DOI: 10.5061/dryad.kprr4xhb0
title: Nutrient enrichment undermines invasion resistance to Spartina alterniflora in a saltmarsh: Insights from modern coexistence theory

description: The ability of native communities to maintain invasion resistance in the
 face of environmental changes is crucial for biodiversity conservation.
 However, previous studies have primarily focused on the inhibitive effects
 experienced by invaders, providing limited insights into the ultimate
 outcome of resistance. In this study, we integrated modern coexistence
 theory into biotic resistance research to investigate the impact of
 nutrient enrichment on the resistance of Phragmites australis marsh to
 Spartina alterniflora invasion in the Yangtze estuary saltmarshes of
 China. Our results demonstrated that under non-enriched conditions,
 successful invasion resistance was facilitated by stable coexistence
 between native and invasive species in the field. This prediction of
 invasion resistance aligned with the distribution dynamics of the two
 species in the Yangtze estuary saltmarshes over the past two decades.
 However, nutrient enrichment was likely to lead to a fundamental shift in
 their coexistence and ultimately, the failure of resistance. Synthesis and
 applications. Integrating modern coexistence theory into biotic resistance
 studies advances the assessment of invasion resistance by shifting from
 quantifying relative strength to predicting explicit resistance outcomes.
 Ecosystem managers can draw explicit conclusions about the potential
 establishment and impact of invaders by analyzing observational or
 experimental data within the framework of modern coexistence theory. This
 information aids in identifying the most efficient strategies for
 addressing invasive species.
description: # Nutrient enrichment undermines invasion resistance to Spartina
 alterniflora in a saltmarsh: Insights from modern coexistence theory
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kprr4xhb0](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kprr4xhb0) This dataset includes three working tables: 1. Population growth: the data used to calculate the population growth rate of the two species under different nutrient conditions. 2. Soil abiotic factors: the data of soil characteristics of the different communities. 3. Functional traits: Three functional traits of the two species in their respective monocultures under different nutrient conditions. *** The following show the descriptions of the variables and their values: | Variable | Description of the variable | Values | Unit | | -------- | --------------------------- | ------ | ---- | | type | type of the communities | P. a: Phragmites australis monocultures; P. a-D: mixed stands dominated by Phragmites australis with scattered Spartina alterniflora; P. a & S. a: mixed stands codominated by Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora; S. a-D: mixed stands dominated by Spartina alterniflora with scattered Phragmites australis; S. a: Spartina alterniflora monocultures | | | species | the target species | P. a: Phragmites australis<br>S. a: Spartina alterniflora | | | density\_2013 | density of the target species in the quadrat in 2013 | | | | ratio | relative frequency of the target species in the quadrat | | | | initial\_density\_PA | density of Phragmites australis in the quadrat in 2012 when the experiment started | | | | initial\_density\_SA | density of Spartina alterniflora in the quadrat in 2012 when the experiment started | | | | per\_capita\_growth | per capita growth of the target species | | | | Salinity | salinity of the soil | | g/kg | | pH | pH of the soil | | | | NH4 | ammonium nitrogen content in the soil | | mg/kg | | NO3 | nitrate nitrogen content in the soil | | mg/kg | | TN | total nitrogen content in the soil | | g/kg | | TC | total carbon content in the soil | | g/kg | | clay% | proportion of clay in the soil | | % | | silt% | proportion of silt in the soil | | % | | sand% | proportion of sand in the soil | | % | | P | availiable phosphorous content in the soil | | mg/kg | | Leaf\_N | leaf nitrogen content | | mg/g | | Height | height of the ramet | | cm | | SLA | specific leaf area | | m<sup>2</sup>/g |