Huff and puff and blow down: invasive plants traits response to strong winds at the Southern Oceanic Islands ...

• Main Authors: Saiz, Hugo, Renault, David, Puijalon, Sara, Barrio, Miguel, Bertrand, Mathilde, Tolosano, Matteo, Pierre, Aurélien, Ferreira, Charly, Prouteau, Clémentine, Bittebiere, Anne-Kristel
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Wiley 2021
• Subjects: 580 Plants Botany; Antarc*; Antarctic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48350/159821; https://boris.unibe.ch/159821/

Invasions constitute a major driver of biodiversity changes. Insular plant communities are particularly vulnerable to invasions and are relevant models for investigating mechanisms supporting the establishment and spread of introduced plants. Terrestrial flora of sub-Antarctic islands must often thrive in highly windy habitats, thus imposing strong mechanical constraints on individuals. Many alien plants at the sub-Antarctic islands are of tropical or temperate origins, where they were exposed to less stringent wind conditions. As wind likely represents a strong environmental filter for the successful establishment and further geographic spread of plants, they should have developed responses to resist and successfully colonize the Iles Kerguelen. We studied responses to wind of three herbaceous species that are invasive at Iles Kerguelen. We sampled plant individuals at different locations, under windy and sheltered conditions. Traits related to wind avoidance and tolerance and to resource acquisition were ...