Weissflog, Nicholas

This thesis presents a case of the aquatic plant species Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana) significantly naturalizing in Kasshabog Lake in bays where it had been invasive. This significant naturalization presents major implications for invasive species management and invasion biology because the naturalization of invasive species is a phenomenon that has been largely omitted from study within ecology. There are several reasons for this: 1) the most used definition of the term naturalization within invasion biology categorically excluded the sense in which naturalization refers to community integration; 2) the most cited frameworks that have been created and used to describe and study biological invasions have no conception of invasive species naturalization; 3) boundary work has been conducted to exclude consideration of the naturalization of invasive species. Incorporation of an understanding of naturalization into science and management of biological invasions will make our understanding of them more complete.

Author Keywords: Ecological Restoration, Invasion Biology, Invasive Species, Naturalization