Soil nitrogen cycling is resilient to invasive annuals following restoration of coastal sage scrub

摘要: Southern California coastal sage scrub (CSS) is highly invaded by Mediterranean annual grasses and undergoing extensive restoration efforts. Exotic plant invasion alters ecosystem structure function through plant-soil feedbacks that can be detrimental to native plants. Assessments of CSS have focused on aboveground communities, while belowground effects received less attention. We examined soil resilience following species using property divergence in restorations from an state as a measure exotic impacts. hypothesized plants compete with for nutrients change nutrient cycling, removal would allow recovery under inputs. Nitrogen (N) cycling was resilient but not resistant vegetation changes. increased N mineralization nitrification did affect total carbon (C) extractable phosphorus. Extractable reduced plots, immediately weeding. These changes suggest are directly competing N. Impacts were reversible after removed shrubs reestablished, which may important implications other ecosystems grasses.