Global patterns of growth of native and non-native trees

Biological invasions often reveal surprising ecological patterns. One of the most striking is that many tree species grow substantially faster in their non-native ranges than in the regions where they originated. This phenomenon is an important factor explaining why non-native trees are sometimes invasive and outcompete native trees. It also is important for the exploitation of non-native tree species in plantation forestry. Although this phenomenon has been noted since the time of Charles Darwin, its global prevalence and underlying causes remain poorly understood.

This Working Group aims to synthesize global evidence on tree growth in native and non-native environments. By compiling data from forest inventories, tree-ring records, and global databases, the group will examine how factors such as climate, soils, evolutionary relationships, and interactions with pests and pathogens influence tree performance across regions.

Trees provide a powerful system for studying invasion dynamics because they shape ecosystems through long-lived woody biomass and play a key role in the global carbon cycles. At the same time, non-native tree species are widely planted for forestry and climate mitigation, while some have become problematic invasive species.

Through collaborative synthesis and global data integration, the Working Group seeks to identify the mechanisms driving differences in tree growth across native and introduced ranges and provide insights relevant for forestry, climate mitigation, and the management of non-native tree species worldwide.