16 Jun 2010 16:00
Unit:
Laboratory of Nematology
Location:
Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation:
Wageningen University
Promotor:
prof.dr. W.H.van der Putten (Functional Biodiversity (Role of Nematodes in Multitrofe Interactions))
Co Promotor:
Dr.ir. T.M. Bezemer (NIOO-KNAW), Dr. J.A. Harvey (NIOO-KNAW)
Graduation
In this PhD-thesis, it is shown that climate warming induces range expansion of plant species that have invasive properties. Exotic plants that expand range within a continent have invasive properties that do not differ from exotic plants that first were introduced in a new continent before starting to expand their range. The invasive properties were: less susceptibility to soil-borne pathogens in the new range, fewer invertebrate herbivores and more invertebrate carnivores than related native plant species. Thus, climate warming may enhance the incidence of biological invasions.
Title thesis: "Climate warming, plant invasions and plant-enemy interaction"