An exotic invasive plant selects for increased competitive tolerance, but not competitive suppression, in a native grass.

摘要: Exotic invasive plants can exert strong selective pressure for increased competitive ability in native plants. There are two fundamental components of ability: suppression and tolerance, the current paradigm that these have equal influences on a species’ overall has been recently questioned. If do not ability, then selection tolerance may be disproportionate. We used naturally invaded communities to study effects caused by an forb, Centaurea stoebe, grass, Pseudoroegneria spicata. P. spicata were harvested from within dense C. stoebe patches nearby uninvaded areas, divided clonally into replicates, transplanted common garden where they grew alone or competed with stoebe. found collected significantly more tolerant competition than but inside superior at suppressing These results consistent hypothesis competitors select suppress neighbors. This important implications how plant respond invasion over time, species ultimately coexist.