Perspective Chapter: Why Are Compositae Weeds More Invasive?

Abstract

Biological invasion is a global ecological problem, and it is important to understand the mechanism of successful invasion for the prevention and control of invasive weeds. Based on my experience and expertise in ecology, I have observed a significant gap in the literature regarding Compositae weeds invasions, and aimed to address this gap. We searched the literature related to Compositae weeds invasions published after 2000 in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. A list of 60 major Compositae weeds that are widely invasive around the world, and five important reasons (reproductive strategies, ecological adaptations, genetic diversity, enemy release, and human activities) explored that could be responsible for the powerful invasiveness of Compositae weeds. We offer a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge in this field and present a different perspective that incorporates existing theories. A clear address about the aggressive invasiveness of invasive species belonging to Compositae, and proposing scientific prevention, control, and management strategies will help prevent further invasion around the world in the future.