Aim We studied the novel weapons hypothesis in the context of the broadly distributed tree species Eucalyptus globulus . We evaluated the hypothesis that this Australian species would produce stronger inhibitory effects on species from its non‐native range than on species from its native range. Location We worked in four countries where this species is exotic (U.S.A., Chile, India, Portugal) and one country where it is native...

Interactions between plants can have strong effects on community structure and function. Variability in the morphological, developmental, physiological, and biochemical traits of plants can influence the outcome of plant interactions and thus have important ecological consequences. However, the ecological ramifications of trait variability in plants are poorly understood and have rarely been tested in the field. We experimenta...

Interactions among species determine local‐scale diversity, but local interactions are thought to have minor effects at larger scales. However, quantitative comparisons of the importance of biotic interactions relative to other drivers are rarely made at larger scales. Using a data set spanning 78 sites and five continents, we assessed the relative importance of biotic interactions and climate in determining plant diversity in...

Competitive outcomes among plants can vary in different abiotic and biotic conditions. Here we tested the effects of two phylotypes of Alternaria endophytes on the growth, competitive effects, and competitive responses of the exotic invasive forb Centaurea stoebe . Centaurea stoebe was a better competitor against North American grass species than grasses from its European home range in the absence of endophytes. However, one e...

Fishes from 12 species (a minimum of three fish of each species), representing nine families were examined for ovarian contraction. An ovary from each fish was removed, placed in a muscle bath and assessed for contractions using a force‐displacement transducer. After at least 30 min of observation for spontaneous contractions, acetylcholine (ACh) was added to the muscle bath to assess the ovary’s capacity for contraction. At l...