How Eutrophication Promotes Exotic Aquatic Plant Invasion in the Lake Littoral Zone?

Eutrophication and exotic species invasion are key drivers of the global loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functions in lakes. We selected two exotic plants ( and ) and two native plants ( and ) to elucidate the effect of eutrophication on exotic plant invasiveness. We found that (1) elevated nutrient favored invasion of exotic species and inhibited growth of native plants. Species combinations and plant densities of native plants had limited effects on the resistance to invasion of the exotics. (2) featured the tightest connectivity among traits, which is consistent with its high competitive ability. Although eutrophication caused physiological stress to , it could effectively regulate enzyme activity and alleviate the stress. (3) possessed strong tolerance to habitat disturbance and was highly disruptive to the surrounding plants. Eutrophication will exacerbate the adverse effects of on the littoral ecosystem. (4) Nutrient enrichment reduced the biomass and relative growth rates of and lowered phenolics and starch contents of , thereby making them more susceptible to habitat fluctuations. Overall, our study highlights how eutrophication alters the invasiveness of exotic plants and the resistance of native plants in the littoral zone, which is of relevance in a world with intensified human activities.