Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of the invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii, on leaf decomposition and microbial community dynamics

  • Published:
Plant Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is an exotic invasive shrub that is rapidly expanding into forests of eastern North America. This species forms a dense forest understory, alters tree regeneration, negatively affects herb-layer biodiversity, and alters ecosystem function. In a second-growth forest in central Kentucky, we examined the timing and production of leaf litter and compared litter chemistry, decay rates, and microbial community colonization of Amur honeysuckle to that of two native trees, white ash (Fraxinus americana) and hickory (Carya spp.). The distribution of Amur honeysuckle was clumped, allowing us to compare differences in decomposition under and away from Amur honeysuckle shrubs. Amur honeysuckle leaf litter had significantly higher nitrogen, lower C:N, and lower lignin than the other species, and decomposition rates were greater than 5× faster. Despite the much higher rate of Amur honeysuckle decomposition compared with the native species (p < 0.0001), decomposition of all species was significantly slower (p = 0.0489) in sites located under Amur honeysuckle shrubs. Nitrogen concentration increased through time in decomposing Amur honeysuckle litter; however, total mass of N rapidly declined. We found the initial microbial community on leaf litter of Amur honeysuckle was distinct from two native species and although all microbial communities changed through time, the microbial community of Amur honeysuckle remained distinct from native communities. In summary, a distinct microbial community that may originate on Amur honeysuckle leaves prior to senescence could explain the rapid decay rates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashton IW, Hyatt LA, Howe KM, Gurevitch J, Lerdau MT (2005) Invasive species accelerate decomposition and litter nitrogen loss in a mixed deciduous forest. Ecol Appl 15:1263–1272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blair BC, Stowasser A (2009) Impact of Lonicera maackii on decomposition rates of native leaf litter in a southwestern Ohio woodland. Ohio J Sci 109:43–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyce RL, Durtsche RD, Fugal SL (2012) Impact of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii on stand transpiration and ecosystem hydrology in a wetland forest. Biol Invasions 14:671–680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bray SR, Kitajima K, Mack MC (2012) Temporal dynamics of microbial communities on decomposing leaf litter of 10 plant species in relation to decomposition rate. Soil Biol Biochem 49:30–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM, Cipollini D, Barto K, Thelen GC, Hallett SG, Prati D, Stinson K, Klironomos J (2008) Novel weapons: invasive plant suppresses fungal mutualists in America but not in its native Europe. Ecology 89:1043–1055

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collier MH, Vankat JL, Hughes MR (2002) Diminished plant richness and abundance below Lonicera maackii, an invasive shrub. Am Midl Nat 147:60–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dehlin H, Peltzer DA, Allison VJ, Yeates GW, Nilsson MC, Wardle DA (2008) Tree seedling performance and belowground properties in stands of invasive and native tree species. N Z J Ecol 32:67–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenfeld JG (2003) Effects of exotic plant invasions on soil nutrient cycling processes. Ecosystems 6:53–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenfeld JG (2010) Ecosystem consequences of biological invasions. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 41:59–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenfeld J, Ravit B, Elgersma K (2005) Feedback in the plant–soil system. Annu Rev Environ Resour 30:75–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elgersma KJ, Ehrenfeld JG (2011) Linear and non-linear impacts of a non-native plant invasion on soil microbial community structure and function. Biol Invasions 13:757–768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans RD, Rimer R, Sperry L, Belnap J (2001) Exotic plant invasion alters nitrogen dynamics in an arid grassland. Ecol Appl 11:1301–1310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Findlay RH, Dobbs FC (1993) Quantitative description of microbial communities using lipid analysis. In: Kemp PF (ed) Handbook of methods in aquatic microbial ecology. Lewis, Boca Raton, p 777

    Google Scholar 

  • Fridley JD (2012) Extended leaf phenology and the autumn niche in deciduous forest invasions. Nature 485:359–362

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frostegard A, Baath E, Tunlid A (1993) Shifts in the structure of soil microbial communities in limed forests as revealed by phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Soil Biol Biochem 25:723–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorchov DL, Trisel DE (2003) Competitive effects of the invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder (Caprifoliaceae), on the growth and survival of native tree seedlings. Pl Ecol 166:12–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gould AMA, Gorchov DL (2000) Effects of the exotic invasive shrub Lonicera maackii on survival and fecundity of three species of native annuals. Am Midl Nat 144:36–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartman KM, McCarthy BC (2004) Restoration of a forest understory after the removal of an invasive shrub, Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). Res Ecol 12:154–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heneghan L, Fatemi F, Umek L, Grady K, Fagen K, Workman M (2006) The invasive shrub European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica, L.) alters soil properties in Midwestern US woodlands. Appl Soil Ecol 32:142–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hintze J (2001) NCSS and PASS number cruncher statistical systems. Kaysville, Utah

    Google Scholar 

  • Hossain M, Okubo A, Sugiyama SI (2010) Effects of grassland species on decomposition of litter and soil microbial communities. Ecological research. Springer, Japan, pp 255–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt HW, Wall DH (2002) Modeling the effects of loss of soil biodiversity on ecosystem function. Global Change Biol 8(1):33–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson TF, Vankat JL (1997) Invasibility and effects of Amur honeysuckle in southwestern Ohio forests. Cons Biol 11:1117–1124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson TF, Vankat JL (1998) Landscape structure and spread of the exotic shrub Lonicera maackii (Amur honeysuckle) in southwestern Ohio Forest. Am Midl Nat 139:383–390

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inderjit, van der Putten WH (2010) Impacts of soil microbial communities on exotic plant invasions. Trends Ecol Evol 25:512–519

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones RL (2005) Plant life of Kentucky: an illustrated guide to the vascular flora. University Press of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, p 834

    Google Scholar 

  • Klironomos JN (2002) Feedback with soil biota contributes to plant rarity and invasiveness in communities. Nature 217:67–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kourtev PS, Ehrenfeld JG, Haggblom M (2002) Exotic plant species alter the microbial community structure and function in the soil. Ecology 83:3152–3166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao C, Peng R, Luo Y, Zhou X, Wu X, Fang C, Chen J, Li B (2008) Altered ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycles by plant invasion: a meta-analysis. New Phytol 177:706–714

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luken JO, Theiret JW (1996) Amur honeysuckle, its fall from grace. Bioscience 46:18–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCune B, Grace JB (2002) Analysis of ecological communities. MjM Softward Design, Gleneden Beach, OR, pp. 300

  • McCune B, Mefford MJ (1999) PC-ORD. Multivariate analysis of ecological data, Version 4. MjMSoftware Design, Gleneden Beach, Oregon

  • McEwan RM, Birchfield K, Schoergendorfer A, Arthur MA (2009) Leaf phenology and freeze tolerance of the invasive shrub Amur honeysuckle and potential native competitors. J Torrey Bot Soc 136(2):212–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McEwan RW, Arthur MA, Alverson SE (2012) Throughfall chemistry and soil nutrient effects of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii in deciduous forests. Am Midl Nat 168(1):43–55

    Google Scholar 

  • McMahon SK, Williams MA, Bottomley PJ, Myrold DD (2005) Dynamics of microbial communities during decomposition of carbon-13 labeled ryegrass fractions in soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 69:1238–1247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McNeish RE, Benbow ME, McEwan RW (2012) Riparian forest invasion by a terrestrial shrub (Lonicera maackii) impacts aquatic biota and organic matter processing in headwater streams. Biol Inv. doi:10.1007/s10530-012-0199-8

  • Meentemeyer V (1978) Macroclimate and lignin control of litter decomposition rates. Ecology 59:465–472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller KE, Gorchov DL (2004) The invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii, reduces growth and fecundity of perennial forest herbs. Oecologia 139:359–375

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poulette MM, Arthur MA (2012) The impact of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii on the decomposition dynamics of a native plant community. Ecol Appl 22:412–424

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sadaka N, Ponge J-F (2003) Fungal colonization of phyllosphere and litter of Quercus rotundifolia Lam. in a holm oak forest (High Atlas, Morocco). Biol Fert Soils 39:30–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute, Inc (2012) JMP Version 9.0

  • Trammell TLE, Ralston HA, Scroggins SA, Carreiro MM (2012) Foliar production and decomposition rates in urban forests invaded by the exotic invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii. Biol Invasions 14:529–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trisel DE (1997) The invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder (Caprifoliaceae) factors leading to its success and its effect on native species. Dissertation, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • Van Soest PJ, Robertson JB, Lewis BA (1991) Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J Dairy Sci 74:3583–3597

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Webster CR, Jenkins MA, Jose S (2006) Woody invaders and the challenges they pose to forest ecosystems in the eastern United States. J For 104:366–374

    Google Scholar 

  • Wharton ME, Barbour RW (1991) Bluegrass land and life. The University of Kentucky Press, Lexington, KY

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson SC, Anderson JM, Scardelis SP, Tisiafouli M, Taylor A, Wolters V (2002) PLFA profiles of microbial communities in decomposing conifer litters subject to moisture stress. Soil Biol Biochem 34:189–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav RKP, Karamanoli K, Vokou D (2005) Bacterial colonization of the phyllosphere of mediterranean perennial species as influenced by leaf structural and chemical features. Microb Ecol 50(2):185–196

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zelles L (1999) Fatty acid patterns of phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides in the characterization of microbial communities in soil: a review. Biol Fert Soils 29:11–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Milinda Hamilton and Beth Blankenship provided assistance in sample processing and data analysis, respectively. Jim Nelson performed GC analysis of PLFAs. Collin Murphy and Rebecca Pasco provided lab assistance in the extraction of PLFAs. The University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture provided funding to support this research. A Kenan Jones Grant from Transylvania University supported SRB. This study (12-09-066) is connected with a project of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Christina R. Kuchle

    Present address: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA

    Mary A. Arthur & Christina R. Kuchle

  2. Department of Biology, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, 40508, USA

    Sarah R. Bray

  3. Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA

    Ryan W. McEwan

Authors
  1. Mary A. Arthur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sarah R. Bray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christina R. Kuchle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ryan W. McEwan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary A. Arthur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arthur, M.A., Bray, S.R., Kuchle, C.R. et al. The influence of the invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii, on leaf decomposition and microbial community dynamics. Plant Ecol 213, 1571–1582 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-012-0112-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-012-0112-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation