Naturalization of introduced plants: Ecological drivers of biogeographic patterns

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Date
2012Author
Richardson, D.M.
Pyšek, P.
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The literature on biological invasions is biased in favour of invasive species – those that spread
and often reach high abundance following introduction by humans. It is, however, also
important to understand previous stages in the introduction–naturalization–invasion continuum
(‘the continuum’), especially the factors that mediate naturalization. The emphasis on
invasiveness is partly because most invasions are only recognized once species occupy large
adventive ranges or start to spread. Also, many studies lump all alien species, and fail to separate
introduced, naturalized and invasive populations and species. These biases impede our ability to
elucidate the full suite of drivers of invasion and to predict invasion dynamics, because different
factors mediate progression along different sections of the continuum.Abetter understanding of
the determinants of naturalization is important because all naturalized species are potential
invaders. Processes leading to naturalization act differently in different regions and global
biogeographical patterns of plant invasions result from the interaction of population-biological,
macroecological and human-induced factors. We explore what is known about how
determinants of naturalization in plants interact at various scales, and how their importance
varies along the continuum. Research that is explicitly linked to particular stages of the
continuum can generate new information that is appropriate for improving the management of
biological invasions if, for example, potentially invasive species are identified before they exert an
impact.
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- RESEARCH: Richardson D [345]