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- Title
The transition from invasive species control to native species promotion and its dependence on seed density thresholds.
- Authors
Reinhardt Adams, Carrie; Galatowitsch, Susan M.
- Abstract
Question: Does the seed density of invasive species affect establishment by native species in a bare ground context (following invasive species control efforts), and is it possible to promote transition to a native species dominated state by manipulating sowing density of the native community? Location: Experimental wetland basin in Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA. Methods: A mesocosm experiment investigated the influence of Phalaris arundinacea (invasive species) propagule pressure on establishment of native wet meadow species in the context of a newly restored wetland. Mesocosms were sown with P. arundinacea (0, 10, 50, 100, or 500 seeds/m²) and a mix of native species (3000 or 15000 seeds/m²). Results: When planted at densities > 100 seeds/m², P. arundinacea increased suppression of native species. Also, high native seed density suppressed P. arundinacea biomass production. This effect was more pronounced when P. arundinacea seed density was high (> 100 seeds/m²), but high native seed density (15000 seeds/m²) did not suppress recruitment of P. arundinacea from seed. Conclusions: The transition from post-control bare ground (a common result of efforts to control invasive species) to native species establishment depends on both native species and invader seed density. These results suggest that a threshold of P. arundinacea propagule pressure exists, beyond which transition to a native community is less likely without management intervention. P. arundinacea can establish in the presence of a newly developing native plant community, even at very low densities of P. arundinacea seed. Invader control (following initial site clearing efforts) is essential to native species establishment.
- Subjects
UNITED States; REED canary grass; VEGETATION &; climate; WETLANDS; INVASIVE plants; PLANTING
- Publication
Applied Vegetation Science, 2008, Vol 11, Issue 1, p131
- ISSN
1402-2001
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1654-109X.2008.tb00211.x