Plant Invasions: The Role of Biotic Interactions (CABI Invasives Series)

There are many books on aspects of plant invasions, but none that focus on the key role of species interactions in mediating invasions. This book reviews exciting new findings and explores how new methods and tools are shedding new light on crucial processes in plant invasions. This book will be of interest to academics and students of ecology, researchers engaged in developing management solutions, scientific managers of natural ecosystems, and policy-makers. This book contains 23 chapters divided into seven parts. Part I reviews the key hypotheses in invasion ecology that invoke biotic interactions to explain aspects of plant invasion dynamics; and reviews models, theories and hypotheses on how invasion performance and impact of introduced species in recipient ecosystems can be conjectured according to biotic interactions between native and non-native species. Part II deals with positive and negative interactions in the soil. Part III discusses mutualistic interactions that promote plant invasions. Part IV describes antagonistic interactions that hinder plant invasions, while part V presents the consequences of plant invasions for biotic interactions among native species. In part VI, novel techniques and experimental approaches in the study of plant invasions are shown. In the last part, biotic interactions and the management of ecosystems invaded by non-native plants are discussed There are many books on aspects of plant invasions, but none that focus on the key role of species interactions in mediating invasions. This book reviews exciting new findings and explores how new methods and tools are shedding new light on crucial processes in plant invasions. In 23 chapters, with contributions from 51 authors, the book addresses: · the main theories and hypotheses in plant invasion ecology that invoke species interactions; · plant invasions that are facilitated by, or benefit from, by mutualistic interactions and release from enemies; · antagonistic interactions that prevent or hinder plant invasions; · impacts of plant invasions on native species interactions and ecosystem functioning; · the interaction-network approach to understanding plant invasions; · the importance of considering species interactions in managing plant invasions "Invasive species are of great environmental importance but no book before now has explored a key aspect: the nature of species interactions. This book looks at the theories, evidence and practicalities for managing invasions"-- Provided by publisher