Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
Darwin proposed that naturalized plant species are less likely to coexist with native congeners because similarities between species result in competition for niche space, and limitation by herbivores and pathogen attack. This theory suggests that introduced species are doing something 'different' to native species they coexist with in their new range, although evidence to support this hypothesis is mixed. Other evidence suggests that abiotic filters drive invasive species suggesting they should be functionally similar to native flora in order to survive limiting conditions. The main aim of this project will be to investigate whether alien flora in urban forests are similar or dissimilar 'functionally' and phylogenetically to native flora. This project will involve field surveys and/or experiments, as well as statistical and mathematical modelling.
- Study level
- PhD
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Keywords
- native plants, invasive species, introduced species, herbivores, flora
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor.
Dr Jennifer Firn
