Response of the Invasive Grass Imperata cylindrica to Disturbance in the Southeastern Forests, USA

Forests

Eric J. Holzmueller¹ 

[1] Department of Forestry, Center for Ecology, 1205 Lincoln Drive–MC 4411, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA

关键词: Imperata cylindrica;    fire;    hurricane;    salvage logging;   

DOI  :  10.3390/f3040853

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Imperata cylindrica is an invasive plant species that threatens diversity and forest productivity in southeastern ecosystems. We examined the effects of disturbance events, particularly fire and hurricane/salvage harvesting, to determine the effects on I. cylindrica abundance in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests in the Florida panhandle. Areas that were burned or had greater biomass removal following a hurricane had a greater number of I. cylindrica patches and larger patch size. These results highlight the importance of disturbance events on expanding invasive species populations in this region and are likely applicable for other invasive species as well. Monitoring and treatment should follow disturbance events to ensure that invasive species populations do not exceed unmanageable levels.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.