Identifying the mechanisms underlying the process of biological invasions is a crucial objective for ecological research. In a study published in AoB PLANTS, Lechuga-Lago et al. examined the role of clonal integration in the colonization of a water-stressed environment by an aggressive invader. Their results demonstrate that the effects of clonal integration confer a benefit […]

In the Arctic, rapid warming due to climate change has led to earlier springs and increased plant production at a landscape scale. However, individual species in the tundra may respond differently to growth cues like timing of snowmelt and temperature. While many tundra species expand their leaves earlier due to early snowmelt and warming, this […]

Plant morphological traits respond to drought in a rather flexible way; however, there is recent evidence of exceptions. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Zhang et al. examined the effect of drought on morphological traits of seedlings of a desert shrub (Haloxylon ammodendron, a widely distributed shrub in desert regions of Asia and […]

Pines (genus Pinus) are among the most ecologically and economically important plant species. Some, such as the pines of the southeastern USA (southern pines in subsection Australes), are the subject of intensive breeding programmes. Despite numerous published studies, the evolutionary history of Australes remains ambiguous and often controversial. In a recent study published in AoB […]

Hybrid zones that occur across environmental gradients provide excellent opportunities for studying the maintenance of divergent adaptations in the presence of gene flow. They also provide insight into the biodiversity implications of future species contact and hybridization in a changing world. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Brennan et al. used a quantitative […]

The presence of invasive plants has been identified as a soil disturbance factor, often conditioning the structure and function of soil microorganisms. Despite the investigation of many aspects related to invasion by the nitrogen-fixing tree Acacia dealbata, its effect on the structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has never been assessed until now. A new […]

A new biogeographic study published in AoB PLANTS by Shelby et al. tested the evolution of increased competitive ability (EICA) hypothesis—a compelling explanation for why plants become invasive. The authors measured the growth rates and competitive ability of three Trifolium species sourced from their native (Spain and the UK) and New Zealand-naturalised ranges when grown […]

Despite being a highly autogamous or self-pollinating species, the carnivorous plant Drosophyllum lusitanicum (Drosophyllaceae) produces large, bright-yellow flowers. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Salces-Castellano et al. used a flower removal and a pollination experiment to assess, respectively, whether large flowers in this species may serve as an attracting device to prey insects […]

Currently there is debate around whether the outcome of alien plant invasions is the extinction of native plants. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Downey and Richardson refocus the debate around a series of thresholds along an extinction trajectory where extinction is the end point. They identify and discuss a range of factors […]

Polyploidy (multiple copies of whole genomes) is over-represented in invasive plants and thought to promote their success in novel environments.  Understanding functional traits supporting colonization can provide a foundation for development of effective management strategies. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Grewell et al. compared how two aquatic invasive congeners differing in ploidy […]

Red flowers have evolved repeatedly across angiosperms and are frequently examined in an ecological context. However, less is known about the biochemical basis of red colouration in different taxa. In a recent study published by AoB PLANTS, Ng and Smith examined the biochemical basis of red flowers in the tomato family, Solanaceae. They show that […]

Non-native plant invasions and changing management activities have altered the structure and composition of forests. Invasive shrubs and fire suppression have led to increased densification and biomass accumulation in forest ecosystems of the southeastern United States. Notably, the encroachment of non-native privets has altered ecosystem processes and caused changes in community structure. The latter has […]