Study: Sometimes Invasive Bests Native

U.S. scientists have found native species don’t always outperform invasive species when resources are low just because they’ve had more time to adapt.

In a study that has important implications for habitat management and conservation, Jennifer Funk and Peter Vitousek of Stanford University looked at the resource-use efficiency of invasive and native species in three habitats in Hawaii where light, water or nutrient availability was limiting to plant growth.

They discovered invasive plant species that had successfully colonized resource-poor habitats were more efficient at using limiting resources than native species.

The findings have repercussions for native ecosystem restoration strategies and call into question management strategies that rely on lowering resource availability to favor the growth of native species.

The research appears in the journal Nature.