Long‐term trajectories of non‐native vegetation on islands globally

Walentowitz, Anna; Lenzner, Bernd; Essl, Franz; Strandberg, Nichola; Castilla‐Beltrán, Alvaro; Fernández‐Palacios, José María; Björck, Svante; Connor, Simon; Haberle, Simon; Ljung, Karl; Prebble, Matthew; Wilmshurst, Janet M.; Froyd, Cynthia A.; Boer, Erik J. de; Nascimento, Lea de; Edwards, Mary E.; Stevenson, Janelle; Beierkuhnlein, Carl; Steinbauer, Manuel J.; Nogué, Sandra

doi:10.1111/ele.14196

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…3b ) is likely caused by novel anthropogenic drivers. Within the novel drivers of change, burning (for example, as a part of agricultural activities), introduction of non-native taxa and extinctions or extirpations (of both fauna and flora) have been shown to impact island ecosystems 11 , 30 , 40 . First, the increased occurrence and intensity of disturbances is linked to anthropogenic modification of the islands’ landscapes, for example, as a consequence of slash and burn techniques 11 , 36 , 41 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has also been shown that intense human impacts, such as urbanization and intensively managed agroforestry plantations, can lead to an increase in globally distributed taxa and therefore biotic homogenization 42 , 43 . Second, it is important to highlight that fossil pollen records from islands have also shown that non-native plant introductions increased within the past 1,000 years, suggesting potentially long-term presence of widely distributed species 30 . For example, non-native species introduced to multiple islands by people may have contributed to increased similarity among island ecosystems 30 , 44 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, it is important to highlight that fossil pollen records from islands have also shown that non-native plant introductions increased within the past 1,000 years, suggesting potentially long-term presence of widely distributed species 30 . For example, non-native species introduced to multiple islands by people may have contributed to increased similarity among island ecosystems 30 , 44 . Last, there has been an anthropogenically driven extinction or extirpation of native or endemic plant families and genera (for example, Pritchardia ) from Pacific islands 44 – 46 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Floristic homogenization of South Pacific islands commenced with human arrival

Strandberg,

Steinbauer,

Walentowitz

et al. 2024

Nat Ecol Evol

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The increasing similarity of plant species composition among distinct areas is leading to the homogenization of ecosystems globally. Human actions such as ecosystem modification, the introduction of non-native plant species and the extinction or extirpation of endemic and native plant species are considered the main drivers of this trend. However, little is known about when floristic homogenization began or about pre-human patterns of floristic similarity. Here we investigate vegetation trends during the past 5,000 years across the tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperate South Pacific using fossil pollen records from 15 sites on 13 islands within the biogeographical realm of Oceania. The site comparisons show that floristic homogenization has increased over the past 5,000 years. Pairwise Bray–Curtis similarity results also show that when two islands were settled by people in a given time interval, their floristic similarity is greater than when one or neither of the islands were settled. Importantly, higher elevation sites, which are less likely to have experienced human impacts, tended to show less floristic homogenization. While biotic homogenization is often referred to as a contemporary issue, we have identified a much earlier trend, likely driven by human colonization of the islands and subsequent impacts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Floristic homogenization of South Pacific islands commenced with human arrival

Strandberg,

Steinbauer,

Walentowitz

et al. 2024

Nat Ecol Evol

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“…The introduction of non-native species poses considerable threats to islands' biodiversity (Dawson et al, 2017;Kueffer et al, 2010;Lonsdale, 1999;Pyšek & Richardson, 2006;Walentowitz et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time since first naturalization is key to explaining non‐native plant invasions on islands

Mologni,

Bellingham,

Cameron

et al. 2024

Journal of Biogeography

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AimInvestigating the extent of insular invasions by non‐native species (i.e., the number of islands they occupy) is central to island conservation. However, interrelationships among plant life history traits, naturalization histories, and island characteristics in determining island occupancy by non‐native plant species are poorly understood. We investigated whether island occupancy by different non‐native plant species declines in relation to their year of first naturalization and whether periods of first naturalization differ among growth forms, dispersal modes, and biogeographic origins. Then, we asked if non‐native plants that naturalized more recently occur more frequently on islands that are large, less isolated, and close to urban areas. We contrasted trends across growth forms, dispersal modes, and biogeographic origins.Location264 offshore islands in northern Aotearoa New Zealand.TaxaVascular plant species.MethodsWe combined field surveys and published data for 767 non‐native plant species on the islands. We categorized each species according to its growth form (n = 3), dispersal mode (n = 4) and biogeographic origin (n = 5) and identified its year of first naturalization in Aotearoa New Zealand. We tested our hypotheses using ANCOVA and generalized linear models (GLMs).ResultsThere were similar declines in island occupancy in relation to the year of first naturalization in Aotearoa New Zealand across all trait and biogeographic origin categories. First naturalization times of herbaceous species, those with unspecialized dispersal modes, and those originating from Eurasia and the Mediterranean basin were disproportionately earlier than other categories. Non‐native plants with more recent first naturalization occur more frequently on large islands close to urban areas, but not on less isolated ones. Relationships with island characteristics did not differ among trait and biogeographic origin categories.Main ConclusionsOverall, time of first naturalization was more important than trait and biogeographic origin categories in explaining non‐native plant invasion patterns on islands. Since there were similar relationships between island occupancy and the year of first naturalization in Aotearoa New Zealand for all categories, management bodies should focus on non‐native plant species of trait and biogeographic origin categories that have naturalized recently (e.g., woody species from other regions within Oceania), and on large islands close to urban areas. Introduction and naturalization histories provide essential context for interpreting the role of plant traits and biogeographic origin in understanding plant invasions on islands.

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“…Species numbers on islands have been increasing and are predicted to continue to rise in the future, mainly due to the accidental and deliberate introduction of non-native species (also referred to as alien species) by humans (Sax et al, 2002;Seebens et al, 2017;Walentowitz et al, 2023). In consequence, total plant species richness on some islands has more than doubled, and the number of non-native species exceeds the number of native species (Essl et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disentangling natural and anthropogenic drivers of native and non‐native plant diversity on North Sea islands

Walentowitz,

Ferreira‐Arruda,

Irl

et al. 2023

Journal of Biogeography

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AimBiodiversity on islands is commonly explained by a set of natural drivers such as area, isolation and habitat heterogeneity. However, constant human impact has led to considerable changes in island floras worldwide. This is reflected, among others, in increased numbers of non‐native species. Barrier islands are discrete land units, strongly influenced by humans and not displaying significant evolutionary dynamics. This makes them highly suitable for studying contemporary patterns of species richness and underlying processes. We aim to disentangle the effects of established natural and anthropogenic drivers on native and non‐native plant species richness at the example of 31 European barrier islands.Location31 North Sea barrier islands located off the Dutch, German and Danish coast.TaxonNative and non‐native plant species (spermatophytes and ferns).MethodsIndividual relationships of natural and anthropogenic drivers with native and non‐native plant species richness are analysed with generalised linear models (GLMs). We use structural equation models (SEMs) to additionally account for interrelations between drivers.ResultsIsland area was the strongest predictor of native and non‐native plant species richness but affected richness mostly indirectly through habitat heterogeneity (non‐native species) and island inhabitants (native species). Isolation had a slight negative effect on native and non‐native plant species numbers on islands.Main ConclusionsThe richness of native and non‐native plant species on islands is associated with different drivers, that is, habitat heterogeneity and island inhabitants respectively. This might be caused by distinct underlying processes forming native and non‐native richness patterns. Area was confirmed to be the most important driver of species richness but acting primarily through other natural and anthropogenic drivers of plant species richness. We encourage considering both natural and anthropogenic drivers and their interrelatedness to explain contemporary biogeographic patterns of species richness.

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Long‐term trajectories of non‐native vegetation on islands globally

Cited by 7 publications

References 94 publications

Floristic homogenization of South Pacific islands commenced with human arrival

Floristic homogenization of South Pacific islands commenced with human arrival

Time since first naturalization is key to explaining non‐native plant invasions on islands

Disentangling natural and anthropogenic drivers of native and non‐native plant diversity on North Sea islands

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