期刊
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
卷 20, 期 7, 页码 733-744出版社
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12182
关键词
Alternative ecosystem states; biological invasions; exotic species; high-impact invaders; invader effects; invasive species; thresholds; tipping point
资金
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology
- Working for Water programme through their collaborative project on 'Research for Integrated Management of Invasive Alien Species'
- Branco Weiss Society in Science Fellowship
- USDA Hatch
- USDA-NRI [2006-03645]
- Stellenbosch University (Sub Committee B grant)
- Nordic Centre of Excellence TUNDRA - Norden Top-Level Research Initiative 'Effect Studies and Adaptation to Climate Change'
- National Research Foundation [85417]
- Hans Sigrist Foundation
- Oppenheimer Memorial Trust
Aim A major challenge for invasion ecology is to identify high-impact invaders to guide prioritization of management interventions. We argue that species with the potential to cause regime shifts (altered states of ecosystem structure and function that are difficult or impossible to reverse) should be prioritized. These are species that modify ecosystems in ways that enhance their own persistence and suppress that of native species through reinforcing feedback processes. Methods Using both systems analysis and meta-analysis approaches, we synthesized changes to ecosystems caused by 173 invasive plant species. For the systems analysis, we examined published studies of impacts of invasive plants to determine which presented evidence consistent with a reinforcement of feedback processes. For the meta-analysis, we calculated the effect size ratio between standardized changes in recipient ecosystem and in the status of introduced species as an indication of a reinforcing feedback in particular species-environment combinations. The systems analysis approach allowed us to conceptualize regime shifts in invader-dominated landscapes and to estimate the likelihood of such changes occurring. The meta-analysis allowed us to quantitatively verify the conceptual model and the key invader-context feedbacks and to detect the strength and direction of feedbacks. Results Most reinforcing feedbacks involve impacts on soil-nutrient cycling by shrub and tree invaders in forests and herbaceous invaders in wetlands. Feedbacks resulting in regime shifts were most likely related to processes associated with seed banks, fire and nutrient cycling. Results were used to derive a key for identifying high-impact invaders. Main conclusions Identifying combinations of plant life-forms and ecosystems most likely to result in regime shifts is a robust approach for predicting high-impact invasions and therefore for prioritizing management interventions. The meta-analysis revealed the need for more quantitative studies, including manipulative experiments, on ecosystem feedbacks.
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