Naturalization: When the Foreign Finds Home

The concept of naturalization describes a non-native plant that, although not originally from a particular region, has adapted and integrated into the local ecosystem over time. Despite its origins in North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, a specific plant traveled from England to Australia, demonstrating that naturalized species can become part of a different environment. This term holds significant implications, particularly when juxtaposed with themes of immigration and human movement. In ecology, naturalization reflects the successful establishment of a species that has formed symbiotic relationships with native flora and fauna, illustrating the dynamic interactions between different ecosystems and the ongoing exchanges that shape biodiversity.