biological invasions
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Biological invasions occur when species are introduced and successfully spread in geographic regions outside of their native range. They can pose environmental problems, but at the same time can be viewed as “natural experiments” to study the factors shaping species distributions and biotic interactions. We use comparative studies of plant invasions, especially those occurring along elevational gradients in mountains, to understand the ecological and evolutionary factors limiting the spread of non-native species.
For the most recent information about our ongoing projects, please visit our ETHZ website |
plant invasions in mountainsHigh mountain ecosystems remain little-invaded by non-native species, with steep declines in non-native plant richness along elevation gradients around the world.
Within the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN), we seek to understand these globally consistent patterns, thereby gaining insight into the mechanisms driving invasion dynamics more generally (e.g. propagule pressure, biotic interactions and rapid evolution) and helping to protect relatively pristine high mountain environments. We showed that non-native plants reaching high elevations around the world are consistently widespread generalist species, predominantly from Europe, which can be explained by historical low-elevation introduction pathways coupled with climatic filtering as species spread upwards. |
Currently we are monitoring non-native plant distributions along elevation gradients using a standardized protocol that is being replicated in mountain regions around the world. We are also conducting globally-replicated experiments to better understand how invasion dynamics might be influenced by climate change.
selected publications
Alexander, J.M., Lembrechts, J.J., Cavieres, L.A., Daehler, C., Haider, S., Kueffer, C., Liu, G., McDougall, K., Milbau, A., Pauchard, A., Rew, L.J., Seipel, T. (2016) Plant invasions into mountains and alpine ecosystems: current status and future challenges. Alpine Botany, 126, 89–103. [DOI]
Seipel, T., Kueffer, C., Rew, L., Daehler, C., Pauchard, A., Naylor, B., Alexander, J.M., Parks, C., Edwards, P.J., Arevalo, J. R. et al. (2012). Processes at multiple scales affect non-native plant species richness and similarity in mountains around the world. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 21, 236–246. [DOI] Alexander, J.M., Kueffer, C., Daehler, C., Edwards, P.J., Pauchard, A., Seipel, T., MIREN consortium (2011). Assembly of non-native floras along elevational gradients explained by directional ecological filtering. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108, 656–661. [DOI] [PDF] Alexander, J.M., Edwards, P.J. (2010). Limits to the niche and range margins of alien species. Oikos, 119, 1377–1386. [DOI] Alexander, J.M., Edwards, P.J., Poll, M., Parks, C. G., Dietz, H. (2009). Establishment of parallel altitudinal clines in traits of native and introduced forbs. Ecology, 90, 612–622. [DOI] [PDF] Alexander, J.M., Naylor, B., Poll, M., Edwards, P.J., Dietz, H. (2009). Plant invasions along mountain roads: the altitudinal amplitude of alien Asteraceae forbs in their native and introduced ranges. Ecography, 32, 334–344. [DOI] Pauchard, A, Kueffer, C., Dietz, H., Daehler, C.C., Alexander, J.M., Edwards, P.J., Arevalo, J R, Cavieres, LA, Guisan, A., et al. (2009). Ain't no mountain high enough: plant invasions reaching new elevations. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 7, 479–486. [DOI] |