Summary Concerns over the ecological impacts of invasive alien plant species have generated great research interest in understanding mechanisms that underlie capacity such plants to occupy a broad range habitats. It has been repeatedly suggested rapid evolution local adaptation novel environments may enable However, classical Darwinian view on by natural selection is process slow and gradual, occurring thousands years. Invasive typically relatively short residence time their introduced...

Summary 1. Herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) play an important role in host location of parasitoid wasps and may benefit the by top–down control its herbivorous attackers. Although many studies have shown that accessions plants differ attractiveness to under controlled laboratory studies, few confirmed most attractive also sustain highest parasitism rates field. Here, we tested whether in‐flight preference parasitoids for HIPVs from cultivars Brassica oleracea reliably predicts...

Abstract The novel-weapons and homeland-security hypotheses are based on the idea that aliens natives not adapted to each other’s allelochemicals as they did co-evolve. However, only a few studies have tested this, it remains unclear how important co-evolutionary history is in determining strength of allelopathic interactions between natives. Here, we for potential pairwise effects other five alien native herbaceous species China. We germination experiment competition experiment. In...

Rapid post-introduction evolution has been found in many invasive plant species, and includes changes defence (resistance tolerance) competitive ability traits. Here, we explored the of a trade-off between resistance to tolerance herbivory, which received little attention. In common garden experiment native range, nine 16 populations Brassica nigra were compared for growth Invasive had higher to, but lower of, herbivore damage than populations. survived better produced more seeds ones when...

With the intention to augment better management of human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) in Kenya, we assessed a national HWC pattern using decade-long (2005–2016) monitoring data series. The results demonstrate that out 29,647 reported cases, crop raiding was most frequent type (73%) followed by livestock depredation (23%) and infrastructure damage (4%). Different crops, wildlife species involved were also identified. Although cases from all 47 counties make up about 75% incidences occurred 10...

Abstract Several studies have shown that invasive plant species respond more negatively to drought than native species, but little remains understood of how and whether drought‐rewetting events may affect growth co‐occurring both directly indirectly through soil microorganisms. In a fully crossed factorial design, we grew individuals four congeneric pairs in 2.5 L pots contained live or sterilized field under one three treatments: no‐drought, drought, drought‐rewetting. Results show caused...

ABSTRACT Aim Road networks are common landscape disturbances that can facilitate the spread of invasive plants. This study explored influence distance from road, habitat type and broader environmental factors in shaping distribution patterns both native species above‐ground vegetation soil seed banks. Location Guangxi, China. Methods We collected data on plant composition banks at six distances road edge: 0 m, 2 4 9 14 m 24 three types, including abandoned land, Eucalyptus plantations...

Abstract Woody plant encroachment into graminoid‐dominated freshwater marshes is a widespread phenomenon globally, yet the mechanisms driving it are not well understood. It often presumed that establishment of woody plants—encompassing seed germination, seedling survival, and growth—is influenced by environmental changes such as alterations in water regimes nutrient availability. However, this hypothesis has been rigorously tested through empirical studies. In study, we conducted 3‐year...

Invasive plant species and climate change are among the biggest threats to ecological integrity of many ecosystems, including those protected areas. Effective management invasive plants requires information regarding their spatial distributions. Using maximum entropy, we modeled habitat suitability for an Chromolaena odorata under current future climatic conditions (HadGEM2‐ES MIROC5) in areas four West African countries (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo). Under conditions, approximately...

The enemy release hypothesis predicts that from natural enemies, including soil-borne pathogens, liberates invasive plants a negative regulating force. Nevertheless, may acquire novel enemies and mutualists in the introduced range, which cause variable effects on invader growth. However, how soil microorganisms influence competitive ability of along invasion chronosequences has been little explored.Using plant Solidago canadensis, we tested whether longer residence times are associated with...

Abstract In support of the prediction enemy release hypothesis regarding a growth–defense trade‐off, invasive alien plants often exhibit greater growth and lower anti‐herbivory defenses than native plants. However, it remains unclear how nutrient enrichment invaded habitats may influence competitive interactions between co‐occurring plants, as well production anti‐herbivore defense compounds, growth‐promoting hormones, defense‐regulating hormones by two groups Here, we tested whether: (i)...

Ornamental horticulture constitutes a major pathway of alien plant species introductions into different biogeographic regions globally. Studies increasingly suggest that climate change may favour invasive spread many ornamental species, although the extent to which this occur in biomes globally remains unclear. Having predictive understanding how future climates affect geographic distribution plants will inform control invasions by flora. Here, we explored whether models (SDMs) account for...

The novel-weapons hypothesis predicts that some plants are successful invaders because they release allelopathic compounds highly suppressive to naïve competitors in invaded ranges but relatively ineffective against the native range. For its part, evolution of enhanced weaponry invasive populations may evolve increased expression compounds. However, these predictions have rarely been tested empirically.Here, we made aqueous extracts roots and shoots (North American) (European) Brassica nigra...

Summary Invasive plant species often competitively displace native but some populations of can evolve adaptation to competition from invasive plants and persist in invaded habitats. However, studies are lacking that examine how variation abiotic conditions landscapes may affect fitness have adapted compete with plants. I tested whether invasion by Parthenium hysterophorus Nairobi National Park – Kenya selected for individuals greater competitive ability than conspecific naïve natives...

Globally, numerous ecosystems have been co-invaded by multiple exotic plant species that can competitive or facilitative interactions with each other and native plants. Invaded often exhibit spatial heterogeneity in soil moisture nutrient levels, some habitats having more nutrient-rich moist soils than others. The stress-gradient hypothesis predicts plants are likely to engage when growing stressful environments, such as nutrient-deficient water-deficient soils. In contrast, resources...

Introduction Freshwater ecosystems are susceptible to invasion by alien macrophytes due their connectivity and various plant dispersal vectors. These often experience anthropogenic nutrient enrichment, favouring invasive species that efficiently exploit these resources. Propagule pressure (reflecting the quantity of introduced individuals) habitat invasibility key determinants success. Moreover, enemy release hypothesis predicts escape from natural enemies, such as herbivores, allows invest...

Abstract Polyploidy can cause variation in plant functional traits and thereby generate individuals that adapt to fluctuating environments exploit new environments. However, few empirical studies have tested for an association between ploidy level climatic tolerance of invasive cytotypes relative conspecific native‐range cytotypes. Here, we used Solidago canadensis test whether populations had a higher proportion polyploids, greater height stem‐base diameter, occupied wider range conditions...