Naturalisation (biology)

In biology, naturalisation is any process by which a non-native organism spreads into the wild and becomes naturalised. A population is said to be naturalised if its reproduction is sufficient to maintain it.

Some populations do not sustain themselves reproductively, but exist because of continued influx from elsewhere. Such a non-sustaining population, or the individuals within it, are said to be adventive.^[1] Cultivated plants are a major source of adventive populations.

Naturalised species may become invasive species if they become sufficiently abundant to have an adverse effect on native plants and animals.

See also

• Indigenous (ecology)
• Endemic (ecology)
• Introduced species
• Invasive species

References

1. ^ Warren L. Wagner, Derral R. Herbst, and Sy H. Sohmer. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii, Revised Edition, 1999. Bishop Museum Press: Hololulu