Strong competitive ability of introduced plant species has been frequently stated as a key factor promoting successful invasion. The dynamics of invasive species may depend on their abilities to compete for resources and exploit disturbances relative to native species. This study compares the growth performance of the invasive blackberry (Rubus niveus Thunb.) with four of the most common woody native species of the Scalesia forest in the Galapagos Islands. Using a series of greenhouse and field studies, the growth rate and biomass production of native species alone and in competition with R. niveus was compared under different water and light stress conditions. Rubus niveus showed a faster growth rate and biomass production than the native species as well as a broad tolerance to light and water stress conditions. Competitive ability was also assessed by looking at the seedbank and regeneration processes after herbicide control in the field. Although the number of R. niveus seedlings that germinated from the soil samples was considerably larger than that of native species, recruitment of the invasive on the experimental plots was limited. Overall, R. niveus showed superior competitive ability over native species with comparable growth forms, suggesting a possible mechanism that enables R. niveus to successfully invade a wide range of habitats in the Galapagos Islands. Implementing an integrated management strategy including biological control, seedbank reduction, and active revegetation, should improve the efficiency of R. niveus management, enabling the restoration of degraded vegetation in the Galapagos.

中文翻译：

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入侵黑莓 (Rubus niveus) 在加拉帕戈斯群岛 Scalesia 森林恢复中的管理挑战

引入植物物种的强大竞争能力经常被认为是促进成功入侵的关键因素。入侵物种的动态可能取决于它们竞争资源和利用相对于本地物种的干扰的能力。本研究比较了入侵黑莓的生长性能（悬钩子Thunb.) 与加拉帕戈斯群岛 Scalesia 森林中四种最常见的木本本土物种。通过一系列温室和田间研究，本地物种的生长速率和生物量产量单独以及与其他物种的竞争R. niveus在不同的水和光胁迫条件下进行了比较。悬钩子显示出比本地物种更快的生长速度和生物量生产以及对光和水胁迫条件的广泛耐受性。还通过观察田间除草剂控制后的种子库和再生过程来评估竞争能力。虽然数量R. niveus从土壤样品中发芽的幼苗比本地物种大得多，因此在试验地块上的入侵者的招募是有限的。全面的，R. niveus表现出优于具有相似生长形式的本地物种的竞争能力，这表明可能的机制使R. niveus成功入侵加拉帕戈斯群岛的广泛栖息地。实施包括生物控制、减少种子库和积极重新植被在内的综合管理策略，应提高效率R. niveus管理，使加拉帕戈斯群岛退化的植被得以恢复。