Springs ecosystems: vulnerable ecological islands where environmental conditions, life history traits, and human disturbance facilitate non-native plant invasions

• Published in: Biological invasions Vol. 21; no. 9; pp. 2963 - 2981
• Main Authors: Nielson, Kayleigh G., Gill, Karen M., Springer, Abraham E., Ledbetter, Jeri D., Stevens, Lawrence E., Rood, Stewart B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.09.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abundance; Alberta; anthropogenic activities; Aquatic ecosystems; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; conservation areas; Developmental Biology; ecological invasion; Ecology; ecosystem services; ecosystems; Environmental conditions; Environmental factors; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Freshwater ecosystems; grazing; Herbivores; Herbivory; Human impact; Human influences; Indigenous plants; Indigenous species; introduced plants; Introduced species; Invasive species; Invasiveness; islands; Land use; Life history; Life Sciences; Livestock; Livestock grazing; Livestock production; Nonnative species; Organic chemistry; Original Paper; parks; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Plants (botany); Population decline; Propagules; Protected areas; species abundance; Species richness; springs (water); Alberta; Human impacts; Non-native plants; Grazing; Ecosystem invasion; Springs; Species richness

Ecosystem invasion by non-native plants depends on plant life history characteristics that influence the species’ invasiveness, as well as environmental factors that determine site invasibility. Small, insular ecosystems are thought be especially vulnerable to invasion but evidence for this pattern...