How ecosystems change following invasion by Robinia pseudoacacia: Insights from soil chemical properties and soil microbial, nematode, microarthropod and plant communities Lorenzo Lazzaro a, ⁎ ,1 , Giuseppe Mazza b,1 , Giada d'Errico c,d , Arturo Fabiani e , Claudia Giuliani f , Alberto F. Inghilesi g , Alessandra Lagomarsino e , Silvia Landi b , Lorenzo Lastrucci a , Roberta Pastorelli e , Pio Federico Roversi b , Giulia Torrini b , Elena Tricarico g , Bruno Foggi a a Department of Biology, University of Florence, via G. La Pira 4, I-50121 Florence, Italy b CREA-DC, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, via di Lanciola 12/A, I-50125, Cascine del Riccio, Florence, Italy c Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055 Portici, Italy d CNR - Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante (IPSP), via Università 133, 80055 Portici, Naples, Italy e CREA-AA, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Lanciola 12/A, I-50125, Cascine del Riccio, Florence, Italy f Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, via Mangiagalli 25, I-20133 Milan, Italy g Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Romana 17, I-50125 Florence, Italy HIGHLIGHTS • We analysed the impacts of Robinia pseudoacacia invasion. • We analysed impacts on soil chemical properties, plant and soil biotic commu- nities. • We found qualitative and quantitative changes in all components analysed. • We detected soil nitrification and acidifi- cation in stands invaded by black locust. • Changes (mostly biodiversity reduction) were observed in biotic communities. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT abstract article info Article history: Received 30 August 2017 Received in revised form 2 October 2017 Accepted 3 October 2017 Available online xxxx Editor: Elena Paoletti Biological invasions are a global threat to biodiversity. Since the spread of invasive alien plants may have many impacts, an integrated approach, assessing effects across various ecosystem components, is needed for a correct understanding of the invasion process and its consequences. The nitrogen-fixing tree Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) is a major invasive species worldwide and is used in forestry production. While its effects on plant com- munities and soils are well known, there have been few studies on soil fauna and microbes. We investigated the impacts of the tree on several ecosystem components, using a multi-trophic approach to combine evidence of soil chemical properties and soil microbial, nematode, microarthropod and plant communi- ties. We sampled soil and vegetation in managed forests, comparing those dominated by black locust with native deciduous oak stands. Keywords: Black locust Community ecology Impact Science of the Total Environment xxx (2017) xxx–xxx ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail address: lorenzo.lazzaro@unifi.it (L. Lazzaro). 1 Both authors contributed equally to the study. STOTEN-24241; No of Pages 10 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.017 0048-9697/© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Science of the Total Environment journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/scitotenv Please cite this article as: Lazzaro, L., et al., How ecosystems change following invasion by Robinia pseudoacacia: Insights from soil chemical prop- erties and soil microbial, nematode, microarthropod ..., Sci Total Environ (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.017