Abstract
AbstractAimThe Pacific exhibits an exceptional number of naturalized plant species, but the drivers of this high diversity and the associated compositional patterns remain largely unknown. Here, we aim to (a) improve our understanding of introduction and establishment processes and (b) evaluate whether this information is sufficient to create scientific conservation tools, such as watchlists.LocationIslands in the Pacific Ocean, excluding larger islands such as New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.MethodsWe combined information from the most up‐to‐date data sources to quantify naturalized plant species richness and turnover across island groups and investigate the effects of anthropogenic, biogeographic and climate drivers on these patterns. In total, we found 2,672 naturalized plant species across 481 islands and 50 island groups, with a total of 11,074 records.ResultsMost naturalized species were restricted to few island groups, and most island groups have a low number of naturalized species. Island groups with few naturalized species were characterized by a set of widespread naturalized species. Several plant families that contributed many naturalized species globally also did so in the Pacific, particularly Fabaceae and Poaceae. However, many families were significantly over‐ or under‐represented in the Pacific naturalized flora compared to other regions of the world. Naturalized species richness increased primarily with increased human activity and island altitude/area, whereas similarity between island groups in temperature along with richness differences was most important for beta diversity.Main conclusionsThe distribution and richness of naturalized species can be explained by a small set of drivers. The Pacific region contains many naturalized plant species also naturalized in other regions in the world, but our results highlight key differences such as a stronger role of anthropogenic drivers in shaping diversity patterns. Our results establish a basis for predicting and preventing future naturalizations in a threatened biodiversity hotspot.
Highlights
The Pacific ocean covers almost half of the earth's surface and contains many isolated islands with a rich and highly endemic flora that has become threatened by non-native plant species introductions (Loope, 1998; SPREP, 2016)
Biogeographic and anthropogenic factors underlying diversity patterns of naturalized plant species across the Pacific, we quantify (a) naturalized species richness per island group, average distribution ranges of naturalized species per island group and naturalized species sharing between island groups in the Pacific, (b) the rarity of naturalized species present on each island group, (c) the species richness of naturalized plant families in the Pacific in relation to worldwide total and naturalized species richness, and (d) the anthropogenic, environmental and biogeographic drivers of naturalized species richness and beta diversity across Pacific island groups
In our comprehensive analysis of the naturalized flora of the Pacific region, we find 2,672 naturalized plant species from 228 different plant families
Summary
The Pacific ocean covers almost half of the earth's surface and contains many isolated islands with a rich and highly endemic flora that has become threatened by non-native plant species introductions (Loope, 1998; SPREP, 2016). Biogeographic and anthropogenic factors underlying diversity patterns of naturalized plant species across the Pacific, we quantify (a) naturalized species richness per island group, average distribution ranges of naturalized species per island group and naturalized species sharing between island groups in the Pacific, (b) the rarity of naturalized species present on each island group, (c) the species richness of naturalized plant families in the Pacific in relation to worldwide total and naturalized species richness, and (d) the anthropogenic, environmental and biogeographic drivers of naturalized species richness and beta diversity across Pacific island groups Combined, these analyses provide a description of current naturalized species richness and composition in the Pacific and give insights into the forces that shape these patterns, serving as guidelines for applied conservation
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