Annual monitoring reveals rapid upward movement of exotic plants in a montane ecosystem

Kalwij, Jesse M.; Robertson, Mark P.; Rensburg, Berndt J. van

doi:10.1007/s10530-015-0975-3

Cited by 35 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In a similar vein, the widely distributed global weed Plantago major also has successfully established in the High Arctic, and is regularly found attached to visitor's clothing and cargo (e.g. Chown et al, ; Kalwij, Robertson, & van Rensburg, ). However, these species were not included in the list of highest risk species (Table ) as the potential for them to have significant impacts on Antarctic biodiversity within 10 years was still considered to be low, largely due to an expectation that their spread potential within that time period would be minimal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive non‐native species likely to threaten biodiversity and ecosystems in the Antarctic Peninsula region

Hughes

Pescott

Peyton

et al. 2020

Global Change Biology

118

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Antarctic is considered to be a pristine environment relative to other regions of the Earth, but it is increasingly vulnerable to invasions by marine, freshwater and terrestrial non‐native species. The Antarctic Peninsula region (APR), which encompasses the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands, is by far the most invaded part of the Antarctica continent. The risk of introduction of invasive non‐native species to the APR is likely to increase with predicted increases in the intensity, diversity and distribution of human activities. Parties that are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty have called for regional assessments of non‐native species risk. In response, taxonomic and Antarctic experts undertook a horizon scanning exercise using expert opinion and consensus approaches to identify the species that are likely to present the highest risk to biodiversity and ecosystems within the APR over the next 10 years. One hundred and three species, currently absent in the APR, were identified as relevant for review, with 13 species identified as presenting a high risk of invading the APR. Marine invertebrates dominated the list of highest risk species, with flowering plants and terrestrial invertebrates also represented; however, vertebrate species were thought unlikely to establish in the APR within the 10 year timeframe. We recommend (a) the further development and application of biosecurity measures by all stakeholders active in the APR, including surveillance for species such as those identified during this horizon scanning exercise, and (b) use of this methodology across the other regions of Antarctica. Without the application of appropriate biosecurity measures, rates of introductions and invasions within the APR are likely to increase, resulting in negative consequences for the biodiversity of the whole continent, as introduced species establish and spread further due to climate change and increasing human activity.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive non‐native species likely to threaten biodiversity and ecosystems in the Antarctic Peninsula region

Hughes

Pescott

Peyton

et al. 2020

Global Change Biology

118

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, mountains containing extensive road networks deserve special attention given the known effects of transportation on the spread of non‐native invasive species (e.g. Kalwij, Robertson, & van Rensburg, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Long‐term monitoring of the changes in the distributions of non‐native species along elevational gradients (e.g. through repeated sampling of the same transects/plots; Kalwij et al., ), by helping to determine temporal movement patterns, would help to inform native species conservation and non‐native species management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A global analysis of elevational distribution of non‐native versus native plants

Guo

Fei

Shen

et al. 2018

Journal of Biogeography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim Much is known about the elevational diversity patterns of native species and about the mechanisms that drive these patterns. A similar level of understanding is needed for non‐native species. Using published data, we examine elevational diversity patterns of non‐native plants and compare the resulting patterns with those observed for native plants. Location Global. Methods We compiled data from 65 case studies on elevational diversity patterns of non‐native plants around the world (including 32 cases in which both non‐native and native plants were sampled). We compared the elevational distributions (upper and lower limits, and extents) and diversity patterns of non‐native and native species. Results Compared to native plant species, the elevational diversity patterns of non‐native plant species were more negative (47% vs. 13%) and less unimodal (44% vs. 84%). That is, non‐native species richness tended to be highest at lower elevations, whereas native species richness peaked at mid‐elevations. In cases where species richness for both non‐native and native species on the same mountains showed unimodal patterns in relation to elevation, maximum values in species richness occurred at lower elevations for non‐native species. Main conclusions At present levels of invasion, non‐native and native species show different patterns in both distribution and diversity along elevational gradients worldwide. However, our observations constitute a snapshot of ongoing, long‐term invasion processes. As non‐native species typically show strong associations with human activities, future changes in human population (e.g. growth and migration), land use and climate change may promote upward spread of non‐native species and may thus increase risks of impact on native species and communities.

show abstract

“…The elevation of the three highest individuals of each alien species were recorded while both sides of the road were surveyed by observers walking down the Pass (see Kalwij et al. for more details). All the alien plant species recorded on the Pass over 8 yr (Kalwij et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All the alien plant species recorded on the Pass over 8 yr (Kalwij et al. , ) were considered to comprise the high‐elevation alien species pool. In the 2014 survey, the Pass was additionally divided into 19 elevational bands within which the presence or absence of all alien species was recorded for nestedness analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alien plant species that invade high elevations are generalists: support for the directional ecological filtering hypothesis

Steyn

Greve

Robertson

et al. 2016

J Vegetation Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Questions The richness of invasive alien plant species tends to decrease with increasing elevation. This pattern may be due to alien plant species requiring traits allowing survival at high elevations (the Abiotic Limitation Hypothesis; ALH). In contrast, the more recent Directional Ecological Filtering Hypothesis (DEFH) suggests that only species with broad environmental tolerances will successfully spread from lowlands (where most introductions occur) to high elevations. Here we test support for the DEFH and ALH along an elevational gradient by asking: (1) are alien species that occur at higher elevations generalists; and (2) do alien species occurring at higher elevations exhibit traits that distinguishes them from lowland alien species? Location Sani Pass, Maloti‐Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area, South Africa. Methods A nestedness analysis was conducted to test whether alien species were nested along the elevational gradient, and ANOVA and Chi2 tests (supplemented by resampling procedures) were used to determine if functional traits differed between high‐ and low‐elevation alien species. Results Significant nestedness of the alien flora indicates that alien species occurring at high elevations are generalists, being widespread across the elevational gradient. Compared to low‐elevation aliens, plant height was lower and cold tolerance weaker for high‐elevation species. Conclusion We found support for the DEFH, with the majority of high‐elevation aliens being widespread generalists. Overall only two of the 11 functional traits differed between high‐ and low‐elevation alien species, with only one trait supporting the ALH: shorter plant stature at higher elevations. Therefore, complementing nestedness analyses with trait data provides a more nuanced insight into the determinants of alien richness patterns along elevational gradients, and highlights how the two contemporary hypotheses might not be mutually exclusive.

show abstract

Annual monitoring reveals rapid upward movement of exotic plants in a montane ecosystem

Cited by 35 publications

References 53 publications

Invasive non‐native species likely to threaten biodiversity and ecosystems in the Antarctic Peninsula region

Invasive non‐native species likely to threaten biodiversity and ecosystems in the Antarctic Peninsula region

A global analysis of elevational distribution of non‐native versus native plants

Alien plant species that invade high elevations are generalists: support for the directional ecological filtering hypothesis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About