Evidence for rapid ecological range expansion in a newly invasive plant.

ABSTRACT: Little is known about how an introduced species may expand its ecological range, i.e. the set of local environmental conditions in which it can successfully establish populations. Delimiting this range of conditions is a methodological challenge, because it is impossible to sample all potential field locations for any species in a given region. Developing approaches to track ecological range over time could substantially contribute to understanding invasion dynamics. In this study, we use a previously established sampling strategy to document apparent changes across a 15-year time interval in the ecological range of the Asian annual Polygonum cespitosum Blume in northeastern North America, where the species has recently become invasive. Using a structured sample drawn from a large set of f

SUBMITTER: Matesanz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4511186 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature