The relationship between propagule pressure and establishment success in alien bird populations: a re-analysis of Moulton & Cropper (2019).

ABSTRACT: A recent analysis by Moulton & Cropper (2019) of a global dataset on alien bird population introductions claims to find no evidence that establishment success is a function of the size of the founding population. Here, we re-analyse Moulton & Cropper's data and show that this conclusion is based on flawed statistical methods-their data in fact confirm a strong positive relationship between founding population size and establishment success. We also refute several non-statistical arguments against the likelihood of such an effect presented by Moulton & Cropper. We conclude that a core tenet of population biology-that small populations are more prone to extinction-applies to alien populations beyond their native geographic range limits as much as to native populations within them.

SUBMITTER: Blackburn TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7085288 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature