Alien plant fitness is limited by functional trade‐offs rather than a long‐term increase in competitive effects of native communities

• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10468
• Publication Date: 2023-09-01T11:11:54Z
• Authors: Marco R. Brendel; Frank M. Schurr; Christine S. Shep...
• Keywords: Monoculture; Storage effect; Community

Abstract Alien plants experience novel abiotic conditions and interactions with native communities in the introduced area. Intra‐ interspecific selection on functional traits new environment may lead to increased population growth time since introduction (residence time). However, regimes might differ depending invaded habitat. Additionally, high‐competition habitats, a build‐up of biotic resistance species due accumulation eco‐evolutionary aliens over limit invasion success. We tested if effect dynamics depends competition plant communities. conducted multi‐species experiment 40 annual Asteraceae that residence Germany. followed their monocultures an experienced community (varying co‐existence times between focals community). To more robustly test our findings, we used naïve never co‐existed focals. found high seed mass decreased but tended increase under competition. no evidence for competition‐mediated by time. Instead, focal was similarly inhibited community. By comparing 2 years across large set variation time, this study advances understanding long‐term invasions. In system, alien not limited competitive effects (one aspect resistance) success be because initial spread low‐competition habitats requires different than establishment habitats.