Invasive Traits of <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i> and <i>S. ciliatum</i>: Insights from Distribution Modeling, Reproductive Success, and Morpho-Structural Analysis
Understanding the drivers of invasive species’ success is essential for predicting and managing their ecological impacts. <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i>, a South American species first recorded in Bucharest in 2015, is currently expanding into urban and peri-urban areas of Romania, rais...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Alina Georgiana Cîșlariu Ciprian Claudiu Mânzu Mioara Dumitrașcu Daniela Clara Mihai Marius Nicu Andronache Petronela Camen-Comănescu Eugenia Nagodă Anca Sârbu |
| author_facet | Alina Georgiana Cîșlariu Ciprian Claudiu Mânzu Mioara Dumitrașcu Daniela Clara Mihai Marius Nicu Andronache Petronela Camen-Comănescu Eugenia Nagodă Anca Sârbu |
| author_sort | Alina Georgiana Cîșlariu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the drivers of invasive species’ success is essential for predicting and managing their ecological impacts. <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i>, a South American species first recorded in Bucharest in 2015, is currently expanding into urban and peri-urban areas of Romania, raising concerns about its invasive potential. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of its invasiveness by integrating species distribution modeling, a reproductive trait analysis, and morpho-structural evaluations. To deepen our understanding, we compare <i>S. squamatum</i> with <i>S. ciliatum</i>, a species already invasive in Romania, to identify shared traits potentially driving their invasiveness. Using R software (version 4.3.0) with bioclimatic variables, we modeled the potential distribution of both species. The reproductive success of <i>S. squamatum</i> was evaluated through germination tests on seeds from distinct Romanian populations, while anatomical analyses revealed adaptations potentially linked to invasiveness. Our findings indicate that <i>S. squamatum</i> shares traits with successful invaders, as highlighted by its comparison with the invasive <i>S. ciliatum</i>. However, its expansion in Romania appears to be constrained by environmental factors, with continentality emerging as a key determinant influencing the distribution of both species. This study highlights the importance of combining ecological modeling with trait-based analyses to assess invasive potential, offering a robust framework for managing alien species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2cfa218d54d84cc9a1ddd5a6171db6b5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2cfa218d54d84cc9a1ddd5a6171db6b52025-01-24T13:23:25ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-01-011414710.3390/biology14010047Invasive Traits of <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i> and <i>S. ciliatum</i>: Insights from Distribution Modeling, Reproductive Success, and Morpho-Structural AnalysisAlina Georgiana Cîșlariu0Ciprian Claudiu Mânzu1Mioara Dumitrașcu2Daniela Clara Mihai3Marius Nicu Andronache4Petronela Camen-Comănescu5Eugenia Nagodă6Anca Sârbu7Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1-3 Intr. Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Bd. Carol I, No. 20 A, 700505 Iași, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1-3 Intr. Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1-3 Intr. Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1-3 Intr. Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, RomaniaBotanical Garden “D. Brandza”, University of Bucharest, 32 Șos. Cotroceni, 060114 Bucharest, RomaniaBotanical Garden “D. Brandza”, University of Bucharest, 32 Șos. Cotroceni, 060114 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1-3 Intr. Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, RomaniaUnderstanding the drivers of invasive species’ success is essential for predicting and managing their ecological impacts. <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i>, a South American species first recorded in Bucharest in 2015, is currently expanding into urban and peri-urban areas of Romania, raising concerns about its invasive potential. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of its invasiveness by integrating species distribution modeling, a reproductive trait analysis, and morpho-structural evaluations. To deepen our understanding, we compare <i>S. squamatum</i> with <i>S. ciliatum</i>, a species already invasive in Romania, to identify shared traits potentially driving their invasiveness. Using R software (version 4.3.0) with bioclimatic variables, we modeled the potential distribution of both species. The reproductive success of <i>S. squamatum</i> was evaluated through germination tests on seeds from distinct Romanian populations, while anatomical analyses revealed adaptations potentially linked to invasiveness. Our findings indicate that <i>S. squamatum</i> shares traits with successful invaders, as highlighted by its comparison with the invasive <i>S. ciliatum</i>. However, its expansion in Romania appears to be constrained by environmental factors, with continentality emerging as a key determinant influencing the distribution of both species. This study highlights the importance of combining ecological modeling with trait-based analyses to assess invasive potential, offering a robust framework for managing alien species.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/1/47alien speciesanatomyecologyenvironmental variablehabitat suitability modeling |
| spellingShingle | Alina Georgiana Cîșlariu Ciprian Claudiu Mânzu Mioara Dumitrașcu Daniela Clara Mihai Marius Nicu Andronache Petronela Camen-Comănescu Eugenia Nagodă Anca Sârbu Invasive Traits of <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i> and <i>S. ciliatum</i>: Insights from Distribution Modeling, Reproductive Success, and Morpho-Structural Analysis Biology alien species anatomy ecology environmental variable habitat suitability modeling |
| title | Invasive Traits of <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i> and <i>S. ciliatum</i>: Insights from Distribution Modeling, Reproductive Success, and Morpho-Structural Analysis |
| title_full | Invasive Traits of <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i> and <i>S. ciliatum</i>: Insights from Distribution Modeling, Reproductive Success, and Morpho-Structural Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Invasive Traits of <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i> and <i>S. ciliatum</i>: Insights from Distribution Modeling, Reproductive Success, and Morpho-Structural Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Invasive Traits of <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i> and <i>S. ciliatum</i>: Insights from Distribution Modeling, Reproductive Success, and Morpho-Structural Analysis |
| title_short | Invasive Traits of <i>Symphyotrichum squamatum</i> and <i>S. ciliatum</i>: Insights from Distribution Modeling, Reproductive Success, and Morpho-Structural Analysis |
| title_sort | invasive traits of i symphyotrichum squamatum i and i s ciliatum i insights from distribution modeling reproductive success and morpho structural analysis |
| topic | alien species anatomy ecology environmental variable habitat suitability modeling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/1/47 |
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