Explaining naturalization and invasiveness: new insights from historical ornamental plant catalogs.

ABSTRACT: We identified plant attributes associated with naturalization and invasiveness using century-old ornamental plant catalogs from Québec (Canada). We tested the hypothesis that naturalization is determined by fewer factors than invasiveness, as the latter also requires dispersal, which introduces additional complexity. The approach we used took into account not only plant attributes as explanatory factors, but also propagule pressure, while accounting for phylogenetic relationships among species. Museum collections were used, in combination with scientific journal databases, to assess invasiveness. Particular attention was given to species that never escaped from gardens and thus represent cases of "failed" invasions. Naturalization in cold-temperate environments is determined by fewer facto

SUBMITTER: Lavoie C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5513274 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature