title: Ecological and evolutionary insights from species invasions.
abstract: Species invasions provide numerous unplanned and frequently, but imperfectly, replicated experiments that can be used to better understand the natural world. Classic studies by Darwin, Grinnell, Elton and others on these species-invasion experiments provided invaluable insights for ecology and evolutionary biology. Recent studies of invasions have resulted in additional insights, six of which we discuss here; these insights highlight the utility of using exotic species as 'model organisms'. We also discuss a nascent hypothesis that might provide a more general, predictive understanding of invasions and community assembly. Finally, we emphasize how the study of invasions can help to inform our understanding of applied problems, such as extinction, ecosystem function and the response of species to climate change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Environmental Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. dov.sax@gmail.com
authors.forename: Dov F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Sax
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Stachowicz
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gaines
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Grosberg
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hastings
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mayfield
authors.forename: Mary I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004463:Ecology; D058865:Introduced Species; D007448:Invertebrates; D010944:Plants; D014714:Vertebrates