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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Do Novel Weapons That Degrade Mycorrhizal Mutualisms Promote Species Invasion?, Robert Warren, Phil Pinzone, Daniel L. Potts, Gary Pettibone
Do Novel Weapons That Degrade Mycorrhizal Mutualisms Promote Species Invasion?, Robert Warren, Phil Pinzone, Daniel L. Potts, Gary Pettibone
Biology Faculty Datasets
Non-native plants often dominate novel habitats where they did not co-evolve with the local species. The novel weapons hypothesis suggests that non-native plants bring competitive traits against which native species have not adapted defenses. Novel weapons may directly affect plant competitors by inhibiting germination or growth, or indirectly by attacking competitor plant mutualists (degraded mutualisms hypothesis). Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) are widespread plant invaders that produce potent secondary compounds that negatively impact plant competitors. We tested whether their impacts were consistent with a direct effect on the tree seedlings (novel weapons) or an indirect attack …
Release From Intraspecific Competition Promotes Dominance Of A Non-Native Invader, Robert Warren
Release From Intraspecific Competition Promotes Dominance Of A Non-Native Invader, Robert Warren
Biology Faculty Datasets
Species can coexist through equalizing (similar fitness abilities) and stabilizing (unique niche requirements) mechanisms – assuming that intraspecific competition imposes more limitation than interspecific competition. Non-native species often de-stabilize coexistence, suggesting that they bring either a fitness advantage or a distinct niche requirement. We tested whether greater fitness or unique niche requirements best explained a successful North American invasion by the European Myrmica rubra ant. North American invaded-range M. rubra aggressively sting and occur in enormous numbers (suggesting a fitness advantage), yet our study site has a history of anthropogenic disturbance that might favor M. rubra (suggesting a unique niche). …