Below-ground processes mediate the effects of Caulerpa taxifolia propagule pressure and native seagrass Z. muelleri biomass on invasion success

Biological invasions present a major threat to ecosystems and native species worldwide. For macrophytes, the interaction between the biomass loss of native species and biomass of invasive species significantly affects the success of invasions. However, the role of below-ground microbial processes in these interactions is not well understood. In this study, we conducted both a field survey to examine how native seagrass (Zostera muelleri) biomass and below-ground bacterial communities (analyzed using 16S amplicon sequencing) influence the establishment of the invasive green alga, Caulerpa taxifolia.