Data on long-term demographic information for Alliaria petiolata in eastern North America

While biological invasions have the potential for large negative impacts
on local communities and ecological interactions, increasing evidence
suggests that species once considered major problems can decline over
time. Declines often appear driven by natural enemies, diseases, or
evolutionary adaptations that selectively reduce populations of
naturalized species and their impacts.  Using permanent long-term
monitoring locations, we document declines of Alliaria petiolata (garlic
mustard) in eastern North America with distinct local and regional
dynamics as a function of patch residence time.  Projected
site-specific population growth rates initially indicated expanding
populations, but projected population growth rates significantly decreased
over time and at the majority of sites fell below 1, indicating declining
populations. Negative soil feedback provides a potential mechanism for the
reported disappearance of ecological dominance of A. petiolata in eastern
North America.