Predicting plant invasions

In trying to identify potential invaders, most people tend to look for classic weeds. Species which mature quickly and produce large quantities of readily dispersed seed seem to be ideal candidates for invasion. However, actual studies of invasive species have shown them to be highly idiosyncratic - a non-native species that is invasive in one context may be benign in another context. In a paper published in the January issue of the Journal of Ecology, Angela Moles, Monica Gruber and Stephen Bonser have proposed a new framework for trying to identify potentially invasive plant species. [more]