Intraspecific Trait Variation Is Correlated with Establishment Success of Alien Mammals

Abstract

Online enhancement: appendix. Dryad data: http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.sp963.abstract: Many studies have aimed to identify common predictors of successful introductions of alien species, but the search has had limited success, particularly for animals. Past research focused primarily on mean trait values, even though genetic and phenotypic variation has been shown to play a role in establishment success in plants and some animals (mostly invertebrates). Using a global database describing 511 introduction events representing 97 mammalian species, we show that intraspecific variation in morphological traits is associated with establishment success, even when controlling for the positive effect of propagule pressure. In particular, greater establishment success is associated with more variation in adult body size but, surprisingly, less variation in neonate body size, potentially reflecting distinct trade-offs and constraints that influence population dynamics differently. We find no mean trait descriptors associated with establishment success, although species occupying wider native distribution ranges (which likely have larger niches) are more successful. Our results emphasize the importance of explicitly considering intraspecific variation to predict establishment success in animal species and generally to understand population dynamics. This understanding might improve management of alien species and increase the success of intentional releases, for example, for biocontrol or reintroductions.

Commonality in traits and hierarchical structure of vertebrate establishment success

“…Species with larger native ranges are typically introduced more often (Blackburn & Duncan, ), although this may be a by‐product of traits that are favourable for human uses (Peoples & Goforth, ). With respect to its influence on the invasion process, native range size may also represent a variety of adaptive traits, such as habitat or trophic generalism (Dawson, Rohr, van Kleunen, & Fischer, ; González‐Suárez, Bacher, & Jeschke, ), or trait diversity/plasticity (Richards, Bossdorf, Muth, Gurevitch, & Pigliucci, ). To identify the mechanism(s) by which native range size determines invasiveness, future work should seek to understand the relationship between native size and functional traits.…”

sensiPhy: An r‐package for sensitivity analysis in phylogenetic comparative methods

“…We included two datasets in sensiPhy: "primates" (Jones et al, 2009) and "alien" (González-Suárez, Bacher, & Jeschke, 2015). Each dataset contains a multiPhylo file with 101 phylogenetic trees originated from pseudo-posterior distribution and pruned to match species in data (Fritz, Bininda-Emonds, & Purvis, 2009;Kuhn, Mooers, & Thomas, 2011).…”

Stable resource polymorphism along the benthic littoral–pelagic axis in an invasive crayfish

“…Biological invasions provide a unique opportunity to study intraspecific variability in recently established populations. Indeed, substantial trait and genetic variability among invasive individuals have been reported (Forsman, ; González‐Suárez, Bacher, & Jeschke, ), indicating that a high level of intraspecific variability can occur following the introduction stage (60–100 years after establishment, e.g., Hendry, Wenburg, Bentzen, Volk, & Quinn, ; Kinnison, Unwin, Boustead, & Quinn, ; Lankau, ). Because intraspecific variability can modulate the ecological effects of invasive individuals on ecosystem processes (Evangelista, Lecerf, Britton, & Cucherousset, ), quantifying the extent of intraspecific variability in invasive species, notably within populations and across the invasion landscape, is therefore relevant for both applied and theoretical perspectives.…”