Title: EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION ON THE INVASIVE SUCCESS OF A NONINDIGENOUS FOREST HERB
Abstract: Ecological ApplicationsVolume 11, Issue 5 p. 1336-1348 Other Article EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION ON THE INVASIVE SUCCESS OF A NONINDIGENOUS FOREST HERB J. Forrest Meekins, J. Forrest Meekins Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211 USASearch for more papers by this authorBrian C. McCarthy, Brian C. McCarthy Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701 USASearch for more papers by this author J. Forrest Meekins, J. Forrest Meekins Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211 USASearch for more papers by this authorBrian C. McCarthy, Brian C. McCarthy Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701 USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 October 2001 https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(2001)011[1336:EOEVOT]2.0.CO;2Citations: 110Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract With the ever-burgeoning spread of nonindigenous plants, often facilitated by human activities, it is imperative to conduct case studies of particular invasive plants and the sites they invade in order to develop effective and efficient habitat management strategies. Alliaria petiolata is a native European biennial mustard that has become a serious invasive pest in many North American forests. In order to better characterize habitat vulnerability to invasion by A. petiolata, we conducted an experiment to test the effects of environmental heterogeneity in the form of habitat, microenvironment, and small-scale litter disturbance on A. petiolata germination, survival, growth, and reproduction. Treatments consisted of two habitats (upland and lowland), two microenvironments (forest edge and forest interior), and three small-scale litter disturbance treatments (control, litter completely removed, and litter partially removed). Seeds were sown into plots in November, and plots were monitored for two years. Lowland plots had greater soil moisture and less litter per unit area than upland plots. In general, forest edge plots had greater understory cover and light availability and lower overstory cover than forest interior plots. Rosette survival, mature plant survival, plant biomass, height, and fruit and seed production were significantly greater for plants in the lowland compared with plants in the upland. Germination, rosette survival, mature plant survival, and reproduction were significantly greater in the forest edge plots when compared with interior plots. Litter disturbance had no significant effect on germination, growth, or reproduction. It is apparent that site colonization by A. petiolata was not dependent on the creation of patches of bare soil by disturbance, since plants were capable of invading sites with an intact litter layer. Alliaria petiolata growth and reproduction was greatest in plots with adequate soil moisture and increased light availability. Therefore, mesic forests with a more open canopy structure and forest trails or edges may be the most vulnerable to invasion and the most difficult sites to manage. Drier upland forest interiors, which were more resistant to invasion, may be more responsive to management techniques. Citing Literature Volume11, Issue5October 2001Pages 1336-1348 RelatedInformation
Publication Year: 2001
Publication Date: 2001-10-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 162
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