PARENT SESSION
Poster Session #4: Invasions.
Monday, August 6, 2001. Presentation from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Exhibition Hall
77
The Impact of invasive plant species on eastern oak-hickory forests.
Huebner, Cynthia1, 1
ABSTRACT- Invasive plant species are often characterized by early successional traits, including small seeds that are wind and animal dispersed, vegetative growth, and shade-intolerance, all of which enable the plants to take advantage of disturbed areas and spread rapidly. One may conclude that these traits do not lend themselves to easy invasion of a forest and the apparent low impact of invasive plant species on forests, compared to riparian and rangeland sites, may support this. However, oak-hickory forests are unique because their canopies are relatively open compared to other hardwood forests, and the native species respond well to openings caused by various disturbance types. In fact, management regimes to maintain oak-dominated forests include clear-cutting and fire, both of which may promote exotic invasion. We focused on the following exotic species: Alliaria petiolata, Microstegium vimineum, Lonicera japonica, Celastrus orbiculatus, Rosa multiflora L. maackii, L. tatarica, L. morrowii, and Ailanthus altissima. I compared each species¿ traits (physical, reproductive, and physiological), competitive ability, control measures, and known impacts on succession and ecosystem processes. I then related the distribution of these species (using herbarium records) to patterns of forest fragmentation and land use (using digital imagery). I used this information to predict future impacts of invasive plant species on oak-hickory forests.
KEY WORDS: invasive plant species, oak-hickory forests