title: Functional trait values, not trait plasticity, drive the invasiveness of Rosa sp. in response to light availability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Functional trait plasticity in resource capture traits has been suggested as an underlying mechanism promoting invasive species establishment and spread. Earlier studies on this mechanism treat invasiveness as a discrete characteristic (i.e., invasive vs. noninvasive) and do not consider the potential impacts of evolutionary history. In the present study, we used a continuous measure of invasiveness and a phylogenetic framework to quantify the relationship between functional trait expression, plasticity, and invasiveness in Rosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a manipulative greenhouse experiment, we evaluated how light availability affects functional traits and their plasticity in Rosa sp. and the out-group species, Potentilla recta, which vary in their invasiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across functional traits, we found no significant relationship between plasticity and invasiveness. However, more invasive roses demonstrated an ability to produce a more branched plant architecture, promoting optimal light capture. Invasiveness also was linked with lower photosynthetic and stomatal conductance rates, leading to increased water-use efficiency (WUE) in more invasive roses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that functional trait values, rather than plasticity, promote invasive rose success, counter to earlier predictions about the role of plasticity in invasiveness. Furthermore, our study indicates that invasive roses demonstrate key functional traits, such as increased WUE, to promote their success in the high-light, edge habitats they commonly invade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio 44118 USA jem213@case.edu.|Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 441061 USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio 44118 USA.
authors.forename: Jean H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 P.R. China.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fougère-Danezan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 441061 USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Drenovsky
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D058865:Introduced Species; D008027:Light; D010641:Phenotype; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D027826:Rosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Rosa multiflora; Rosaceae; global invasiveness; invasive species; phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS); shrub invasion dynamics; woody plants