Global proliferation of nonnative plants is a major driver of insect invasions

Abstract

Invasions by nonnative insect species can massively disrupt ecological processes, often leading to serious economic impacts. Previous work has identified propagule pressure as important driver of the trend of increasing numbers of insect invasions worldwide. In the present article, we propose an alternative hypothesis-that insect invasions are being driven by the proliferation of nonnative plants, which create niches for insect specialists and facilitate their establishment outside their native ranges where their hosts are planted or are invasive. We synthesize mechanisms by which plant invasions facilitate insect invasions, macroecological patterns supporting the tight link between plant and insect invasions, and case studies of plant invasions having facilitated subsequent insect establishment. This body of evidence indicates that plant invasions are a major driver of insect invasions. Consequently, the benefits of limiting the spread of nonnative plants include averting the proliferation of nonnative insects and their spillover onto native plant species.

Keywords: empty niche; enemy release; facilitation; human-mediated dispersal; introduction pathways.

Figure 1.

Mechanisms of nonnative plants facilitating the establishment of nonnative insect herbivores and higher trophic levels such as predators and parasites. Nonnative species are shown in red and native species in blue.