[permaculture] Science article on exotics
Scott Vlaun
scott at moosepondarts.com
Thu Mar 9 21:53:00 EST 2006
Whatever your opinion about so-called exotic species, Science just
published and interesting piece on the topic. Abstract below.
REPORTS
Opposing Effects of Native and Exotic Herbivores on Plant Invasions
John D. Parker,* Deron E. Burkepile, Mark E. Hay
Exotic species are widely assumed to thrive because they lack natural
enemies in their new ranges. However, a meta-analysis of 63
manipulative field studies including more than 100 exotic plant
species revealed that native herbivores suppressed exotic plants,
whereas exotic herbivores facilitated both the abundance and species
richness of exotic plants. Both outcomes suggest that plants are
especially susceptible to novel, generalist herbivores that they have
not been selected to resist. Thus, native herbivores provide biotic
resistance to plant invasions, but the widespread replacement of
native with exotic herbivores eliminates this ecosystem service,
facilitates plant invasions, and triggers an invasional "meltdown."
School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
30332, USA.
* Present address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. E-mail: jdp52 at cornell.edu
Scott Vlaun
Moose Pond Arts+Ecology
Design Solutions for a Sustainable Future
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