Journal Title: Microorganisms

Special Issue Title: Invasive Plant-Soil Microbe Dynamics: Mechanistic Explorations and Ecological Implications

Keywords: plant invasion; plant-soil microbe; invasion ecology; invasion biology

Submission Deadline: 30 January 2025

Webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms/special_issues/62269AP0B4

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Congyan Wang

Affiliation: Institute of Environment and Ecology & School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, P. R. China

Email: liuyuexue623@ujs.edu.cn; liuyuexue623@163.com

Interests: plant invasion; invasion ecology; invasion biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Invasive plants can significantly affect the composition of native flora, often leading to the species loss of native flora. It is therefore a research priority in the field of invasion ecology to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the successful invasion mediated by these invasive plants.

Specially, one of the key reasons for the successful invasion of invasive plants is their capacity to create microenvironments that are more conducive to further invasion processes through the formation of the feedback with microorganisms via invasive-plant–soil interactions. It is, therefore, of great importance to analyze elucidate the key mechanisms underlying the successful invasion of invasive plants in terms of invasive-plant–soil interactions, and this is the aim of this Special Issue.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

The effects and the key mechanisms of the invasion of one and/or multiple invasive plants on the community structure and metabolic activity of microorganisms.

The key mechanisms underlying the successful invasion of one and/or multiple invasive plants in terms of invasive-plant–soil interactions.

The role of native microorganisms in the successful invasion of one and/or multiple invasive plants.

The role of alien microorganisms in the successful invasion of one and/or multiple invasive plants.

The role of native microorganisms in the community invasion and/or invasion resistance of native flora.

The role of alien microorganisms in the community invasion and/or invasion resistance of native flora.

The effects of environmental pollution (e.g., heavy metal pollution, acid rain, and nitrogen deposition) and global changes (e.g., drought, fires, and high temperatures) on the successful invasion of one and/or multiple invasive plants in terms of invasive-plant–soil interactions.