Recent evidence indicates that invasive species have a higher probability of forming a persistent seed bank and form denser seed banks than their non-invasive but naturalized congeneric species in the native range, suggesting that seed bank persistence is an important determinant of invasive success. Knowledge of the role of the characteristics of the seed bank in the naturalization of alien species is, however, lacking. To address this issue, we tested whether seed bank type (transient vs persistent) and seed bank density (seeds per square meter) play in important role in the naturalization of alien plants at the global scale. To do so, we combined a global seed bank database comprising information on seed bank type and density for over 2000 species with the Global Naturalized Alien Flora database (GloNAF), providing information on naturalization incidence (whether a species has become naturalized outside its native range) and extent (number of regions where a species has become naturalized). Combined information on the characteristics of the seed bank and naturalization incidence and extent were available for 1917 species in over 11,000 records. Preliminary analyses indicate that the probability of naturalization is higher in species forming persistent seed banks than those only forming transient ones, both in the native and alien distribution range. Seed bank density was also positively related with the probability of naturalization but not with naturalization extent, in the native and alien range. These preliminary findings suggest that a capacity to form persistent seed banks is an important predictor of the probability of a species to become naturalized after its introduction in novel ranges, although climatic suitability will affect the number of regions in which a species may do so. Knowledge of the characteristics of native seed banks should thus be an important component of risk assessments, although for many species, this information is available from the alien range only, where these species have already become naturalized and invasive.
Plant species forming a persistent soil seed bank have a higher probability of becoming naturalized
Gioria M;
2019-01-01
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that invasive species have a higher probability of forming a persistent seed bank and form denser seed banks than their non-invasive but naturalized congeneric species in the native range, suggesting that seed bank persistence is an important determinant of invasive success. Knowledge of the role of the characteristics of the seed bank in the naturalization of alien species is, however, lacking. To address this issue, we tested whether seed bank type (transient vs persistent) and seed bank density (seeds per square meter) play in important role in the naturalization of alien plants at the global scale. To do so, we combined a global seed bank database comprising information on seed bank type and density for over 2000 species with the Global Naturalized Alien Flora database (GloNAF), providing information on naturalization incidence (whether a species has become naturalized outside its native range) and extent (number of regions where a species has become naturalized). Combined information on the characteristics of the seed bank and naturalization incidence and extent were available for 1917 species in over 11,000 records. Preliminary analyses indicate that the probability of naturalization is higher in species forming persistent seed banks than those only forming transient ones, both in the native and alien distribution range. Seed bank density was also positively related with the probability of naturalization but not with naturalization extent, in the native and alien range. These preliminary findings suggest that a capacity to form persistent seed banks is an important predictor of the probability of a species to become naturalized after its introduction in novel ranges, although climatic suitability will affect the number of regions in which a species may do so. Knowledge of the characteristics of native seed banks should thus be an important component of risk assessments, although for many species, this information is available from the alien range only, where these species have already become naturalized and invasive.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
