Understanding Successful Plants

(University of Bern, July 16, 2013)

Why are some plant species rare and others common? What makes a plant invasive? To answer these questions, researchers at the Institute of Plant Sciences in Bern, in collaboration with the University of Konstanz, studied over 90 different species in both the field and in greenhouses. According to Mark van Kleunen and his team, species characteristics such as quick germination and growth, and in particular the ability to defend against herbivores, have a larger impact on plant survival than previously thought. Their results agree with general theories on plant community assembly and can have critical implications for the early detection and prevention of future plant invasions in Switzerland.