Invasive Plant Species Research Paper

Introduction
Invasive plants are introduced non-native species that cause ecological or economic harm. This happens through specific physiology that allows them to outcompete native plants. Not all invasive plant species affect the forest ecosystem in the same way. Four studies looked at nutrient cycling, allelopathy, and throughfall chemistry to understand the differences in physiology of different invasive plant species that contributes to their competitiveness.
Invasive Plant Species
Invasive plants are changing forest biodiversity by outcompeting native plants. Introduction of invasive plants disrupts native fauna that have intricate symbiosis with native plants. By reducing native plants, a risk is put on native fauna for potential population

C. orbuculatus is woody vine that was introduced to North America from Eastern Asia. C. orbiculatus can harm native tree species by wrapping itself around a tree and girdling it, shading out seedlings or saplings, and making trees susceptible to ice damage (Leicht-Young, et al). This study looked at the physiology of C. orbiculatus to see what characteristics of the plant contributed to increased nutrient cycling. What this study found is that the C. orbicualtus has a high growth rate and leaves with high specific leaf area and low construction costs (Leicht-Young, et al). What this does is allow the leaves to decompose faster putting more nutrients in the ground. With more nutrients in the ground that are best suited for C. orbiculatus, this invasive species can travel and expand in the forest

Invasive plant species such as Ailanthus altissima (Tree of heaven), Allaria petiolata (garlic mustard), and once again Celastrus orbiculatus, use allelopathy to deter away competitors surrounding a plant species to make room for it to grow and expand. What allelopathy does is produce chemical compounds that change the soil and not allow other species of plants to grow, intake nutrients or germinate (Pisula & Meiners 2010). A net benefit is created when chemical compounds are released in the soil because it leaves more nutrients or resources available to the invasive plant species when native plants aren’t