Short Lag Times for Invasive Tropical Plants in Hawai'i
Author Information
Author(s): Daehler Curtis C.
Primary Institution: University of Hawai'i at Manoa
Hypothesis
Tropical plants may have shorter lag times for invasion compared to temperate plants.
Conclusion
Tropical invaders may begin spreading shortly after introduction, with average lag times of 14 years for woody plants and 5 years for herbaceous plants.
Supporting Evidence
- The average lag time for woody plants was found to be 14 years.
- Herbaceous plants had an average lag time of 5 years.
- 91% of the invasive plants studied were woody species.
- Most invasions began shortly after the plants reached reproductive maturity.
Takeaway
When new plants are brought to a place, they usually take a little time to start spreading. In Hawaii, some plants start spreading just a few years after they are planted.
Methodology
Historical planting records were analyzed to determine the lag times between initial plantings and the first evidence of spread for 23 invasive species.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in historical records and the selection of species may affect the findings.
Limitations
The study only includes species planted at a specific arboretum and may not represent all tropical plants.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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