Fig. 3

Plant colonization effects on soil microbial properties. Basal respiration [µg O₂ g⁻¹ soil dry mass h⁻¹] a 2 and c 5 years, and soil microbial biomass [µg C g⁻¹ soil dry mass] b 2 and d 5 years after colonization by plant species. Dashed lines and open circles display basal respiration and soil microbial biomass with resident plant species of weeded subplots, respectively, and solid lines and circles display basal respiration and soil microbial biomass with resident plant species plus colonizing plant species of non-weeded subplots, respectively. ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05, (*) P < 0.1, ns P > 0.1