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1. Impacts of plant invasions in native plant–pollinator networks

   https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17339  

   Parra‐Tabla, Víctor; Arceo‐Gómez, Gerardo (June 2021, New Phytologist)

   Summary The disruption of mutualisms by invasive species has consequences for biodiversity loss and ecosystem function. Although invasive plant effects on the pollination of individual native species has been the subject of much study, their impacts on entire plant–pollinator communities are less understood. Community‐level studies on plant invasion have mainly focused on two fronts: understanding the mechanisms that mediate their integration; and their effects on plant–pollinator network structure. Here we briefly review current knowledge and propose a more unified framework for evaluating invasive species integration and their effects on plant–pollinator communities. We further outline gaps in our understanding and propose ways to advance knowledge in this field. Specifically, modeling approaches have so far yielded important predictions regarding the outcome and drivers of invasive species effects on plant communities. However, experimental studies that test these predictions in the field are lacking. We further emphasize the need to understand the link between invasive plant effects on pollination network structure and their consequences for native plant population dynamics (population growth). Integrating demographic studies with those on pollination networks is thus key in order to achieve a more predictive understanding of pollinator‐mediated effects of invasive species on the persistence of native plant biodiversity. 

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2. Sevilleta Plant Species Sensitivity of Dryland Plant Allometry to Climate

   https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/4b3f227ead1568d42afa20e76727b46c  

   Hallmark, Alesia J; Baker, Stephanie R; Baur, Lauren; Muldavin, Esteban H; Rudgers, Jennifer A; Hall, Kristofer M; Litvak, Marcy E; Pockman, William T; Whitney, Kenneth D (January 2019, Environmental Data Initiative)

   Patterns of plant biomass partitioning are fundamental to estimates of primary productivity and ecosystem process rates. Allometric relationships between aboveground plant biomass and non-destructive measures of plant size, such as cover, volume, or stem density are widely used in plant ecology. Such size-biomass allometry is often assumed to be invariant for a given plant species, plant functional group, or ecosystem type. Allometric adjustments may be an important component of the short- or long-term responses of plants to abiotic conditions. We used 18 years of size-biomass data describing 85 plant species to investigate the sensitivity of allometry to precipitation, temperature, or drought across two seasons and four ecosystems in central New Mexico, USA. Our results demonstrate that many plant species adjust patterns in the partitioning of aboveground biomass under different climates and highlight the importance of long-term data for understanding functional differences among plant species. 

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3. Aboveground plant-to-plant electrical signaling mediates network acquired acclimation

   https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koac150  

   Szechyńska-Hebda, Magdalena; Lewandowska, Maria; Witoń, Damian; Fichman, Yosef; Mittler, Ron; Karpiński, Stanisław M (May 2022, The Plant Cell)

   Abstract Systemic acquired acclimation and wound signaling require the transmission of electrical, calcium, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signals between local and systemic tissues of the same plant. However, whether such signals can be transmitted between two different plants is largely unknown. Here, we reveal a new type of plant-to-plant aboveground direct communication involving electrical signaling detected at the surface of leaves, ROS, and photosystem networks. A foliar electrical signal induced by wounding or high light stress applied to a single dandelion leaf can be transmitted to a neighboring plant that is in direct contact with the stimulated plant, resulting in systemic photosynthetic, oxidative, molecular, and physiological changes in both plants. Furthermore, similar aboveground changes can be induced in a network of plants serially connected via touch. Such signals can also induce responses even if the neighboring plant is from a different plant species. Our study demonstrates that electrical signals can function as a communication link between transmitter and receiver plants that are organized as a network (community) of plants. This process can be described as network-acquired acclimation. 

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4. Invasive plant benefits a native plant through plant-soil feedback but remains the superior competitor

   https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.64.57746  

   Buerdsell, Sherri L.; Milligan, Brook G.; Lehnhoff, Erik A. (January 2021, NeoBiota)

   null (Ed.)

   Plant soil feedback (PSF) occurs when a plant modifies soil biotic properties and those changes in turn influence plant growth, survival or reproduction. These feedback effects are not well understood as mechanisms for invasive plant species. Eragrostis lehmanniana is an invasive species that has extensively colonized the southwest US. To address how PSFs may affect E. lehmanniana invasion and native Bouteloua gracilis growth, soil inoculant from four sites of known invasion age at the Appleton-Whittell Audubon Research Ranch in Sonoita, AZ were used in a PSF greenhouse study, incorporating a replacement series design. The purpose of this research was to evaluate PSF conspecific and heterospecific effects and competition outcomes between the invasive E. lehmanniana and a native forage grass, Bouteloua gracilis . Eragrostis lehmanniana PSFs were beneficial to B. gracilis if developed in previously invaded soil. Plant-soil feedback contributed to competitive suppression of B. gracilis only in the highest ratio of E. lehmanniana to B. gracilis . Plant-soil feedback did not provide an advantage to E. lehmanniana in competitive interactions with B. gracilis at low competition levels but were advantageous to E. lehmanniana at the highest competition ratio, indicating a possible density-dependent effect. Despite being beneficial to B. gracilis under many conditions, E. lehmanniana was the superior competitor. 

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5. Plant 3D Modeling: Growing Plant Awareness with High School Students

   Langewisch, Tiffany; Arango-Caro, Sandra; Ying, Kaitlyn; Callis-Duehl, Kristine (June 2024, Plants people planet)

   • Understanding plants and how they affect the world is crucial. However, plant awareness disparity, the inability to notice plants, is common and results in lack of interest and positive attitudes toward plants and knowledge on their importance. Innovative and engaging plant science curricula is limited while needed to promote plant awareness. We created a 3D plant modeling module and examined its impact on plant awareness among high school students. • This module integrates science, art, design, and technology through a project-based STEAM approach where teachers acted as facilitators and students worked collaboratively. Students investigated the biology and importance of plants, created 3D plant models, experienced the application of 3D modeling in augmented and virtual reality platforms, and disseminated their results. Before and after the module, students completed the Plant Awareness Disparity Index and answered reflection questions about its components—attention, attitude, relative interest, and knowledge. • Quantitative analysis revealed that after completing the module, more students had positive statements about attention, attitude, and knowledge about plants and showed higher relative interest toward plants than animals. Student reflections showed that plants were the most notable feature outdoors, and students had mainly positive feelings toward plants. However, many students wrote that animals were more interesting than plants. Most students acknowledged the importance of plants for humans and the environment. • Our results indicated that our 3D plant modeling module positively influenced student plant awareness. This module can be implemented in any educational learning environment for high school students, including in-person and virtually. 

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