Some of the most successful non-native invasives are generalist species that can tolerate a wide range of habitat types, modify their environment or remain viable as seed for a very long time. Many of these species also emerge earlier in the growing season and do well in disturbed environments. If you couple these factors with the fact that many non-native invasives provide lots of fruits or seeds for wildlife to feed on you have a potent combination for biological success in the new environment. Many of the seeds from the non natives are not digestible by the animals that feed on them and they benefit from the transportation that the animal may provide.
Sharif ------Original Message------ From: Geoffrey Patton Sender: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news To: [email protected] ReplyTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Aug 24, 2008 8:19 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Salix success? Success of exotics? Why do so many exotics species become alien pests? We are all aware of the explanation for that success being the lack of predatory species. Is this all there is to the story? Could their longer evolution in their "homeland" have given them genetic advantages? Do as many New World species become invasive exotics in the Old World? Geoff Patton --- On Sat, 8/23/08, David Inouye <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: David Inouye <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Salix success? To: [email protected] Date: Saturday, August 23, 2008, 11:20 PM What makes Salix (willows) so successful at high latitudes and high altitudes? Unusual physiological traits? Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
