Project Detail

Comparative ecology of invasive and non-invasive alien species of Asteraceae

Name:	Comparative ecology of invasive and non-invasive alien species of Asteraceae
Researchers:	Mihulka Stanislav (researcher)
Provider:
Summary:	Ecological and life-history comparison of invasive and non-invasive aliens of Asteraceae, a family richest in alien species in Central Europe, will be carried out. Together with six major invaders of the Czech flora, their congeners or closely relatedspecies will be studied which has been either planted in the country but not escape from cultivation or which are only rarely introduced and never spreading. Biological, ecological and physiological traits will be studied in each species using the samemethods. By comparing invasive and non-invasive aliens within a narrow taxonomical group, it will be possible to search for determinants of invasive potential of introduced species. Using one family makes it possible to filter out thetaxonomical/phylogenetical bias to the results, exclusively North American origin allows for control of the geographical bias. The project is novel in comparing successful and unsuccessful aliens.