Document: JES-3-40-5

Interactions of land use and invasibility.

MCPHERSON, J.* ¹, P.LOWE ² and W.K.LAUENROTH ²

Earlham College, Richmond, IN 47374, U.S.A. ¹
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80512, U.S.A. ²

Abstract:
The cover, density, and species richness of exotic plant species were measured on three different land use types: Undisturbed shortgrass steppe, 60-year old abandoned agricultural fields, and land entered into the Conservation Reserve Program and planted with introduced grasses. On all land use types, roadside and interior areas were compared to determine if roadside proximity increased weed cover, density, or species richness. Data were collected with two sampling methods, a quadrat method and a distance method. The distance method data were collected for weed patches as well as individual plants. No significant differences were found for weed cover, density, or species richness among land use types or roadside vs. interior areas with either sampling method. However, the distance sampling method indicated that weed individuals and patches were absent from all undisturbed shortgrass steppe sites, and present on all Conservation Reserve Program sites.

Keywords: Conservation Reserve Program, shortgrass steppe, exotic species

This abstract is being presented at: 10:30 AM in session:
Poster Session #5: Landscape Ecology.