title: Linking concepts in the ecology and evolution of invasive plants: network analysis shows what has been most studied and identifies knowledge gaps.
abstract: In recent decades, a growing number of studies have addressed connections between ecological and evolutionary concepts in biologic invasions. These connections may be crucial for understanding the processes underlying invaders' success. However, the extent to which scientists have worked on the integration of the ecology and evolution of invasive plants is poorly documented, as few attempts have been made to evaluate these efforts in invasion biology research. Such analysis can facilitate recognize well-documented relationships and identify gaps in our knowledge. In this study, we used a network-based method for visualizing the connections between major aspects of ecology and evolution in the primary research literature. Using the family Poaceae as an example, we show that ecological concepts were more studied and better interconnected than were evolutionary concepts. Several possible connections were not documented at all, representing knowledge gaps between ecology and evolution of invaders. Among knowledge gaps, the concepts of plasticity, gene flow, epigenetics and human influence were particularly under-connected. We discuss five possible research avenues to better understand the relationships between ecology and evolution in the success of Poaceae, and of alien plants in general.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege Gembloux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanderhoeven
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tepolt
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege Gembloux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vanparys
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege Gembloux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Grégory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mahy
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege Gembloux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monty
keywords: Poaceae; Web of Science database; biologic invasion; concept; knowledge gap; network; network analysis