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Invasion of Old World P hragmites australis in the New World: precipitation and temperature patterns combined with human influences redesign the invasive niche
Author(s) -
Guo WenYong,
Lambertini Carla,
Li XiuZhen,
Meyerson Laura A.,
Brix Hans
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.12295
Subject(s) - niche , ecological niche , subtropics , ecology , phragmites , range (aeronautics) , environmental niche modelling , wetland , geography , invasive species , precipitation , introduced species , mediterranean climate , biology , habitat , materials science , composite material , meteorology
After its introduction into N orth A merica, E uro‐ A sian P hragmites australis became an aggressive invasive wetland grass along the Atlantic coast of N orth A merica. Its distribution range has since expanded to the middle, south and southwest of N orth A merica, where invasive P . australis has replaced millions of hectares of native plants in inland and tidal wetlands. Another P . australis invasion from the Mediterranean region is simultaneously occurring in the Gulf region of the U nited S tates and some countries in South America. Here, we analysed the occurrence records of the two Old World invasive lineages of P . australis (Haplotype M and Med) in both their native and introduced ranges using environmental niche models ( ENM s) to assess (i) whether a niche shift accompanied the invasions in the New World; (ii) the role of biologically relevant climatic variables and human influence in the process of invasion; and (iii) the current potential distribution of these two lineages. We detected local niche shifts along the E ast C oast of N orth A merica and the G ulf C oast of the U nited S tates for Haplotype M and around the M ississippi Delta and F lorida of the U nited S tates for Med. The new niche of the introduced Haplotype M accounts for temperature fluctuations and increased precipitation. The introduced Med lineage has enlarged its original subtropical niche to the tropics‐subtropics, invading regions with a high annual mean temperature (> ca. 10 °C) and high precipitation in the driest period. Human influence is an important factor for both niches. We suggest that an increase in precipitation in the 20th century, global warming and human‐made habitats have shaped the invasive niches of the two lineages in the New World. However, as the invasions are ongoing and human and natural disturbances occur concomitantly, the future distribution ranges of the two lineages may diverge from the potential distribution ranges detected in this study.