Premium
External morphology explains the success of biological invasions
Author(s) -
Azzurro Ernesto,
Tuset Victor M.,
Lombarte Antoni,
Maynou Francesc,
Simberloff Daniel,
RodríguezPérez Ana,
Solé Ricard V.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12351
Subject(s) - ecology , biology , biodiversity , naturalisation , indigenous , ecological release , invasive species , ecological niche , introduced species , geography , habitat , politics , citizenship , political science , law
Abstract Biological invasions have become major players in the current biodiversity crisis, but realistic tools to predict which species will establish successful populations are still unavailable. Here we present a novel approach that requires only a morphometric characterisation of the species. Using fish invasions of the Mediterranean, we show that the abundance of non‐indigenous fishes correlates with the location and relative size of occupied morphological space within the receiving pool of species. Those invaders that established abundant populations tended to be added outside or at the margins of the receiving morphospace, whereas non‐indigenous species morphologically similar to resident ones failed to develop large populations or even to establish themselves, probably because the available ecological niches were already occupied. Accepting that morphology is a proxy for a species' ecological position in a community, our findings are consistent with ideas advanced since Darwin's naturalisation hypothesis and provide a new warning signal to identify invaders and to recognise vulnerable communities.