MANAGING THE RISK OF INVASIVE SPECIES: HOW WELL DO FUNCTIONAL TRAITS DETERMINE INVASION STRATEGY AND SUCCESS?

摘要

Invasive species can have significant ecosystem and economic consequences, and the problem may only worsen with climate change. In an effort to improve invasive species management, it is important to understand the mechanism by which invasive species are able to establish and in some cases competitively displace native species. What traits do invasive species possess that allow them to establish in novel habitats and to persist despite presence (often) of pre-existing competitors occupying similar niches? Are there particular traits common to all invasive species, or are there particular strategies of invasive species that share common functional traits?