mostrou que a espessa camada de acículas depositada pela árvores invasoras quando a invasão se adensa é o principal fator responsável pelo desaparecimento de gramíneas, ciperáceas e indivíduos herbáceos, ou seja, quanto mais acículas depositadas no solo, maior a perda dessas formas de vida. Já o fechamento do dossel provocado pela entrada das árvores invasoras no ambiente savânico prejudicou especialmente os arbustos, fazendo com que desaparecessem em ambientes mais sombreados. Não foi notada nenhuma influência das variáveis estudadas sobre espécies arbóreas em regeneração na comunidade invadida. No experimento de manejo, diversos tratamentos foram economicamente viáveis, especialmente quando se prevê a comercialização da lenha das árvores invasoras. Isto porque a receita gerada com a venda da madeira pode cobrir os custos de manejo. Além da viabilidade econômica, ao longo dos dois anos de acompanhamento, o tratamento que combinou corte raso com queima das acículas foi o mais indicado, pois cobriu os custos de erradicação e, dentre os tratamentos testados, foi o que apresentou a melhor regeneração natural da vegetação nativa de cerrado. No entanto, a restauração passiva (regeneração natural) do ecossistema densamente invadido após a erradicação é um processo extremamente lento, de modo que os dois anos de estudo levam a crer que intervenções de restauração por meio de plantio serão necessárias para acelerar o processo. Com esta pesquisa, portanto, foi possível compreender os fatores e processos que levam à perda de biodiversidade decorrente da invasão por Pinus elliottii e, também, assegurar que é possível a erradicação da espécie invasora. Mas a restauração das áreas densamente invadidas ainda é um obstáculo a ser vencido. Os custos ecológicos e econômicos envolvidos na solução do problema são elevados, mas podem ser minimizados caso seja realizado o controle precoce da invasão. / Damages caused by invasive species in natural or semi-natural environments have been noticed for at least six decades in different parts of the world. Meanwhile around the world several studies aim to diagnose the invasion process, the ecology of invasive species and to generate knowledge about management, control, or eradication of these species. In Brazil, the studies about invasive species started recently and a lot of research is still needed to support the decision-making, and consequently strengthen the connections between scientists and decision makers. This work aims to describe the invasion process of slash pine in the Cerrado and seek for management solutions to deal with the invasion problem. The study took place at the Santa Bárbara Ecological Station, a reserve located at Águas de Santa Barbara municipality, São Paulo state. Two distinct types of research were performed: the first one focused on the study of the invasion ecology of slash pine, and the second aiming to seek for the ecologically and economically most viable management technique to remove the invasive species from this ecosystem. The ecological study was based on sampling of native plants taller than 50 cm, taken from five blocks of 10 plots (plot area = 10 x 10 m). To study the plants smaller than 50 cm height, samples were taken from five 1 x 1 m subplots placed inside each plot. In each block, the plots were placed with the aim of contemplating the whole range of invasion gradient (0% to 100% of invaded area) by P. elliottii. Native plant species were grouped according to their life form, and their density and richness were considered as response variables to the invasion process. In this plots, the basal area of the invasive species, pine needles depth and canopy openness were considered as the explanatory variables, as the oscillations of these variables could justify biodiversity losses. The management experiment was performed in a 70 x 50 m area, divided in 35 plots (10 x 10 m). Seven eradication treatments (with five replicates) were established according to different management techniques applied together or isolated. The control techniques included clear-cut with chainsaw, herbicide injection inside the trunks and prescribed burning. After the application of the treatments, the spontaneous recovery of the grassland vegetation was monitored, and the density and richness of native species were used as indicators of the ecological success of the management techniques. The economical viability was analyzed based on all the costs related to each one of the techniques and compared to an initial invasion control. In general, this work described in details the invasion process at the Cerrado vegetation, quantified biodiversity losses and identified the ecological filters in the invasion process. The increase of the pine needle layer thickness is the main driver of the disappearance of grasses, sedges and forbs. The canopy closure caused by the invasive trees in the open savanna environment was responsible for the decrease of shrubs. None of the explanatory variables influenced the native tree species under regeneration. The management experiment pointed several treatments as economically viable, especially when the timber of the invasive species can be commercialized and, thus, the profits obtained from the sold timber can cover the costs regarding the eradication procedure. In addition to the economical viability, over two years of monitoring the native vegetation, the best treatment was the one that combined clearcut and prescribed fire. Under this combination of treatments, the spontaneous regeneration of native vegetation had the best performance, and the eradication costs could be covered.. Meanwhile, the passive restoration (natural regeneration) from a densely invaded ecosystem is an extremely slow process. Therefore, after two years of research, it seems reasonable to assume that interfering in the restoration process through plantation is necessary in order to speed up the vegetation recovery. In this work, thus, it was possible to understand the factors and process that cause biodiversity losses promoted by slash pine (Pinus elliottii) invasion in the Cerrado, and also to ensure that the eradication of this invasive species is possible in this type of ecosystem. Nevertheless, the restoration of heavily invaded areas is still an issue. The ecological and economic costs related to this problem are high but can be reduced when the early control of the invasion is performed.

Orientador: Célio F.B. Haddad / Resumo: Na última década houve um grande desenvolvimento nos Modelos de Distribuição de Espécies (MDE), com diversas aplicações na conservação da biodiversidade. No entanto, apesar dos avanços recentes, a seleção de variáveis preditoras tem sido relativamente negligenciada na construção dos MDE. Este procedimento deveria ser um dos passos cruciais do processo de modelagem, já que as variáveis preditoras estão relacionadas diretamente à capacidade dos modelos de capturar os requisitos ambientais das espécies. Neste contexto, os anfíbios são excelentes organismos modelo para avaliar a importância da seleção de variáveis preditoras ecologicamente significativas no MDE. Isto pode trazer avanços para a biogeografia e biologia da conservação, uma vez que os anfíbios são usados como bioindicadores da qualidade ambiental e da integridade de hábitat. A presente tese de doutorado teve como objetivo principal verificar o efeito da utilização de variáveis preditoras ecologicamente significativas no processo de modelagem dos anfíbios e posteriormente aplicar parte deste conhecimento na comunidade de anfíbios do Estado de São Paulo, visando verificar o potencial desta metodologia para identificar áreas de alto valor de riqueza de anfíbios e verificar também o potencial de invasão de Eleutherodactylus jonhstonei, uma espécie de anfíbio invasora registrada para o Estado de São Paulo. No primeiro capítulo avaliamos a importância da seleção de variáveis essenciais ao MDE usando os anfíbios como estudo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In the last decade there has been a great development in the Species Distribution Models (SDM), with several applications in conservation planning. However, despite recent advances, the selection of predictor variables has been relatively neglected in the construction of SDM. This methodological approach should be one of the critical steps of the modeling process, as the predictor variables are directly related to the ability of models to capture the environmental requirements of the species. In this context, amphibians are excellent model for assessing the importance of selecting ecologically meaningful variables in the SDM. This methodology may lead to advances in biogeography and conservation biology, since amphibians are used as bioindicators of environmental quality and habitat integrity. The aim of the work was to verify the effect of the use of ecologically meaningful variables in the amphibian modeling process and to apply part of this knowledge to the amphibian community of São Paulo state, checking the potential of this methodology to identify areas of high amphibian richness value and to verify the potential invasion of Eleutherodactylus jonhstonei, an invasive amphibian species registered in São Paulo state. In the first chapter we evaluated the importance of selecting essential variables in SDM using amphibians as a case study. The second chapter deals specifically with the amphibian modeling protocol of São Paulo state. The central focus of this chapter has been... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Michaela Kubátová Alien species of plants and biotic resistence of invaded communities This study is about problems and questions of alien plants and their relation to native communities in their new range. Ecologists are increasingly aware that soil organisms may affect plant communities because they are part of the processes that affect them. The soil organisms may affect the success of alien species invasion. Each species of plants differ in interaction with soil organisms, these interactions can result in specific feedback that will influence the future growth of other plants. According to Darwin's naturalization hypothesis related species should have similar enemies. This implies less successful invasion of alien plants at home with relatives. The practical part consists of two experiments. Using plant-soil feedback I studied under controlled conditions the importance of kinship of native plants and their soil organisms on the growth of three species of alien plants Impatiens, Parviflora, Stenactis annua and Epilobium ciliatum. There were used soil samples from localities with related and unrelated species; the soil was used as inoculums for growing first-generation plants, where there were original related, unrelated and alien plants. In the second phase only alien species were grown. Part of...

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As ecosystem engineers, invasive earthworms are one of the main drivers of plant community changes in North American forests previously devoid of earthworms. One explanation for these community changes is the effects of earthworms on the reproduction, recruitment, and development of plant species. However, few studies have investigated functional trait responses of native plants to earthworm invasion to explain the mechanisms underlying community changes. In a mesocosm (Ecotron) experiment, we set up a plant community composed of two herb and two grass species commonly found in northern North American forests under two earthworm treatments (presence vs. absence). We measured earthworm effects on above- and belowground plant biomass and functional traits after 3 months of experiment. Our results showed that earthworm presence did not significantly affect plant community biomass and cover. Furthermore, only four out of the fifteen above- and belowground traits measured were affected by earthworm presence. While some traits, such as the production of ramets, the carbon and nitrogen content of leaves, responded similarly between and within functional groups in the presence or absence of earthworms, we observed opposite responses for other traits, such as height, specific leaf area, and root length within some functional groups in the presence of earthworms. Plant trait responses were thus species-specific, although the two grass species showed a more pronounced response to earthworm presence with changes in their leaf traits than herb species. Overall, earthworms affected some functional traits related to resource uptake abilities of plants and thus could change plant competition outcomes over time, which could be an explanation of plant community changes observed in invaded ecosystems.

No description available.