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Dryad

Data on long-term demographic information for Alliaria petiolata in eastern North America

Data files

This dataset is embargoed . Please contact Bernd Blossey at UDE.LLENROC@22BB with any questions.

Lists of files and downloads will become available to the public when released.

Abstract

While biological invasions have the potential for large negative impacts on local communities and ecological interactions, increasing evidence suggests that species once considered major problems can decline over time. Declines often appear driven by natural enemies, diseases, or evolutionary adaptations that selectively reduce populations of naturalized species and their impacts.  Using permanent long-term monitoring locations, we document declines of Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) in eastern North America with distinct local and regional dynamics as a function of patch residence time.  Projected site-specific population growth rates initially indicated expanding populations, but projected population growth rates significantly decreased over time and at the majority of sites fell below 1, indicating declining populations. Negative soil feedback provides a potential mechanism for the reported disappearance of ecological dominance of A. petiolata in eastern North America.