title: Can plant biochemistry contribute to understanding of invasion ecology?
abstract: Ecologists have long searched for an explanation as to why some plant invaders become much more dominant in their naturalized range than in their native range, and, accordingly, several non-exclusive ecological hypotheses have been proposed. Recently, a biochemical explanation was proposed--the "novel weapons hypothesis"--based on findings that Centaurea diffusa and Centaurea maculosa produce bioactive compounds (weapons) that are more active against naïve plant species in the introduced range than against co-evolved species in the native range. In this Opinion article, we revise and expand this biochemical hypothesis and discuss experimental and conceptual advances and limitations.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India. inderjit@cemde.de.ac.in
authors.lastname: Inderjit
authors.forename: Ragan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Callaway
authors.forename: Jorge M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vivanco
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002392:Catechin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D031179:Centaurea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D053147:Plant Exudates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D053147:Plant Exudates; D002392:Catechin