Biodiv Sci ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (12): 25212.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2025212  cstr: 32101.14.biods.2025212

• Original Papers:Plant Diversity • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of alien invasive plants on spontaneous plant communities in Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park

Xingda Yao1,2,3,#, Kaiyuan Zhu1,#, Yihan Lan4, Shuxia Zhan1, Tana Wuyun1, Jian Li2,3,*(), Wenting Xu1,*()   

  1. 1 Zhejiang Institute of Landscape Plants and Flowers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 311251, China
    2 Institute of Ecological Civilization, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    3 College of Landscape Architecture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    4 Zhejiang Provincial Forestry Survey, Planning, and Design Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310000, China
  • Received:2025-06-09 Accepted:2025-11-16 Online:2025-12-20 Published:2026-01-09
  • About author:#Co-first author
  • Supported by:
    Research on the Exploration and Application of Local Ornamental Plant Resources for the Construction of Beautiful Villages(2021217);Key Project of Social Sciences Planning of Zhejiang Province(24WH14-2Z)

Abstract:

Aims: Invasive plants accounted for a large proportion of urban spontaneous plant and was an unavoidable issue in the construction of spontaneous plant landscapes. Studying the impact of invasive plants was of great significance for the application of spontaneous plant landscaping that supports urban biodiversity.

Methods: Stratified random sampling survey was conducted in this study on spontaneous plant in the herb layer of Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park among different habitats. The status quo of invasive plants and their effects on spontaneous plant community were analyzed, and the management strategies of invasive plants in Xixi National Wetland Park were discussed.

Results: (1) A total of 25 invasive plant species were recorded in the investigation, accounting for approximately 10.7% of the total number of spontaneous plant species. Among them, the most dominant ones were Alternanthera philoxeroides and Erigeron annuus. (2) Among the five types of habitats, the grassland had the highest number of invasive plant species, occurrence frequency, and importance value. (3) Invasive plants significantly reduced the number of native plant species; significantly decreased the species diversity, and significantly affected the structure of spontaneous plant communities. (4) In the management of invasive plants in Xixi Wetland, particular attention should be paid to dominant invasive species such as A. philoxeroides and E. annuus.

Conclusion: Differential management measures should be formulated based on the differences between habitats and the types of multi-species invasions. This study provides a reference for the construction and management of spontaneous plant landscapes.

Key words: invasive plants, spontaneous plant, biodiversity, landscape management