Relative competitiveness of adventive plant species in herbaceous communities of the Western Caucasus

Adventive plant species exhibit varying competitiveness in different herbaceous communities of the Western Caucasus, challenging assumptions about their ecological equivalence with indigenous species. Using a mathematical model based on species immigration and extinction dynamics, researchers found that adventive plants often outperform or underperform indigenous species depending on the community type—such as near-riverbed shoals, forest glades, steppe meadows, or agricultural lands. This suggests that adventive species' competitive advantage is context-dependent, with implications for biodiversity and ecosystem management in UNESCO-recognized regions like the Western Caucasus.

Akatov, V. V., Akatova, T. V., Eskina, T. G., & Zagurnaya, Yu. S. (2012). Relative competitiveness of adventive plant species in herbaceous communities of the Western Caucasus. Russian Journal of Biological Invasions, 3(4), 235–242. https://doi.org/10.1134/s2075111712040029