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Climate suitability and human influences combined explain the range expansion of an invasive horticultural plant

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Abstract

Ecological niche models are commonly used to identify regions at risk of species invasions. Relying on climate alone may limit a model’s success when additional variables contribute to invasion. While a climate-based model may predict the future spread of an invasive plant, we hypothesized that a model that combined climate with human influences would most successfully explain its present distribution. We used the ecological niche model MaxEnt to test our hypothesis with Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), a common invasive horticultural plant in the United States. We first predicted the future range expansion of the species in the United States using a model that was trained on the climate conditions in its native range. We then tested the ability of a climate-based model, which was trained on climate conditions in the invaded range, to predict the current distribution in the United States. Finally, we tested whether including a measure of human influence would improve this model. Our results indicate that, despite L. japonica’s 200-year invasion history, it is expected to spread beyond its current US range. Climate and human influence combined explain the current distribution. Modeling the spread of invasive horticultural plants using climate alone risks under-predicting areas with poor climates and high human influence. Therefore, planting invasive horticultural species should be discouraged as even suboptimal climates may result in further range expansion.

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Acknowledgments

We thank S. R. Keller for initial guidance on the use of MaxEnt. We also thank D. C. Gist of the University of Virginia’s Scholars’ Lab for significant assistance with ArcGIS. This manuscript was greatly improved through suggestions from J. Elith and two anonymous reviewers. We also thank D. A. Roach, M. L. Aikens, C. Dai, and K. Barnard-Kubow for offering valuable feedback on our manuscript. We thank the following herbaria for information on Lonicera japonica presence in the United States: TAMU, MNA, CMML, TAES, TAC, KANU, COLO, GH, NY, MO, LSU, MUR, BH, VPI, US. Finally, we thank the Jeffress Memorial Trust and the Jefferson Scholars Foundation for financial support.

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Author notes

  1. Francis F. Kilkenny

    Present address: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, OR, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400328, Charlottesville, VA, 22904-4328, USA

    Carolyn M. Beans, Francis F. Kilkenny & Laura F. Galloway

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  1. Carolyn M. Beans
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  2. Francis F. Kilkenny
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  3. Laura F. Galloway
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Correspondence to Carolyn M. Beans.

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Beans, C.M., Kilkenny, F.F. & Galloway, L.F. Climate suitability and human influences combined explain the range expansion of an invasive horticultural plant. Biol Invasions 14, 2067–2078 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0214-0

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