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Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants—2nd Edition
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Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants—2nd Edition

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 6296

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Congyan Wang

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: invasive alien plants; invasion biology; invasion ecology; co-invasion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Hongli Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: invasion ecology; wetland ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The ecological problems caused by invasive plants have become increasingly prominent, and the level of environmental risk caused by invasive plants will continue to increase with the rising frequency and intensity of anthropological activities. More importantly, biological invasion as a result of invasive plants has become a major cause of biodiversity loss in recent years. Therefore, further work is urgently needed to elucidate the key mechanisms underlying the successful invasion of invasive plants, assess the ecological risks of invasive plants, and identify the ecological management of invasive plants, as well as early warning signs and means of prevention.

This Special Issue will provide an in-depth analysis and comprehensive overview of the key mechanisms underlying the successful invasion of invasive plants, and offer an assessment of the ecological risk of invasive plants, the ecological management of invasive plants, and early warning signs and prevention.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but should not be limited to) the following:

(I) The key mechanisms underlying the successful invasion of invasive plants;
(II) The ecological risks of invasive plants;
(III) The ecological management of invasive plants;
(IV) Early warning and prevention of invasive plants.

Prof. Dr. Congyan Wang
Prof. Dr. Hongli Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • invasion ecology
  • biological invasion
  • plant invasion
  • invasive plants
  • invasion mechanism
  • invasion management
  • early warning and prevention

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

27 pages, 3177 KiB  
Article
The Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Inter and Intraspecific Competition of Nicotiana glauca and Vachellia gerrardii
by Abdelmalik M. Adam, Thobayet S. Alshahrani, Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi, Basharat A. Dar, Jahangir A. Malik and Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad
Plants 2025, 14(6), 858; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14060858 - 10 Mar 2025
Viewed by 586
Abstract
A competition experiment between Vachellia gerrardii and invasive Nicotiana glauca Graham was conducted to assess the impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) symbiosis on the inter and intraspecific competition between the two species. Seedlings were established under mono and mixed plantations with different [...] Read more.
A competition experiment between Vachellia gerrardii and invasive Nicotiana glauca Graham was conducted to assess the impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) symbiosis on the inter and intraspecific competition between the two species. Seedlings were established under mono and mixed plantations with different species proportions (3:1, 2:2, 1:3) and plant densities (1, 2, 3, and 4 plants/pot) for mixed and mono planting respectively, with and without AMF. The vegetative growth parameters (height, leaf area and number, total dry weight/plant, relative yield, relative yield total), roots characteristics (length, surface area, volume, tips number), competitive interaction (aggressivity), and physiological traits (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance) were measured to evaluate plant responses to AMF symbiosis and competition. The results revealed that AMF symbiosis significantly enhanced the vegetative parameters (leaf area, height, and total dry weight) in both species under mono and mixed plantations compared to plants without AMF. Under AMF treatment, in the interspecific competition, most vegetative and root parameters of N. glauca were higher than V. gerrardii. At inoculant and species proportions, the relative yield of N. glauca exceeded that for V. gerrardii; however, N. glauca was more aggressive towards V. gerrardii. N. glauca root indices were higher than V. gerrardii under inter and intraspecific competition. Simultaneously, for both species, in monoculture plantations, most parameters decreased as plant density increased, wherein the decrease was higher for plants grown without AMF. Photosynthesis increased in AMF treatment, particularly for N. glauca. In conclusion, AMF promoted the growth of invasive N. glauca more than native V. gerrardii, particularly in terms of the root system. Our results provide a critical perspective that the AMF has the potential to contribute and facilitate the invasion of N. glauca, as well as support it with a competitive advantage over V. gerrardii, thus highlighting its potential role in shaping plant–plant interaction in invaded habitats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants—2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 2410 KiB  
Article
Adaptive Benefits of Antioxidant and Hormone Fluctuations in Wedelia trilobata Under Simulated Salt Stress with Nutrient Conditions
by Hong Yang, Bin Li, Ping Huang, Bin Zhang, Adeel Abbas, Zhiwei Xu, Huilei Yin and Daolin Du
Plants 2025, 14(3), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030303 - 21 Jan 2025
Viewed by 653
Abstract
Salinity is one of the most significant environmental factors limiting plant development and productivity. Invasive plants could quickly respond to environmental changes, thus successfully achieving invasion. However, there is limited research on the mechanism of salt responses in invasive plants under different nutritional [...] Read more.
Salinity is one of the most significant environmental factors limiting plant development and productivity. Invasive plants could quickly respond to environmental changes, thus successfully achieving invasion. However, there is limited research on the mechanism of salt responses in invasive plants under different nutritional conditions. This study evaluated and compared the impact of salinity stress and nutrient application on physiological responses in the invasive plant Wedelia trilobata and native plant Wedelia chinensis. Mild salinity stress disrupted the growth of these two plants, significantly reducing their leaf and stem node number under a low nutrient condition. W. trilobata showed notable decreases in height and leaf number with high salinity stress regardless of nutrient levels, whereas it was observed only in the low nutrient state in W. chinensis. The negative effects of high salinity on both species were most evident in nutrient-poor environments. Under low salinity and nutrient stress, W. trilobata’s leaves exhibited increased levels of proline, MDA, CAT, and ABA, with decreased GA and IAA content. A low-salt environment favored W. trilobata’s competitive advantage, and nutrient enrichment appeared to enhance its invasive potential, in which process the plant antioxidant system and endogenous hormones contribute greatly. This study provides a theoretical foundation for predicting suitable growth areas for W. trilobata referring to the salt condition, guiding future strategies for preventing and controlling its invasive spread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 2811 KiB  
Article
Growth Allocation Shifts in the Invasive Hydrilla verticillata Under Interspecific Competition with Native Submerged Macrophytes
by Letícia da Costa, Luíz Alberto Vieira, Thaísa Sala Michelan, Alvaro Herrera Vale and Wagner Antonio Chiba de Castro
Plants 2024, 13(24), 3500; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13243500 - 15 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 860
Abstract
Communities with high native species diversity tend to be less susceptible to the establishment of invasive species, especially in studies that test their local impact. This study investigated the impact of competition between native submerged aquatic macrophytes (SAMs) (Egeria najas and Egeria [...] Read more.
Communities with high native species diversity tend to be less susceptible to the establishment of invasive species, especially in studies that test their local impact. This study investigated the impact of competition between native submerged aquatic macrophytes (SAMs) (Egeria najas and Egeria densa) and the exotic Hydrilla verticillata, recognized for its invasive potential in aquatic ecosystems, through a mesocosm experiment conducted over six months. Two treatments were evaluated: the intraspecific competition of H. verticillata and an interspecific competition involving all three species. The plants were cultivated under controlled conditions, with the foliar and subterranean biomass being monitored to analyze resource allocation patterns. The results showed that, under interspecific competition, the mean foliar biomass of H. verticillata was significantly higher compared to the intraspecific treatment, while the subterranean biomass was reduced in the presence of native species. We conclude that native species alter the biomass allocation pattern of the invader, favoring foliar structures over subterranean ones. Among the mechanisms of invasiveness, differential resource allocation represents an important strategy for the adaptation and competitiveness of invasive species influenced by environmental factors and resource competition. These findings contribute to the understanding of competitive interactions in aquatic ecosystems and have implications for the management and control of invasive species, highlighting the importance of promoting native diversity to mitigate invasibility. Future studies should investigate the impacts of reduced subterranean structures on the persistence and spread of submerged invasive species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants—2nd Edition)
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Review

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16 pages, 1585 KiB  
Review
Smart Chip Technology for the Control and Management of Invasive Plant Species: A Review
by Qaiser Javed, Mohammed Bouhadi, Smiljana Goreta Ban, Dean Ban, David Heath, Babar Iqbal, Jianfan Sun and Marko Černe
Plants 2025, 14(10), 1510; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14101510 - 18 May 2025
Viewed by 363
Abstract
Invasive plant species threaten biodiversity, disrupt ecosystems, and are costly to manage. Standard control methods, such as mechanical and chemical (herbicides), are usually ineffective and time-consuming and negatively affect the environment, especially in the latter case. This review explores the potential of smart [...] Read more.
Invasive plant species threaten biodiversity, disrupt ecosystems, and are costly to manage. Standard control methods, such as mechanical and chemical (herbicides), are usually ineffective and time-consuming and negatively affect the environment, especially in the latter case. This review explores the potential of smart chip technology (SCT) as a sustainable, precision approach tool for invasive species management. Integrating microchip sensors with artificial intelligence (AI) into the Internet of Things (IoT) and remote sensing technology allows for real-time monitoring, predictive modelling, and focused action, significantly improving management effectiveness. As one of many examples discussed herein, AI-driven decision-making systems can process real-time data from IoT-enabled environmental sensors to optimize invasive species detection. Smart chip technology also offers real-time monitoring of invasive species’ life processes, spread, and environmental effects, enabling artificial intelligence-powered eco-friendly control strategies that minimize herbicide usage and lessen collateral ecosystem damage. Despite the potential of SCT, challenges remain, including cost, biodegradability, and regulatory constraints. However, recent advances in biodegradable electronics and AI-driven automation offer promising solutions to many identified obstacles. Future research should focus on scalable deployment, improved predictive analytics, and interdisciplinary collaboration to drive innovation. Using SCT can help make invasive species control more sustainable while supporting biodiversity and strengthening agricultural systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 861 KiB  
Review
A Synthetic Review of Feedbacks and Drivers of Shrub–Grass Interaction in the Process of Grassland Shrub Encroachment
by Huiyang Hou, Haoran Yan, Xue Bai, Yuzhen Zhang, Yanjun Guo, Jianwei Zhou and Shaobo Gao
Plants 2025, 14(4), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14040605 - 17 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 565
Abstract
Many grasslands around the world are affected by shrub encroachment. The essence of shrub encroachment into a grassland habitat is a change in the direction and intensity of shrub–grass interactions, which leads to an alteration in the grassland community structure. Recent research progress [...] Read more.
Many grasslands around the world are affected by shrub encroachment. The essence of shrub encroachment into a grassland habitat is a change in the direction and intensity of shrub–grass interactions, which leads to an alteration in the grassland community structure. Recent research progress can be summarized as encompassing the primary factors influencing shrub encroachment and the physical, biological, and chemical ways through which they affect grassland community succession and shrub–grass interactions. The purpose of this study was to explore how shrub–grass interactions and relationships change under the influence of various environmental factors and their impact on grassland communities to provide a theoretical basis for grassland restoration and the management of shrubs within grassland from the perspective of shrub–grass interaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants—2nd Edition)
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35 pages, 3766 KiB  
Review
Understanding the Influence of Secondary Metabolites in Plant Invasion Strategies: A Comprehensive Review
by Rasheed Akbar, Jianfan Sun, Yanwen Bo, Wajid Ali Khattak, Amir Abdullah Khan, Cheng Jin, Umar Zeb, Najeeb Ullah, Adeel Abbas, Wei Liu, Xiaoyan Wang, Shah Masaud Khan and Daolin Du
Plants 2024, 13(22), 3162; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223162 - 11 Nov 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2463
Abstract
The invasion of non-native plant species presents a significant ecological challenge worldwide, impacting native ecosystems and biodiversity. These invasive plant species significantly affect the native ecosystem. The threat of invasive plant species having harmful effects on the natural ecosystem is a serious concern. [...] Read more.
The invasion of non-native plant species presents a significant ecological challenge worldwide, impacting native ecosystems and biodiversity. These invasive plant species significantly affect the native ecosystem. The threat of invasive plant species having harmful effects on the natural ecosystem is a serious concern. Invasive plant species produce secondary metabolites, which not only help in growth and development but are also essential for the spread of these plant species. This review highlights the important functions of secondary metabolites in plant invasion, particularly their effect on allelopathy, defense system, interaction with micro soil biota, and competitive advantages. Secondary metabolites produced by invasive plant species play an important role by affecting allelopathic interactions and herbivory. They sometimes change the soil chemistry to make a viable condition for their proliferation. The secondary metabolites of invasive plant species inhibit the growth of native plant species by changing the resources available to them. Therefore, it is necessary to understand this complicated interaction between secondary metabolites and plant invasion. This review mainly summarizes all the known secondary metabolites of non-native plant species, emphasizing their significance for integrated weed management and research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants—2nd Edition)
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