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A conceptual map of invasion biology: Integrating hypotheses into a consensus network
Author(s) -
Enders Martin,
Havemann Frank,
Ruland Florian,
BernardVerdier Maud,
Catford Jane A.,
GómezAparicio Lorena,
Haider Sylvia,
Heger Tina,
Kueffer Christoph,
Kühn Ingolf,
Meyerson Laura A.,
Musseau Camille,
Novoa Ana,
Ricciardi Anthony,
Sagouis Alban,
Schittko Conrad,
Strayer David L.,
Vilà Montserrat,
Essl Franz,
Hulme Philip E.,
Kleunen Mark,
Kumschick Sabrina,
Lockwood Julie L.,
Mabey Abigail L.,
McGeoch Melodie A.,
Palma Estíbaliz,
Pyšek Petr,
Saul WolfChristian,
Yannelli Florencia A.,
Jeschke Jonathan M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
global ecology and biogeography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.164
H-Index - 152
eISSN - 1466-8238
pISSN - 1466-822X
DOI - 10.1111/geb.13082
Subject(s) - field (mathematics) , ecology , biology , resource (disambiguation) , darwin (adl) , network theory , conceptual framework , data science , computer science , sociology , social science , computer network , mathematics , pure mathematics , statistics , software engineering
Abstract Background and aims Since its emergence in the mid‐20th century, invasion biology has matured into a productive research field addressing questions of fundamental and applied importance. Not only has the number of empirical studies increased through time, but also has the number of competing, overlapping and, in some cases, contradictory hypotheses about biological invasions. To make these contradictions and redundancies explicit, and to gain insight into the field’s current theoretical structure, we developed and applied a Delphi approach to create a consensus network of 39 existing invasion hypotheses. Results The resulting network was analysed with a link‐clustering algorithm that revealed five concept clusters (resource availability, biotic interaction, propagule, trait and Darwin’s clusters) representing complementary areas in the theory of invasion biology. The network also displays hypotheses that link two or more clusters, called connecting hypotheses , which are important in determining network structure. The network indicates hypotheses that are logically linked either positively (77 connections of support) or negatively (that is, they contradict each other; 6 connections). Significance The network visually synthesizes how invasion biology’s predominant hypotheses are conceptually related to each other, and thus, reveals an emergent structure – a conceptual map – that can serve as a navigation tool for scholars, practitioners and students, both inside and outside of the field of invasion biology, and guide the development of a more coherent foundation of theory. Additionally, the outlined approach can be more widely applied to create a conceptual map for the larger fields of ecology and biogeography.