Data from: Exotic fishes that are phylogenetically close but functionally distant to native fishes are more likely to establish

Since Darwin’s time, the ecological similarity between exotic and native
species has been assumed to affect the establishment success or failure of
exotic species. However, a direct test of the effect of exotic-native
similarity on establishment of exotics is scarce because of the difficulty
in recognizing failures of species to establish in the field. Here, using
a database on the establishment success and failure of exotic fish species
introduced into 673 freshwater lakes, we evaluate the effect of similarity
on establishment of exotic fishes by combining the phylogenetic and
functional information. We illustrate that exotic-native phylogenetic and
functional similarities were the most important correlates of successful
establishment relative to other biotic and abiotic factors.
Those exotic species phylogenetically close to, but functionally
distant from, native fishes were most likely to establish successfully.
Our results suggest that, while phylogenetic relatedness allows exotic
fish species to pre-adapt better to novel environments, they need to
possess distinct functional traits to reduce competition with resident
fish species.