Risk assessments are conservation tools used to prevent the introduction of invasive species. Many assessments ask whether a taxon has invasive close relatives, but it is unclear whether this phylogenetic information is useful, and which taxonomic scales (e.g., genus, family) are most predictive of risk. Combining phylogenetic clustering analyses with models predicting invasion risk, we found invasive plants were clustered within nonnative flora of the conterminous United States. Taxonomic information in models improved their predictive capacity; invasion risk for taxa with invasive confamilials, congeners, or sister taxa increased by 9%, 16%, and 19% respectively. Phylogenetic information did not improve inference for species without any congeners, or those from large genera. The most common approach—assessing congeners—is well suited to identify invaders, particularly for genera with 2–10 established species. While existing phylogenetic information can enhance assessments of invasion risk, biologists and regulators should collaborate to improve nonnative species phylogenies.

中文翻译：

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入侵植物的系统发育关系是杂草风险评估的有用标准

风险评估是用于防止入侵物种引入的保护工具。许多评估询问一个分类单元是否具有入侵性近亲，但尚不清楚这种系统发育信息是否有用，以及哪些分类尺度（例如属、科）最能预测风险。将系统发育聚类分析与预测入侵风险的模型相结合，我们发现入侵植物聚集在美国本土的非本地植物区系中。模型中的分类信息提高了其预测能力；具有侵入性同源类群、同源类群或姊妹类群的类群的入侵风险分别增加了 9%、16% 和 19%。系统发育信息并不能改善对没有任何同系物的物种或来自大属的物种的推断。最常见的方法——评估同系物——非常适合识别入侵者，特别是对于拥有 2-10 个既定物种的属。虽然现有的系统发育信息可以增强对入侵风险的评估，但生物学家和监管机构应该合作改善非本地物种的系统发育。