Going up the Andes: patterns and drivers of non-native plant invasions across latitudinal and elevational gradients
Pauchard, Anibal
- 1Universidad de Concepcion
- 2University of Antwerp
- 3Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET)
- 4Inst Ecol & Biodivers IEB
- 5Universidad de Especialidades Espiritu Santo
- 6National University of Cordoba
- 7Lincoln University - New Zealand
- 8
- 9University of Tennessee System
Journal
Biodiversity and Conservation
ISSN
0960-3115
1572-9710
Open Access
closed
Volume
32
Start page
4199
End page
4219
The Andes mountain range in South America has a high level of endemism and is a major source of ecosystem services. The Andes is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances that have allowed the establishment of non-native plants, mainly in the lower elevation areas. However, synergies between climate change and anthropogenic pressure are promoting the spread of non-native plants to higher elevation areas. In this article, we evaluate and identify the main non-native plants invading Andean ecosystems, and assess their taxonomic families, growth forms and distribution patterns. Based on a systematic literature review, we identified the importance of climatic and anthropogenic factors as drivers of non-native species establishment in Andean ecosystems and the main impacts of non-native plants in the Andes. We then identified research gaps across each biogeographic region in the Andes. Finally, we highlight key elements to better tackle the problem of non-native plant invasions in Andean ecosystems, including the need for a systematic monitoring of invasion patterns and spread (e.g. MIREN protocol) and a common policy agenda across international borders for the prevention and management of non-native plants in this highly vulnerable region.