Dispersal potential does not predict recent range expansions of sub-Antarctic plant species

dc.contributor.authorMazibuko, Nompilo
dc.contributor.authorGreve, Michelle
dc.contributor.authorLe Roux, Peter Christiaan
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-26T12:08:10Z
dc.date.available2025-05-26T12:08:10Z
dc.date.issued2024-05
dc.descriptionDATA AVAILABILITY : The data used for this study are provided in the link below: https://figshare.com/s/d48df2f893dbaac75339
dc.description.abstractDispersal influences many key aspects of plant ecology at both fine- and broad scales. However, dispersal events are challenging to quantify as they are difficult to observe and measure accurately, despite the importance of understanding species’ dispersal capacity. In this study, we quantified dispersal estimates for the dominant vascular flora of sub-Antarctic Marion Island, using a mechanistic model to estimate dispersal potential via anemochory and standardized experiments that simulate dispersal events via zoochory, human activity, and thalassochory, to test if dispersal capacity correlates to contemporary range expansion of the island’s native and alien species. Our results demonstrate the broad range of dispersal potential in the island’s flora and represent the first quantification of the dispersal potential (via multiple vectors) of the dominant vascular flora in the sub-Antarctic. Dispersal potential was not related to range expansion rates of native or alien species, suggesting that other mechanisms are responsible for the variation observed in species range expansion rates. Although this finding contradicts expectations and evidence from some other studies, it is consistent with research conducted in alpine regions (which may be climatically and physiognomically similar to this sub-Antarctic study site) where factors such as demography and competition are more important predictors of species range expansion than their dispersal ability, dispersal syndromes, or dispersal-related traits.
dc.description.departmentPlant Production and Soil Science
dc.description.librarianam2025
dc.description.sdgSDG-15: Life on land
dc.description.sponsorshipThe South African National Research Foundation through the South African National Antarctic Program; the South African National Antarctic Program; tthe ASICS Biodiversa Funding from the South African Department of Science and Technology. Open access funding provided by University of Pretoria.
dc.description.urihttp://link.springer.com/journal/300
dc.identifier.citationMazibuko, N., Greve, M., Le Roux, P.C. 2024, 'Dispersal potential does not predict recent range expansions of sub‑Antarctic plant species', Polar Biology, vol. 47, pp. 499-514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-024-03250-z.
dc.identifier.issn0722-4060 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1432-2056 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s00300-024-03250-z
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/102516
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rights© The Author(s) 2024. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
dc.subjectDispersal
dc.subjectAnthropogenic activity
dc.subjectZoochory
dc.subjectThalassochory
dc.subjectAnthropogenic activity
dc.subjectMechanistic model
dc.titleDispersal potential does not predict recent range expansions of sub-Antarctic plant species
dc.typeArticle

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