Invasions: the trail behind, the path ahead, and a test of a disturbing idea

MOLES, A.T.; FLORES-MORENO, H.; BONSER, D.I.; HELM, A.; WARMAN, D.J.; ELDRIDGE, E.; JURADO, F.A.; HEMMINGS, F.A.; REICH, P.B.; CAVENDER-BARES, J.; SEABLOOM, E.W.; MAYFIELD, M.M.; SHEIL, D.; DJIETROR, J.C.; PERI, P.L., ; ENRICO, L.; CABIDO, M.; SETTERFIELD, S.A.; LEHMAN, C.E.R.; THOMSON, F.J.

JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY (PRINT)

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2012 vol. 100 p. 116 - 127

0022-0477

Summary 1. We provide a brief overview of progress in our understanding of introduced plant species.We provide a brief overview of progress in our understanding of introduced plant species. 2. Three main conclusions emerge from our review: (i) Many lines of research, including the search for traits that make species good invaders, or that make ecosystems susceptible to invasion, are yielding idiosyncratic results. To move forward, we advocate a more synthetic approach that incorporates a range of different types of information about the introduced species and the communities and habitats they are invading. (ii) Given the growing evidence for the adaptive capacity of both introduced species and recipient communities, we need to consider the implications of the long-term presence of introduced species in our ecosystems. (iii) Several foundational ideas in invasion biology have become widely accepted without appropriate testing, or despite equivocal evidence from empirical tests. One such idea is the suggestion that disturbance facilitates invasion. search for traits that make species good invaders, or that make ecosystems susceptible to invasion, are yielding idiosyncratic results. To move forward, we advocate a more synthetic approach that incorporates a range of different types of information about the introduced species and the communities and habitats they are invading. (ii) Given the growing evidence for the adaptive capacity of both introduced species and recipient communities, we need to consider the implications of the long-term presence of introduced species in our ecosystems. (iii) Several foundational ideas in invasion biology have become widely accepted without appropriate testing, or despite equivocal evidence from empirical tests. One such idea is the suggestion that disturbance facilitates invasion. search for traits that make species good invaders, or that make ecosystems susceptible to invasion, are yielding idiosyncratic results. To move forward, we advocate a more synthetic approach that incorporates a range of different types of information about the introduced species and the communities and habitats they are invading. (ii) Given the growing evidence for the adaptive capacity of both introduced species and recipient communities, we need to consider the implications of the long-term presence of introduced species in our ecosystems. (iii) Several foundational ideas in invasion biology have become widely accepted without appropriate testing, or despite equivocal evidence from empirical tests. One such idea is the suggestion that disturbance facilitates invasion. search for traits that make species good invaders, or that make ecosystems susceptible to invasion, are yielding idiosyncratic results. To move forward, we advocate a more synthetic approach that incorporates a range of different types of information about the introduced species and the communities and habitats they are invading. (ii) Given the growing evidence for the adaptive capacity of both introduced species and recipient communities, we need to consider the implications of the long-term presence of introduced species in our ecosystems. (iii) Several foundational ideas in invasion biology have become widely accepted without appropriate testing, or despite equivocal evidence from empirical tests. One such idea is the suggestion that disturbance facilitates invasion. Three main conclusions emerge from our review: (i) Many lines of research, including the search for traits that make species good invaders, or that make ecosystems susceptible to invasion, are yielding idiosyncratic results. To move forward, we advocate a more synthetic approach that incorporates a range of different types of information about the introduced species and the communities and habitats they are invading. (ii) Given the growing evidence for the adaptive capacity of both introduced species and recipient communities, we need to consider the implications of the long-term presence of introduced species in our ecosystems. (iii) Several foundational ideas in invasion biology have become widely accepted without appropriate testing, or despite equivocal evidence from empirical tests. One such idea is the suggestion that disturbance facilitates invasion. 3. We use data from 200 sites around the world to provide a broad test of the hypothesis that invasions are better predicted by a change in disturbance regime than by disturbance per se. Neither disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. invasions are better predicted by a change in disturbance regime than by disturbance per se. Neither disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. invasions are better predicted by a change in disturbance regime than by disturbance per se. Neither disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. invasions are better predicted by a change in disturbance regime than by disturbance per se. Neither disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. We use data from 200 sites around the world to provide a broad test of the hypothesis that invasions are better predicted by a change in disturbance regime than by disturbance per se. Neither disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. per se. Neither disturbance nor change in disturbance regime explained more than 7% of the variation in the%of cover or species richness contributed by introduced species. However, change in disturbance regime was a significantly better predictor than was disturbance per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. much variation as did disturbance. per se, explaining approximately twice as much variation as did disturbance. *Correspondence author. E-mail: a.moles@unsw.edu.au 2012 The Authors. Journal of Ecology 2012 British Ecological Society2012 The Authors. Journal of Ecology 2012 British Ecological Society Journal of Ecology 2012, 100, 116?127 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01915.x2012, 100, 116?127 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01915.x 4. Synthesis. Disturbance is a weak predictor of invasion. To increase predictive power, we need to consider multiple variables (both intrinsic and extrinsic to the site) simultaneously. Variables that describe the changes sites have undergone may be particularly informative. consider multiple variables (both intrinsic and extrinsic to the site) simultaneously. Variables that describe the changes sites have undergone may be particularly informative. consider multiple variables (both intrinsic and extrinsic to the site) simultaneously. Variables that describe the changes sites have undergone may be particularly informative. consider multiple variables (both intrinsic and extrinsic to the site) simultaneously. Variables that describe the changes sites have undergone may be particularly informative. Synthesis. Disturbance is a weak predictor of invasion. To increase predictive power, we need to consider multiple variables (both intrinsic and extrinsic to the site) simultaneously. Variables that describe the changes sites have undergone may be particularly informative. Key-words: community susceptibility to invasion, disturbance, evolution in introduced species, grazing, invasion ecology, traits of successful aliens species, grazing, invasion ecology, traits of successful aliens species, grazing, invasion ecology, traits of successful aliens species, grazing, invasion ecology, traits of successful aliens community susceptibility to invasion, disturbance, evolution in introduced species, grazing, invasion ecology, traits of successful aliens