Native plant species show evolutionary responses to invasion by Parthenium hysterophorus in an African savanna

What is it about?

Biological invasions by alien plant species can reduce native plant diversity and alter ecosystem processes. Nevertheless, novel interactions with invasive species can cause evolutionary changes in native competitor species leading to certain populations of some native plant species being adapted to compete with invasive plants. Here, I show that invasion by Parthenium hysterophorus may have selected for shorter native plant genotypes that also exhibit plasticity in competitive ability under drought conditions in an African savanna.

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