Disturbance and indirect effects of climate warming support a plant invader in mountains

Climate warming and increased disturbance (resulting from intensified land use) are expected to enhance the invasibility of plant communities performance exotic species also at high elevations, thus pose additional threats mountain ecosystems. The invasion success introduced genotypes will depend on their degree pre-adaption elevation climatic conditions, which may vary intra-specifically across source populations. For populations currently spreading in lowlands, climate might reduce distance high-elevation sites remove a barrier upwards spread. Here, we investigated various facets invasions single, integrative experimental study. We applied community transplant approach between high- low-elevation European Alps address effects through use Senecio inaequidens, potential future invader Alps. Additionally, served as common gardens test influence pre-adaptation current (high site) (low conditions S. inaequidens transplanted communities. 16 invasive central western population locations covered wide geographic range, amplitude distances presumed our gardens. Our results attest strong effect disturbance, invasibility, promoted species. Contrary expectation, experimentally induced did not increase invasibility. However, was positively related promote by reducing ranges