Abstract Detail

Ecology

Park, Daniel [1], Feng, Xiao [2], Huynh, Kimberly [3].

Phenological similarity and distinctiveness facilitate plant invasions.

Darwin posited that invaders similar to native species are less likely to be successful due to competitive exclusion. A key axis across which such competition occurs across angiosperms is the timing of flowering, or reproductive phenology. Along these lines, it has been hypothesized that temporal isolation may be a mechanism which facilitates the establishment of invasive species. Previous case studies have shown that successful invaders may display early flowering or long blooming periods, which may confer advantages in resource acquisition, pollination, and dispersal. However, our knowledge of how the timing of flowering may influence invasion success is lacking at broader geographic and taxonomic scales. California is simultaneously a biodiversity hotspot and one of the most invaded regions of the world, rendering it ideal for studies of plant invasions. We compiled phenological data for over 7,000 taxa across California from specimens and literature, and examined the degree of phenological similarity among native and non-native species across multiple geographic scales. Flowering phenology in California showed strong seasonal and geographic trends, which were consistent across native and non-native taxa. Though it has been hypothesized that invasive species may capitalize on temporal gaps in the native community, we demonstrate that they also tend to be more phenologically similar with native species than are less successful, non-invasive introduced species. This suggests that introduced species that are phenologically compatible with seasonal changes in the introduced range are more likely to become invasive.

Related Links:
https://www.bio.purdue.edu/lab/park/

1 - Purdue University, Department of Biological Sciences, 915 W. State Street, Lilly Hall of Sciences G-343, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
2 - Florida State University, Department of Geography, Tallahassee, FL, USA
3 - Research Corporation for Science Advancement, Tucson, AZ, USA

Keywords:
Recombination breakpoints
phenology
biological invasions
herbarium specimens.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: EC10002
Abstract ID:514
Candidate for Awards:None