Assembly of species climatic niches of coastal communities does not shift after invasion

In this study, we analyzed the effects of invasion by four exotic species with different life strategies on the climatic niche of a plant community located in a coastal area of southwestern Spain. We used ordination methods and examined the community species composition. There was an almost complete overlap in the community ensemble niches between non-invaded and invaded plots for the four invaders. However, the community ensemble niches differed depending on the invasive species and were related to differences in community species similarity between non-invaded and invaded plots. Species assemblages in coastal vegetation did not change their community ensemble climatic niches after invasion by plants with contrasted life-forms. This pattern is likely the result of invasion which did not trigger major changes in species richness and composition, or alternatively because the species that were locally displaced by invasion have been substituted by others with similar climatic requirements.