Taxonomic Challenges For, and Of, Plant Invasions
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Lincoln University Research Archive Invited Review Hitting the right target: taxonomic challenges for, and of, plant invasions Petr Pysˇek1,2*, Philip E. Hulme3, Laura A. Meyerson4, Gideon F. Smith5,6,7, James S. Boatwright8, Downloaded from Neil R. Crouch9,10, Estrela Figueiredo7,11, Llewellyn C. Foxcroft12,13,Vojteˇch Jarosˇ´ık1,2, David M. Richardson13, Jan Suda14,15 and John R. U. Wilson13,16 1 Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, CZ-252 43 Pru˚honice, Czech Republic 2 Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Vinicˇna´ 7, CZ-128 44 Prague, Czech Republic 3 The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, PO Box 84, Canterbury, New Zealand 4 Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 1 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.org/ 5 South African National Biodiversity Institute, Biosystematics Research and Biodiversity Collections Division, Private Bag X101, Pretoria 0001, South Africa 6 H. G. W. J. Schweickerdt Herbarium, Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa 7 Centre for Functional Ecology, Departamento de Cieˆncias da Vida, Universidade de Coimbra, 3001-455 Coimbra, Portugal 8 Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Belville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa 9 Ethnobotany Unit, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 52099, 4007 Berea Road, Durban, South Africa 10 School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa 11 Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa 12 Conservation Services, South African National Parks, Skukuza 1350, South Africa at Lincoln University Library on November 11, 2015 13 Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa 14 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Bena´tska´ 2, CZ-128 01 Prague, Czech Republic 15 Institute of Botany, Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, CZ-252 43 Pru˚honice, Czech Republic 16 South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Invasive Species Programme, Claremont 7735, South Africa Received: 5 June 2013; Accepted: 10 September 2013; Published: 19 September 2013 Citation:Pysˇek P, Hulme PE, Meyerson LA, Smith GF, Boatwright JS, Crouch NR, Figueiredo E, Foxcroft LC, Jarosˇ´ıkV,RichardsonDM, Suda J, Wilson JRU. 2013. Hitting the right target: taxonomic challenges for, and of, plant invasions. AoB PLANTS 5: plt042; doi:10.1093/aobpla/ plt042 Abstract. This paper explores how a lack of taxonomic expertise, and by implication a dearth of taxonomic products such as identification tools, has hindered progress in understanding and managing biological invasions. It also explores how the taxonomic endeavour could benefit from studies of invasive species. We review the literature on the current situation in taxonomy with a focus on the challenges of identifying alien plant species and explore how this has affected the study of biological invasions. Biosecurity strategies, legislation dealing with invasive species, quarantine, weed sur- veillance and monitoring all depend on accurate and rapid identification of non-native taxa. However, such identifica- tion can be challenging because the taxonomic skill base in most countries is diffuse and lacks critical mass. Taxonomic resources are essential for the effective management of invasive plants and incorrect identifications can impede eco- logical studies. On the other hand, biological invasions have provided important tests of basic theories about species concepts. Better integration of classical alpha taxonomy and modern genetic taxonomic approaches will improve the accuracy of species identification and further refine taxonomic classification at the level of populations and * Corresponding author’s e-mail address: [email protected] Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/3.0/),whichpermitsunrestricted reuse,distribution,andreproductioninanymedium,provided theoriginalworkisproperlycited. AoB PLANTS www.aobplants.oxfordjournals.org & The Authors 2013 1 Pysˇek et al. — Taxonomic challenges for, and of, plant invasions genotypes in the field and laboratory. Modern taxonomy therefore needs to integrate both classical and new concepts and approaches. In particular, differing points of view between the proponents of morphological and molecular approaches should be negotiated because a narrow taxonomic perspective is harmful; the rigour of taxonomic deci- sion-making clearly increases if insights from a variety of different complementary disciplines are combined and con- fronted. Taxonomy plays a critical role in the study of plant invasions and in turn benefits from the insights gained from these studies. Keywords: Biological invasions; detecting new invasions; DNA barcoding; invasive plants; karyology; management; species identification; taxonomy. Introduction techniques, classical (alpha) taxonomy is still useful and necessary in the 21st century. It is unlikely to lose this pos- Downloaded from The decline in taxonomic expertise substantially com- ition since biology, especially biodiversity science, will promises rigorous studies in all fields of biodiversity or always need taxonomists to do ‘real’ taxonomy (Godfray biogeography, including invasion biology (Smith et al. 2007), including the verification of the identity of organ- 2008a; Pysˇek and Richardson 2010). Most regions of the isms for which genetic data have been deposited into world have been colonized by species from many other GenBank (i.e. garbage in, garbage out; see for example http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.org/ parts of the globe, and identifying many of these non- Shen et al. 2013). Additionally, many regions globally are native species is a major challenge. Expertise in taxonomy unlikely to have easy access to such genetic data. In (i.e. discovery, description and revision of taxa, and by im- ecology, taxonomy is one of the fundamental units of cur- plication determining the correct name of an organism) is rency (Gotelli 2004). The reliable identification of taxa crucial for implementing effective quarantine measures, (native or alien) paves the way for the study of organisms, monitoring invasions and their pathways, and ensuring potentially sheds light on many aspects of their biology, that the time to first detection for new invaders is allows reference to the same taxa from other localities, minimized. Additionally, resources are required for broad- and makes comparisons with congeners and other taxa based public participation in invasive species manage- at Lincoln University Library on November 11, 2015 possible. Incorrect identification of plant invaders as a ment and for providing information to horticulturalists, result of inaccurate taxonomic services could lead to a foresters and others who utilize, and often financially misunderstanding of the dynamics of biological invasions. benefit from, alien species. Two conclusions of the Global Moreover, alien species management is an international Invasive Species Programme (GISP) were that ‘in most and multi-sectoral endeavour that requires accurate sci- countries it will be found that more research will be entific names for global information sharing (Smith et al. needed on taxonomy and identification of species, and 2008a). that there will often be a shortage of knowledge about This paper explores the ongoing and critical role of tax- natural distributions’ (Wittenberg and Cock 2001). We onomy in the study of plant invasions and specifically suggest that a decade after the completion of the first examines how the lack of taxonomic expertise can phase of GISP, this prediction has proved correct and the impede progress in understanding and managing inva- problem has reached critical proportions. More capacity sions. The converse is equally true: we argue that tax- in the taxonomy of plants and animals, both native and onomy can also benefit from insights from biological alien, is urgently needed (Smith et al. 2008b; Smith and invasions, a perspective that has not been sufficiently Figueiredo 2009) because misidentification using both explored and emphasized in the literature. Finally, we morphological and genetic data can have serious conse- suggest that classical taxonomy and modern genetic quences. Furthermore, rapid identification of alien speci- approaches must work in tandem, not only to improve the mens can drastically reduce the time taken to respond to accuracy of species identification but also to potentially new or potential invasions. refine classifications at the levels of organism, population A fundamental role of taxonomists in both taxonomic and genotype in the field and laboratory. and non-taxonomic studies is to provide the correct scien- tific names by using the best available knowledge of the organisms submitted for identification. This service is Systemic Problems with Taxonomy provided to a range of clients—biologists, environmen- Isthe current scope of taxonomyand nomenclature facing tal managers, agronomists and environmental impact