The Patterns of Intraspecific Variations in Mass of Nectar Sugar along a Phylogeny Distinguish Native from Non-Native Plants in Urban Greenspaces in Southern England
To serve human needs, non-native species are selected based on an array of functional traits, which generally confer competitive advantages to these species in their recipient environments. Identifying non-obvious functional traits that indirectly inform human selection of non-natives to introduce i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/18/3270 |
| _version_ | 1797577738072096768 |
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| author | Kowiyou Yessoufou |
| author_facet | Kowiyou Yessoufou |
| author_sort | Kowiyou Yessoufou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To serve human needs, non-native species are selected based on an array of functional traits, which generally confer competitive advantages to these species in their recipient environments. Identifying non-obvious functional traits that indirectly inform human selection of non-natives to introduce into urban greenspaces is not yet part of common discussions in invasion biology. We tested whether functional traits integrated within a phylogenetic framework, may reveal those subtle criteria underlying the introduction of non-native plants into urban greenspaces. We found no differences in terms of functional traits between natives and non-natives. We also found no evidence that functional traits predict nectar production, irrespective of how nectar production was measured. Finally, we found that the mean sugar concentration of nectar per flower is evolutionarily shared both within closely related non-native plants as well as within close native plants. However, phylogenetically close species share similar intraspecific variation in mass of nectar sugar per flower, but this is true only for non-native plants, thus revealing a non-obvious selection criteria of non-native plants for urban greenspaces. Our results indicate that the phylogenetic patterns of intraspecific variation in mass of nectar sugar per flower is the major criterion distinguishing non-natives from native plants in urban greenspaces in Southern England. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:13:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-518f051689e5403e8dd1ebaaea76ad5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:13:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-518f051689e5403e8dd1ebaaea76ad5e2023-11-19T12:32:31ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-09-011218327010.3390/plants12183270The Patterns of Intraspecific Variations in Mass of Nectar Sugar along a Phylogeny Distinguish Native from Non-Native Plants in Urban Greenspaces in Southern EnglandKowiyou Yessoufou0Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 526, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South AfricaTo serve human needs, non-native species are selected based on an array of functional traits, which generally confer competitive advantages to these species in their recipient environments. Identifying non-obvious functional traits that indirectly inform human selection of non-natives to introduce into urban greenspaces is not yet part of common discussions in invasion biology. We tested whether functional traits integrated within a phylogenetic framework, may reveal those subtle criteria underlying the introduction of non-native plants into urban greenspaces. We found no differences in terms of functional traits between natives and non-natives. We also found no evidence that functional traits predict nectar production, irrespective of how nectar production was measured. Finally, we found that the mean sugar concentration of nectar per flower is evolutionarily shared both within closely related non-native plants as well as within close native plants. However, phylogenetically close species share similar intraspecific variation in mass of nectar sugar per flower, but this is true only for non-native plants, thus revealing a non-obvious selection criteria of non-native plants for urban greenspaces. Our results indicate that the phylogenetic patterns of intraspecific variation in mass of nectar sugar per flower is the major criterion distinguishing non-natives from native plants in urban greenspaces in Southern England.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/18/3270functional traitsinvasion biologynectar productionnative plantsnon-native plantsurban greenspaces |
| spellingShingle | Kowiyou Yessoufou The Patterns of Intraspecific Variations in Mass of Nectar Sugar along a Phylogeny Distinguish Native from Non-Native Plants in Urban Greenspaces in Southern England Plants functional traits invasion biology nectar production native plants non-native plants urban greenspaces |
| title | The Patterns of Intraspecific Variations in Mass of Nectar Sugar along a Phylogeny Distinguish Native from Non-Native Plants in Urban Greenspaces in Southern England |
| title_full | The Patterns of Intraspecific Variations in Mass of Nectar Sugar along a Phylogeny Distinguish Native from Non-Native Plants in Urban Greenspaces in Southern England |
| title_fullStr | The Patterns of Intraspecific Variations in Mass of Nectar Sugar along a Phylogeny Distinguish Native from Non-Native Plants in Urban Greenspaces in Southern England |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Patterns of Intraspecific Variations in Mass of Nectar Sugar along a Phylogeny Distinguish Native from Non-Native Plants in Urban Greenspaces in Southern England |
| title_short | The Patterns of Intraspecific Variations in Mass of Nectar Sugar along a Phylogeny Distinguish Native from Non-Native Plants in Urban Greenspaces in Southern England |
| title_sort | patterns of intraspecific variations in mass of nectar sugar along a phylogeny distinguish native from non native plants in urban greenspaces in southern england |
| topic | functional traits invasion biology nectar production native plants non-native plants urban greenspaces |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/18/3270 |
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