The fundamental goal of a rare plant translocation is to create self‐sustaining populations with the evolutionary resilience to persist in the long term. Yet, most plant translocation syntheses focus on a few factors influencing short‐term benchmarks of success (e.g., survival and reproduction). Short‐term benchmarks can be misleading when trying to infer future growth and viability because the factors that promote establishme...

The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) is often cited to explain why some plants successfully invade natural communities while others do not. This hypothesis maintains that plant populations are regulated by coevolved enemies in their native range but are relieved of this pressure where their enemies have not been co‐introduced. Some studies have shown that invasive plants sustain lower levels of herbivore damage when compared to...

Some species have insufficient defenses against climate change, emerging infectious diseases, and non‐native species because they have not been exposed to these factors over their evolutionary history, and this can decrease their likelihood of persistence. Captive breeding programs are sometimes used to reintroduce individuals back into the wild; however, successful captive breeding and reintroduction can be difficult because...

The effects of elevated CO 2 on plant growth and insect herbivory have been frequently investigated over the past 20 years. Most studies have shown an increase in plant growth, a decrease in plant nitrogen concentration, an increase in plant secondary metabolites and a decrease in herbivory. However, such studies have generally overlooked the fact that increases in plant production could cause increases of herbivores per unit...

First, we report the results of the longest‐known field study (9 years) to examine the effects of elevated carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) on leaf miner densities in a scrub‐oak community at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Here, the densities of all leaf miner species (6) on all host species (3) were lower in every year in elevated CO 2 than they were in ambient CO 2 . Second, meta‐analyses were used to review the effects of elevated CO...

Decomposition of Quercus myrtifolia leaf litter in a Florida scrub oak community was followed for 3 years in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, we examined the effects CO 2 and herbivore damage on litter quality and subsequent decomposition. Undamaged, chewed and mined litter generated under ambient and elevated (ambient+350 ppm V) CO 2 was allowed to decompose under ambient conditions for 3 years. Initial litt...

Much research on the effects of elevated CO 2 on forest trees has focused on quantitative changes in photosynthesis, secondary chemistry, and plant biomass. However, plant fitness responses to rising CO 2 should also include quantitative measures of reproduction, since most forest systems are recruitment limited. Until now, it has proved very difficult to grow forest trees to sexual maturity in a CO 2 ‐enriched environment. Th...