Invasive species flourish in non-native regions due to soil microbes and fungi

A recent study indicates that the plant species considered as invasive in non-native regions, use characteristics to survive and flourish that are different from the ones in their native regions.

Key Findings of the study:

• A study of the Canadian horseweed species revealed the changing behaviour of plant species in non-native regions, helping them to become successful invaders.
• Conyza canadensis, commonly known as Canadian horseweed (Asteraceae) across four Mediterranean populations of California and Jordan, inter-mountain western United States and central China has been studied.
• Soil microbial activity plays an important role in making invasive species flourish in non-native regions.
• The microbial activity in the roots of the plant in native regions was less and the species showed more parasitic properties.
• In India, the EU and Asia, the micro-fungal benefits were mutual.
• The plants took carbon from the soil, but released nutrients such as phosphorous, nitrogen and others in return.
• The high amount of nutrients offered attracted microbes and fungi growth.
• The findings show that the benefits are mutual in such a case and the plant evolved towards enhanced mutualism as it interacted with the microbes.
• The study showed that such changing relations at a bio geographical scale between the plant and soil biota contributed towards the disproportionate abundance and success of the species as an invader in non-native regions.
  
  

About invasive species:

• An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area.
• Pathways: An invasive species can be introduced to a new area via the ballast water of oceangoing ships, intentional and accidental releases of aquaculture species, aquarium specimens or bait, and other means.
• Not all non-native species are invasive.
• For example, most of the food crops grown in the United States, including popular varieties of wheat, tomatoes, and rice, are not native to the region.
• Features: To be invasive, a species must 
• It must adapt to the new area easily.
• It must reproduce quickly.
• It must harm property, the economy, or the native plants and animals of the region.

• Threats
• Extinction of native ecosystem: Invasive species are capable of causing extinctions of native plants and animals, reducing biodiversity, competing with native organisms for limited resources, and altering habitats.
• This can result in huge economic impacts and fundamental disruptions of coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems.
• Threat to resources: Invasive species can harm both the natural resources in an ecosystem as well as threaten human use of these resources.
• Threat to native wildlife: Invasive species are among the leading threats to native wildlife.
• Approximately 42 percent of threatened or endangered species are at risk due to invasive species.

List of invasive flora and fauna in India