title: Invasion Expansion: Time since introduction best predicts global ranges of marine invaders.
abstract: Strategies for managing biological invasions are often based on the premise that characteristics of invading species and the invaded environment are key predictors of the invader's distribution. Yet, for either biological traits or environmental characteristics to explain distribution, adequate time must have elapsed for species to spread to all potential habitats. We compiled and analyzed a database of natural history and ecological traits of 138 coastal marine invertebrate species, the environmental conditions at sites to which they have been introduced, and their date of first introduction. We found that time since introduction explained the largest fraction (20%) of the variability in non-native range size, while traits of the species and environmental variables had significant, but minimal, influence on non-native range size. The positive relationship between time since introduction and range size indicates that non-native marine invertebrate species are not at equilibrium and are still spreading, posing a major challenge for management of coastal ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.affiliation: 1] Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA [2] Evolution &Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052 NSW Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: 142 Morse Hall, Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory, 8 College Rd, UNH, Durham NH 03857 USA.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.affiliation: Evolution &Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052 NSW Australia.
authors.forename: Graeme F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Centre of Marine Bio-innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052 NSW Australia.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gribben
authors.affiliation: School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Chad L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, 10 Kyle Street, Riccarton, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Graeme J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.affiliation: Evolution &Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052 NSW Australia.
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037 USA.
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Stachowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109 Australia.
authors.forename: Melanie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D001315:Australia; D016208:Databases, Factual; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D058865:Introduced Species; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology; D008386:Marine Biology; D009520:New Zealand; D012767:Ships; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States