Assessing vulnerability and resistance to plant invasions: a native community perspective

Abstract Risk assessments of biological invasions rarely account for native species performance and community features, but the assessment presented here could provide additional insights management aimed at decreasing vulnerability or increasing resistance a plant to invasions. To gather information on drivers communities’ invasion, we conducted literature search meta-analysis. Using data collected, compared invasive between sites with high low levels invasion. We then investigated conditions under which increased, decreased, did not change respect plants. analyzed from 214 publications summing 506 observations. There were six main invasion: disturbance, decrease in resources, increase lack biotic resistance, natural enemies, differences propagule availability species. The two mechanisms invasion associated strong decline resistance. Native plants marginally benefited enemy release decreases while strongly both increased resources enemies. Fluctuation increases, higher performance, varied their responses. These particularly instances water nutrients light nutrients. found overall neutral positive responses communities natives outperformed by when disturbance was caused human activities. identified ecosystem features used our results inform protecting community.