Morphological and physiological traits associated with plant invasiveness
Exotic plant invasions pose a serious global ecological and conservation threat to native plant communities and can induce serious economic costs. We know that some non-native species, following their arrival to a new area, simply naturalize and become part of the resident plant community. In contrast, other species experience rapid range expansion and are considered invasive. Determining which traits contribute most strongly to non-native organisms’ competitive ability is an essential first step in improving prediction and management of invasive species spread. Our research focuses on key morphological and physiological functional traits involved in resource acquisition and use, particularly in resource poor environments.
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