Abstract
BackgroundInvasions pose a large threat to native species, but the question of why some species are more invasive, and some communities more prone to invasions than others, is far from solved. Using 10 different three-species bacterial communities, we tested experimentally if the phylogenetic relationships between an invader and a resident community and the propagule pressure affect invasion probability.ResultsWe found that greater diversity in phylogenetic distances between the members of resident community and the invader lowered invasion success, and higher propagule pressure increased invasion success whereas phylogenetic distance had no clear effect. In the later stages of invasion, phylogenetic diversity had no effect on invasion success but community identity played a stronger role.ConclusionsTaken together, our results emphasize that invasion success does not depend only on propagule pressure, but also on the properties of the community members. Our results thus indicate that invasion is a process where both invader and residing community characters act in concert.
Highlights
Invasions pose a large threat to native species, but the question of why some species are more invasive, and some communities more prone to invasions than others, is far from solved
In the beginning of the invasion, invasion success increased with increasing propagule pressure and decreased with increasing phylogenetic diversity
After 9 days from invasion we found no evidence for linear effect of propagule pressure on invasion success
Summary
Invasions pose a large threat to native species, but the question of why some species are more invasive, and some communities more prone to invasions than others, is far from solved. Using 10 different three-species bacterial communities, we tested experimentally if the phylogenetic relationships between an invader and a resident community and the propagule pressure affect invasion probability. Our ability to predict which species are invasive, and in what kind of communities invasions take place, is far from complete. Understanding the reasons for the invasion success of certain species or populations seems to have gained more attention than those for why some communities are more prone to invasions [1, 2]. As the invasion process is a function of both the resident and invader
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