Invasion essentials: does secondary chemistry plasticity contribute to the invasiveness of Thymus vulgaris L.?

摘要: Increasing our understanding of spatial patterns plant secondary chemistry variation may help us understand the mechanisms that underlie invasions involving species which exhibit chemical phenotypic variation. We analysed qualitative and quantitative in essential oil terpenes produced by Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme) plants inside at edge thyme-invaded communities on north- south-facing slopes ten sites across Central Otago, New Zealand. tested hypotheses (1) there are foliar terpene composition differences between these vary (2) environmental variables affect quantity quality thyme composition. Terpene concentrations were determined using ethanol extraction GC FID/MS. Environmental data collected from inside, outside stands. used multivariate statistical analysis to test linear modelling investigate effects found no evidence a link aspect- invasion edge-related thyme’s chemistry. Site-related for aspect position stands indicated production be modulated factors such as soil moisture, clay, carbon, silt, sand, colloid, N NH4+. The role novel processes successful is factors.