Introduced species that overcome life history tradeoffs can cause native extinctions.

ABSTRACT: Introduced species threaten native biodiversity, but whether exotic species can competitively displace native species remains contested. Building on theory that predicts multi-species coexistence based on a competition-colonisation tradeoff, we derive a mechanistic basis by which human-mediated species invasions could cause extinctions through competitive displacement. In contrast to past invasions, humans principally introduce modern invaders, repeatedly and in large quantities, and in ways that can facilitate release from enemies and competitors. Associated increases in exotic species' propagule rain, survival and competitive ability could enable some introduced species to overcome the tradeoffs that constrain all other species. Using evidence from metacommunity models, we show how speci

SUBMITTER: Catford JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5976637 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature