title: Ecophysiology of invasive plants: osmotic adjustment and antioxidants.
abstract: Current research into plant invasiveness often attempts to predict the effect of invasions under future climate change, but most studies only focus on ecological aspects. Understanding ecophysiological responses by characterizing physiological markers such as osmotic adjustment or antioxidant protection indicators will help us to project future invasiveness patterns. In this opinion article, we highlight how the information from physiological measurements can be incorporated into effective management strategies. Furthermore, we propose how combining research strategies of physiologists and ecologists could speed up our understanding of the advantageous mechanisms adopted by invasive species. We suggest that a combined approach would also be of considerable benefit for the development of effective governmental biodiversity conservation policies.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Biologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pintó-Marijuan
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munné-Bosch
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D044822:Biodiversity; D057231:Climate Change; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D058865:Introduced Species; D009995:Osmosis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014867:Water
keywords: antioxidants; climate change; ecophysiological markers; invasion success; management strategies; osmolytes