Trait differences between naturalized and invasive plant species independent of residence time and phylogeny.

ABSTRACT: The ability to predict which alien plants will transition from naturalized to invasive prior to their introduction to novel regions is a key goal for conservation and has the potential to increase the efficacy of weed risk assessment (WRA). However, multiple factors contribute to plant invasion success (e.g., functional traits, range characteristics, residence time, phylogeny), and they all must be taken into account simultaneously in order to identify meaningful correlates of invasion success. We compiled 146 pairs of phylogenetically paired (congeneric) naturalized and invasive plant species in Australia with similar minimum residence times (i.e., time since introduction in years). These pairs were used to test for differences in 5 functional traits (flowering duration, leaf size, maximu

SUBMITTER: Gallagher RV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4405095 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature