Similar factors underlie tree abundance in forests in native and alien ranges.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Alien plant species can cause severe ecological and economic problems, and therefore attract a lot of research interest in biogeography and related fields. To identify potential future invasive species, we need to better understand the mechanisms underlying the abundances of invasive tree species in their new ranges, and whether these mechanisms differ between their native and alien ranges. Here, we test two hypotheses: that greater relative abundance is promoted by (a) functional difference from locally co-occurring trees, and (b) higher values than locally co-occurring trees for traits linked to competitive ability.

Location

Global.

Time period

Recent.

Major taxa studied

Trees.

Methods

We combined three global plant databases: sPlot vegetation-plot

SUBMITTER: van der Sande MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7006795 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature