Sponsor: National Nature Science Foundation of China (NNSFC)
Headed by Yu Shen
Date: 2011.01-2013.12
We use Spartina alterniflora as the model plant to demonstrate plant-soil microbes feedback as a pathway for successful invasion of alien plant species in coastal wetland. Double isotope labeling technique(C-13 and N-15) will be applied to explore C and N flows between the plant and soil microbes (phospholipid fatty acids, PLFAs, and microbial biomass nitrogen), which can be detected using a GC-combustion-IRMS and an IRMS. Interaction of the plant and soil microbes will be monitored over growth periods by microbial community structure analysis (PLFAs).As an addition to greenhouse experiments, a field in-situ investigation will be employed to explore changes of soil physiochemical properties, soil microbial community and activity, and relationships between alien and native plant species (seed germination test).