Why alien invaders succeed: support for the escape-from-enemy hypothesis

The American Naturalist
Lorne M Wolfe

Abstract

Successful biological invaders often exhibit enhanced performance following introduction to a new region. The traditional explanation for this phenomenon is that natural enemies (e.g., competitors, pathogens, and predators) present in the native range are absent from the introduced range. The purpose of this study was to test the escape-from-enemy hypothesis using the perennial plant Silene latifolia as a model system. This European native was introduced to North America in the 1800s and subsequently spread to a large part of the continent. It is now considered a problematic weed of disturbed habitats and agricultural fields in the United States and Canada. Surveys of 86 populations in the United States and Europe revealed greater levels of attack by generalist enemies (aphids, snails, floral herbivores) in Europe compared with North America. Two specialists (seed predator, anther smut fungus) that had dramatic effects on plant fitness in Europe were either absent or in very low frequency in North America. Overall, plants were 17 times more likely to be damaged in Europe than in North America. Thus, S. latifolia's successful North American invasion can, at least in part, be explained by escape from specialist enemies and lower ...Continue Reading

References

May 17, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·N D TsutsuiT J Case
Mar 14, 2001·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·C S. Kolar, D M. Lodge
Jun 8, 2001·Nature·L Chittka, S Schürkens
Apr 2, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·K G RossL Keller
Nov 9, 2001·Nature·T M Blackburn, R P Duncan
Aug 19, 2008·The American Naturalist·C Thébaud, D Simberloff

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 16, 2009·Oecologia·Michele R SchutzenhoferTiffany M Knight
Aug 13, 2011·Oecologia·Richard J ReynoldsMichele R Dudash
Mar 28, 2013·Ambio·Tina HegerJonathan M Jeschke
Dec 10, 2008·Bulletin of Entomological Research·R Kahuthia-GathuP K Mbugua
Apr 16, 2009·Heredity·G BernasconiA Widmer
May 13, 2011·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Frédéric AusterlitzGiorgina Bernasconi
Sep 10, 2009·Annual Review of Entomology·Colin M Orians, David Ward
Sep 5, 2008·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Dean E Pearson, Ragan M Callaway
Jun 15, 2011·Ecology·Urs SchaffnerRagan M Callaway
Oct 22, 2013·Oecologia·Kerry Bohl Stricker, Peter Stiling
Feb 15, 2008·The American Naturalist·Mark C UrbanRichard Shine
Oct 17, 2009·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Jennifer E Lee, Steven L Chown
Aug 19, 2008·Ecology·Donald H FeenerLawrence E Gilbert
Jan 22, 2014·Global Change Biology·Christine S SheppardMargaret C Stanley
Jul 2, 2009·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Suzanne I WarwickLinda M Hall
Nov 23, 2006·Ecology Letters·Andrew C McCall, Rebecca E Irwin
Jan 31, 2006·The New Phytologist·Susan Kephart
May 19, 2006·Ecology Letters·Charles E MitchellDiego P Vázquez
Oct 17, 2006·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·A Emblidge Fromme, M F Dybdahl
Jan 16, 2009·Ecology Letters·Koen J F VerhoevenWim H van der Putten

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.