Evidence for shifts to faster growth strategies in the new ranges of invasive alien plants.

ABSTRACT:

Summary

Understanding the processes underlying the transition from introduction to naturalization and spread is an important goal of invasion ecology. Release from pests and pathogens in association with capacity for rapid growth is thought to confer an advantage for species in novel regions.We assessed leaf herbivory and leaf-level traits associated with growth strategy in the native and exotic ranges of 13 invasive plant species from 256 populations. Species were native to either the Western Cape region of South Africa, south-western Australia or south-eastern Australia and had been introduced to at least one of the other regions or to New Zealand. We tested for evidence of herbivore release and shifts in leaf traits between native and exotic ranges of the 13 species.Across all s

SUBMITTER: Leishman MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4277856 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature