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  1. Home
  3. Invasive Plants Optimize Leaf Nitrogen Allocation In Photosynthesis.
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  3. Invasive Plants Optimize Leaf Nitrogen Allocation In Photosynthesis.

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Invasive plants optimize leaf nitrogen allocation in photosynthesis.

Robert J Griffin-Nolan1,2, Lamine Bensaddek3, Guillaume Decocq3

  • 1Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA.

The New Phytologist
|February 18, 2026

View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Invasive plants outcompete natives using superior photosynthetic traits. These advantages stem from both pre-existing traits and evolution in new environments, driven by enhanced nitrogen investment in photosynthesis.

Keywords:
biological invasionsevolution of increased competitive abilityinvader home‐away contrastsplant resource allocationpreadaptation

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Plant Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Invasive plants often possess acquisitive functional traits that enhance photosynthetic capacity, allowing them to outcompete native species.
  • A key question is whether these superior traits are newly evolved in the invasive range or pre-adapted from the native range.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the origins of enhanced photosynthetic capacity in invasive plants.
  • To determine if invasive species evolve superior traits in their introduced range or arrive pre-adapted.
  • To understand the mechanisms behind photosynthetic shifts, specifically leaf nitrogen allocation.

Main Methods:

  • Measured photosynthetic performance of 27 invasive and 17 native species across 414 populations in temperate forest and field habitats.
  • Quantified leaf nitrogen allocation among photosynthetic, structural, and defensive functions.
  • Compared home and away range populations of invasive species.

    • Main Results:

    • Invasive species exhibited higher photosynthetic capacity and photosynthetic nitrogen allocation than native species in both habitats, despite similar total leaf nitrogen.
    • In fields, invasive species increased Rubisco investment in the away range, boosting carboxylation rates.
    • In forests, invasive species showed greater chlorophyll allocation and quantum yield, advantages already present in their home range.

    Conclusions:

    • Enhanced nitrogen investment in photosynthesis is a common competitive advantage for invasive species.
    • This advantage arises from a combination of pre-adaptation and evolution in the introduced range.
    • Invasive species' success is not due to trade-offs with structural or defensive functions.