Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Potential for Evolutionary Adaptation to Aliens
In the last three chapters, we have seen that native species, or in some
cases, established alien species, have a considerable capacity for evolution-
ary adaptation to invading species that offer opportunities for exploitation
or challenges to survival. Recent alien invaders, some of which flourish
because they have been freed from their enemies at home, begin almost
immediately to accumulate predators, including herbivores in the case of
alien plants, and parasites. How this accumulation of predators and para-
sites proceeds determines the potential for evolutionary integration of an
alien into its new biotic community. We shall examine the pattern of
accumulation of species in the next chapter.
