Competition among native and invasive Impatiens species: the roles of environmental factors, population density and life stage.

ABSTRACT: Many invasive species are considered competitively superior to native species, with the strongest competition expected in species with similar niches and/or in closely related species. However, competition outcome is strongly context-dependent as competitive strength varies along environmental gradients, and life stages, and also depends on abundances. To explore the importance of these factors, we examined competition effects in an experiment with three Impatiens species (Balsaminaceae) widespread in central Europe and sharing similar life-history characteristics and habitats: the native I. noli-tangere, and two invasive species, I. parviflora and I. glandulifera. We compared their competitive strength and reciprocal impacts under two levels of water and light availability, two overall pl

SUBMITTER: Cuda J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4417208 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature