Indirect role of climatic suitability in mediating the effects of plant characteristics on naturalization success of cultivated alien plants in Southern Africa.

ABSTRACT: The rapid expansion of global trade, tourism, and human mobility has increased the introduction of alien plants into new regions. Here, we assessed the role of plant characteristics and climatic suitability in the naturalization success of 1,407 cultivated alien plants in Southern Africa. We used mediation analysis with climate suitability as a mediator to quantify the direct and indirect effects of plant characteristics, including phylogenetic relatedness, seed mass, plant height, native origins, native range size, and growth forms on naturalization success. We found that naturalized species have higher climatic suitability compared to non-naturalized ones. Additionally, seed mass, plant height, short-lived herbaceous growth form, and native range size are positively associated with natur

SUBMITTER: Peter SO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12464098 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature