Invaders on the move – niche and spread dynamics of introduced alien plants in the Pacific (NichePac)

NichePac的主要目的是提高我们对驱动生态位动态和外来植物传播的机制的理解。我们将使用太平洋地区作为一个模型系统，因为它拥有非常多的外来植物，其中许多植物也在世界其他地区归化。在该项目中，我们将（i）量化观察到的生态位变化之间的原生范围和入侵大陆与入侵岛屿系统，（ii）评估在太平洋地区的外来植物的归化潜力，以及解释其建立成功的预测因子，和（iii）预测时空传播动态和时空热点的潜在植物入侵。总体而言，这将提高对外来物种未来可能归化和传播的预测能力，为保护和管理入侵物种奠定科学基础。

The key aim of NichePac is to improve our understanding of the mechanisms driving niche dynamics and spread of alien plants. We will use the Pacific region as a model system as it hosts exceptionally high numbers of alien plants, many of which have also naturalized in other parts of the world. In the project, we will (i) quantify observed niche shifts between native ranges and invaded mainland vs. invaded island systems, (ii) assess the naturalization potential of alien plants in the Pacific region as well as the predictors explaining their establishment success, and (iii) predict spatiotemporal spread dynamics and spatiotemporal hotspots of potential plant invasions. Overall, this will allow an improved predictive capacity of potential future naturalization and spread of alien species, contributing to the scientific basis of conservation and management of invasive species.