Heterogeneous environments shape invader impacts: integrating environmental, structural and functional effects by isoscapes and remote sensing.

摘要: Spatial heterogeneity of ecosystems crucially influences plant performance, while in return feedbacks on their environment may increase heterogeneous patterns. This is particular relevance for exotic invaders that transform native ecosystems, yet, approaches integrating geospatial information environmental and plant-plant interaction are lacking. Here, we combined remotely sensed site topography vegetation cover with a functional tracer the N cycle, δ15N. Based case study invasion an N2-fixing acacia nutrient-poor dune ecosystem, present first model can successfully predict (R 2 = 0.6) small-scale spatial variation foliar δ15N non-fixing species from observed data. Thereby, generalized additive mixed revealed modulating effects environments invader impacts. Hence, linking remote sensing techniques tracers biological processes will advance our understanding dynamics functioning spatially structured systems small to large scales.