Standish et al. (2004): Invasion by a perennial herb increases decomposition rate and alters nutrient availability in warm temperate lowland forest.

Standish, R.J., Williams, P.A., Robertson, A.W., Scott, N.A. and Hedderley, D.I. 2004. Invasion by a perennial herb increases decomposition rate and alters nutrient availability in warm temperate lowland forest remnants. Biological Invasions 6: 71–82.

While the impacts of invasive weeds on community processes are well studied, comparitively little is known about the impacts of weeds on ecosystem processes. We determined the impact of Tradescantia fluminensis on litter decomposition and nutrient availability in a remnant of New Zealand lowland podocarp-broadleaf forest. We used multiple approaches to demonstrate that Tradescantia increases litter decomposition and alters nutrient availability, effects which could influence the long-term viability of a majority of podocarp-broadleaf forest remnants affected with Tradescantia in New Zealand.