Biological invasions drive size increases in marine and estuarine invertebrates
Abstract
Ecologists have long been fascinated by the morphological changes that species frequently undergo when introduced into new regions. In this study an unusual pattern of size change associated with the invasion of 19 species of marine and estuarine invertebrates is reported. The results show that the majority of species are significantly larger in the introduced range compared with the native range with little evidence for any decrease in size following invasion. This invasion‐driven increase in body size sharply contrasts with the pattern observed in many other taxa including plants, mammals and lizards, where invaders frequently exhibit post‐invasion decreases and increases in size. These size changes were not influenced by differences in latitude, sample size or length of time since invasion. Although several mechanisms, may explain the results, none have been demonstrated.
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The size (and economic importance) of prey consumed in the invaded range may increase as increases in body size (relative to the native range) are known for a variety of invasive species, potentially including lionfish.
“The size (and economic importance) of prey consumed in the invaded range may increase, however, as increases in body size (relative to the native range) are known for a variety of invasive species, potentially including lionfish (Grosholz & Ruiz 2003).”
From Diet of invasive lionfish on hard bottom reefs of the Southeast USA: insights from stomach contents and stable isotopes (2011) · cites this paper as Grosholz & Ruiz 2003
Cites
Global Biodiversity Scenarios for the Year 2100
Sala, O. E., Stuart Chapin, F., III, Armesto, J. J., Berlow, E., Bloomfield, J., Dirzo, R., Huber-Sanwald, E., Huenneke, L. F., Jackson, R. B., et al. (2000) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.287.5459.1770 · Cited by 9,280 · see citing works
Consequences of changing biodiversity
Chapin III, F. S., Zavaleta, E. S., Eviner, V. T., Naylor, R. L., Vitousek, P. M., Reynolds, H. L., Hooper, D. U., Lavorel, S., Sala, O. E., Hobbie, S. E., et al. (2000) · Nature · doi:10.1038/35012241 · Cited by 4,282 · see citing works
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Muñoz, R., Currin, C., & Whitfield, P. (2011) · Marine Ecology Progress Series · doi:10.3354/meps09154 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
- Authors
- Grosholz, E. D., & Ruiz, G. M.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Grosholz, Edwin D.
- Venue
- Ecology Letters
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2003-07-16
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 700-705
- ISSN
- 1461-023X (ISSN-L)
- 1461-0248
- OpenAlex
- W2119334977
- Cited by
- 115
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 6.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ecology Letters (publishedVersion)
- Smithsonian Digital Repository (Smithsonian Institution) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Keywords
- biological invasions, body size, marine invertebrates, estuarine invertebrates, introduced species, native versus introduced range, morphological changes
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