Ecophysiology of invasive plants: osmotic adjustment and antioxidants

• Phenotypic plasticity and global change will modify ecosystems.
• Physiological data help in the discussion of ecological invasion management strategies.
• Water and oxidative stress markers can provide valuable data to predict invasiveness patterns.

Current research into plant invasiveness often attempts to predict the effect of invasions under future climate change, but most studies only focus on ecological aspects. Understanding ecophysiological responses by characterizing physiological markers such as osmotic adjustment or antioxidant protection indicators will help us to project future invasiveness patterns. In this opinion article, we highlight how the information from physiological measurements can be incorporated into effective management strategies. Furthermore, we propose how combining research strategies of physiologists and ecologists could speed up our understanding of the advantageous mechanisms adopted by invasive species. We suggest that a combined approach would also be of considerable benefit for the development of effective governmental biodiversity conservation policies.