Eastern U.S. Plant Invasions in a Global Context
Author Information
Author(s): Jason D. Fridley
Primary Institution: Syracuse University
Hypothesis
Are the provenances of invasive species in the Eastern U.S. biased towards particular global floristic regions?
Conclusion
The study suggests that invasive species in the Eastern U.S. are predominantly from East Asia and are more likely to invade intact forests compared to European species.
Supporting Evidence
- Nearly half of the alien taxa have native ranges that include central and northern Europe.
- EUS invasive species are most likely to come from East Asia.
- East Asian invaders are mostly woody and more likely to invade intact forests.
Takeaway
This study looks at where invasive plants in the Eastern U.S. come from and finds that many are from East Asia, which is surprising because we often think of European plants as the main invaders.
Methodology
The study analyzed the native floristic provenances of 2629 alien plant taxa in the Eastern U.S. and compared them to 449 taxa labeled as invasive.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in the selection of taxa based on historical trade routes and introduction methods.
Limitations
The study may not account for all alien taxa due to difficulties in categorizing some species.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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