Abstract
The Laurentian Great Lakes of North America are home to thousands of native fishes, invertebrates, plants, and other species that not only provide recreational and economic value to the region but also hold an important ecological value. However, there are also 55 nonindigenous species of aquatic plants that may be competing with native species and affecting this value. Here, we use a key regional database—the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS)—to describe the introduction of nonindigenous aquatic plants in the Great Lakes region and to examine patterns relating to their capacity to compete with native plants species. Specifically, we used an existing catalog of environmental impact assessments to qualitatively evaluate the potential for each nonindigenous plant species to outcompete native plant species for available resources. Despite an invasion record spanning nearly two centuries (1837–2020), a great deal remains unknown about the impact of competition by these species. Nonetheless, our synthesis of existing documentation reveals that many of these nonindigenous species have notable impacts on the native plant communities of the region in general and on species of concern in particular. Furthermore, we provide a thorough summary of the diverse adaptations that may contribute to giving these nonindigenous plants a competitive advantage. Adaptations that have been previously found to aid successful invasions were common in 98% of the nonindigenous aquatic plant species in the database.
Highlights
Freshwater ecosystems have been deeply transformed by invasive species [1,2]
The 55 aquatic nonindigenous plant species of the Laurentian Great Lakes form a unique subset of the overall invasion of this important freshwater resource
At least 46 native plant species in the Great Lakes—including many designated by local jurisdictions as endangered, threatened, or otherwise at risk—are significantly impacted by competition from nonindigenous aquatic plants
Summary
Freshwater ecosystems have been deeply transformed by invasive species [1,2]. Nonindigenous aquatic plants have been identified as a major cause of biodiversity loss in many countries [3,4]. With more than 180 aquatic nonindigenous species documented in the region, the Great Lakes basin is considered one of the most heavily invaded aquatic systems in the world [16,17,18]. Some of these nonindigenous species may become invasive (i.e., “those species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” [19]) and threaten the ecological and/or socioeconomic value of the Great Lakes
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