3.1 Effects of P. kansuensis invasion on community structure
Pedicularis kansuensis invasion slightly reduced the species richness of the community compared to the non-invaded area (–3.07%, Fig. 1A), but it increased overall canopy cover (+16.99%, Fig. 1B) (excluding P. kansuensis ). Our study found that P. kansuensis invasion significantly reduced the species importance of the common species in the community compared to the non-invaded areas (–44.22%, Fig. 1C). In addition, there was also a significant decrease in the importance value of the unique species (–31.26%, Fig. 1D). That is to say, P. kansuensis invasion increased community coverage, but decreased the species diversity of the community and the importance of the other species. As a result, P. kansuensis invasion affected the ability of the community to maintain a stable ecosystem. In other words, only the communities with low diversity were conducive to the invasion of P. kansuensis .