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Release of invasive plants from fungal and viral pathogens

Author

Listed:
  • Charles E. Mitchell

    (Cornell University)

  • Alison G. Power

    (Cornell University)

Abstract

Invasive plant species both threaten native biodiversity and are economically costly1,2,3,4,5, but only a few naturalized species become pests2,4. Here we report broad, quantitative support for two long-standing hypotheses that explain why only some naturalized species have large impacts. The enemy release hypothesis argues that invaders' impacts result from reduced natural enemy attack2,4,6,7,8,9,10. The biotic resistance hypothesis argues that interactions with native species, including natural enemies, limit invaders' impacts6,7,8. We tested these hypotheses for viruses and for rust, smut and powdery mildew fungi that infect 473 plant species naturalized to the United States from Europe. On average, 84% fewer fungi and 24% fewer virus species infect each plant species in its naturalized range than in its native range. In addition, invasive plant species that are more completely released from pathogens are more widely reported as harmful invaders of both agricultural and natural ecosystems. Together, these results strongly support the enemy release hypothesis. Among noxious agricultural weeds, species accumulating more pathogens in their naturalized range are less widely noxious, supporting the biotic resistance hypothesis. Our results indicate that invasive plants' impacts may be a function of both release from and accumulation of natural enemies, including pathogens.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles E. Mitchell & Alison G. Power, 2003. "Release of invasive plants from fungal and viral pathogens," Nature, Nature, vol. 421(6923), pages 625-627, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:421:y:2003:i:6923:d:10.1038_nature01317
    DOI: 10.1038/nature01317
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    Cited by:

    1. Chelsea E Cunard & Richard A Lankau, 2017. "Declining survival across invasion history for Microstegium vimineum," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Yang, Yinghui & Han, Bang-Sheng & Wang, Qin, 2019. "Spatiotemporal landscape disturbance contributes to the suppression of competing invaders," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 393(C), pages 76-84.
    3. Lucas N Joppa & Rich Williams, 2013. "Modeling the Building Blocks of Biodiversity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(2), pages 1-11, February.
    4. Drury, K.L.S. & Drake, J.M. & Lodge, D.M. & Dwyer, G., 2007. "Immigration events dispersed in space and time: Factors affecting invasion success," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 206(1), pages 63-78.
    5. Hisashi Kato-Noguchi & Midori Kato, 2024. "The Allelopathy of the Invasive Plant Species Ludwigia decurrens against Rice and Paddy Weeds," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, August.

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