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Biodiversity as a barrier to ecological invasion

Author

Listed:
  • Theodore A. Kennedy

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Shahid Naeem

    (University of Washington)

  • Katherine M. Howe

    (University of Washington)

  • Johannes M. H. Knops

    (University of Nebraska)

  • David Tilman

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Peter Reich

    (University of Minnesota)

Abstract

Biological invasions are a pervasive and costly environmental problem1,2 that has been the focus of intense management and research activities over the past half century. Yet accurate predictions of community susceptibility to invasion remain elusive. The diversity resistance hypothesis, which argues that diverse communities are highly competitive and readily resist invasion3,4,5, is supported by both theory6 and experimental studies7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 conducted at small spatial scales. However, there is also convincing evidence that the relationship between the diversity of native and invading species is positive when measured at regional scales3,11,15,16. Although this latter relationship may arise from extrinsic factors, such as resource heterogeneity, that covary with diversity of native and invading species at large scales, the mechanisms conferring greater invasion resistance to diverse communities at local scales remain unknown. Using neighbourhood analyses, a technique from plant competition studies17,18,19, we show here that species diversity in small experimental grassland plots enhances invasion resistance by increasing crowding and species richness in localized plant neighbourhoods. Both the establishment (number of invaders) and success (proportion of invaders that are large) of invading plants are reduced. These results suggest that local biodiversity represents an important line of defence against the spread of invaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Theodore A. Kennedy & Shahid Naeem & Katherine M. Howe & Johannes M. H. Knops & David Tilman & Peter Reich, 2002. "Biodiversity as a barrier to ecological invasion," Nature, Nature, vol. 417(6889), pages 636-638, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:417:y:2002:i:6889:d:10.1038_nature00776
    DOI: 10.1038/nature00776
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    Cited by:

    1. Pierre Dupraz & Karine Latouche & Nadine Turpin, 2007. "Programmes agri-environnementaux en présence d’effets de seuil," Cahiers d'Economie et Sociologie Rurales, INRA Department of Economics, vol. 82, pages 5-32.
    2. Robert C. Cope & Joshua V. Ross & Talia A. Wittmann & Michael J. Watts & Phillip Cassey, 2019. "Predicting the Risk of Biological Invasions Using Environmental Similarity and Transport Network Connectedness," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(1), pages 35-53, January.
    3. Simianer, H., 2005. "Decision making in livestock conservation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 559-572, June.
    4. Cai Cheng & Zekang Liu & Wei Song & Xue Chen & Zhijie Zhang & Bo Li & Mark Kleunen & Jihua Wu, 2024. "Biodiversity increases resistance of grasslands against plant invasions under multiple environmental changes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Jinhui Wu & Haoxin Li & Huawei Wan & Yongcai Wang & Chenxi Sun & Hongmin Zhou, 2021. "Analyzing the Relationship between Animal Diversity and the Remote Sensing Vegetation Parameters: The Case of Xinjiang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Joseph George Ray & Prasanthkumar Santhakumaran & Santhoshkumar Kookal, 2021. "Phytoplankton communities of eutrophic freshwater bodies (Kerala, India) in relation to the physicochemical water quality parameters," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 259-290, January.
    7. Zu-Xing Wang & Zheng-Sheng He & Wei-Ming He, 2021. "Nighttime climate warming enhances inhibitory effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the success of invasive Solidago canadensis," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Gregor Gorkiewicz & Gerhard G Thallinger & Slave Trajanoski & Stefan Lackner & Gernot Stocker & Thomas Hinterleitner & Christian Gülly & Christoph Högenauer, 2013. "Alterations in the Colonic Microbiota in Response to Osmotic Diarrhea," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(2), pages 1-17, February.
    9. Villanueva, Maria Concepcion S. & Isumbisho, Mwapu & Kaningini, Boniface & Moreau, Jacques & Micha, Jean-Claude, 2008. "Modeling trophic interactions in Lake Kivu: What roles do exotics play?," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 212(3), pages 422-438.
    10. Jiabu, Duojie & Li, Weide, 2023. "Impact of different invasion methods of invasive species on omnivorous food webs," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 475(C).
    11. Kaixuan Pan & Merijn Moens & Leon Marshall & Ellen Cieraad & Geert R de Snoo & Koos Biesmeijer, 2021. "Importance of natural land cover for plant species’ conservation: A nationwide study in The Netherlands," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(11), pages 1-25, November.
    12. Serra W. Buchanan & Megan Baskerville & Maren Oelbermann & Andrew M. Gordon & Naresh V. Thevathasan & Marney E. Isaac, 2020. "Plant Diversity and Agroecosystem Function in Riparian Agroforests: Providing Ecosystem Services and Land-Use Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-12, January.
    13. Wen Lin & Guofa Zhou & Xinyue Cheng & Rumei Xu, 2007. "Fast Economic Development Accelerates Biological Invasions in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(11), pages 1-6, November.
    14. Fabio Bulleri & John F Bruno & Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, 2008. "Beyond Competition: Incorporating Positive Interactions between Species to Predict Ecosystem Invasibility," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(6), pages 1-5, June.
    15. Lu Wu & Xu-Wen Wang & Zining Tao & Tong Wang & Wenlong Zuo & Yu Zeng & Yang-Yu Liu & Lei Dai, 2024. "Data-driven prediction of colonization outcomes for complex microbial communities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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