<b>Data and R codes for Shi </b><b><i>et al.</i></b><b> Strategic dynamics in response to grazing and biotic resistance facilitate successful invasion of a widespread invader, </b><b><i>Solanum rostratum</i></b><b>, in northern China</b>

The role of functional strategies in mediating invasion success has been extensively investigated, yet how the plasticity of these strategies enables invaders to thrive and maintain their dominance under various environmental and community contexts remains poorly understood. Here, we explored the invasion mechanisms of Solanum rostratum across a 3,000 km invasion gradient in northern China under Grime’s competitor, stress tolerator, and ruderal (CSR) framework. While S. rostratum consistently exhibited a higher investment in C-strategy compared to native species, it demonstrated plastic shifts between S- and R- strategies. These strategic shifts were primarily influenced by the CSR strategy and species composition of native communities, which selected for greater strategic divergence between S. rostratum and native species. Grazing also modulated these shifts by altering the phylogenetic and functional compositions of native communities. By increasing its strategic divergence from native competitors, S. rostratum may persist in species diverse native community and capitalize on transient nutrient pulses created by disturbances. Our findings challenged the traditional notion of a fixed invasion syndrome, revealing dynamical changes across space and invasional stages. This underscores the critical importance of considering the dynamics of invasion syndrome in future research, providing a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the processes driving invasion success.