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1: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Apr 11;103(15):5841-5. Epub 2006 Mar 31.
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Exotic taxa less related to native species are more invasive.

Strauss SY, Webb CO, Salamin N.

Section of Evolution and Ecology, 2320 Storer Hall, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. systrauss@ucdavis.edu

Some species introduced into new geographical areas from their native ranges wreak ecological and economic havoc in their new environment. Although many studies have searched for either species or habitat characteristics that predict invasiveness of exotic species, the match between characteristics of the invader and those of members of the existing native community may be essential to understanding invasiveness. Here, we find that one metric, the phylogenetic relatedness of an invader to the native community, provides a predictive tool for invasiveness. Using a phylogenetic supertree of all grass species in California, we show that highly invasive grass species are, on average, significantly less related to native grasses than are introduced but noninvasive grasses. The match between the invader and the existing native community may explain why exotic pest species are not uniformly noxious in all novel habitats. Relatedness of invaders to the native biota may be one useful criterion for prioritizing management efforts of exotic species.

Publication Types:
PMID: 16581902 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC1421337