scholarly journals Ptychosperma elegans (solitaire palm).

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine Vélez-Gavilán
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Extreme Temperatures ◽  
Rapid Loss ◽  
Germination Period ◽  
Public Nuisance ◽  
Invasive Exotic

Abstract Ptychosperma elegans is a popular ornamental palm in temperate climate gardens and parks. It is native to Australia. Reported as invasive in Cuba, little else is known about its effects. Although it is not considered an invasive species in French Polynesia, researchers have emphasiszed the need for further evaluation in view of the paucity of data on the species. In Florida (USA) it is listed as a category II species defined as an "invasive exotic that has increased in abundance or frequency but has not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species". The species is regarded as a lesser public nuisance, with seedlings appearing in hedges and shady dooryards, but not elsewhere in Florida; dispersion is believed to be aided by birds. P. elegans is found, albeit infrequently, in gardens in the southwest of Europe. Although it is an attractive ornamental palm, its intolerance of extreme temperatures, rapid loss in seed viability, long germination period and poor drought- and fire-tolerance, are apparently limiting the spread and invasiveness of the species.

scholarly journals Effects of anthropogenic wildfire in low-elevation Pacific island vegetation communities in French Polynesia

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica A. Newman ◽  
Carlea A. Winkler ◽  
David H. Hembry
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Fire Ecology ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Paired Comparison ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Vegetation Communities ◽  
European Contact

AbstractAnthropogenic (or human-caused) wildfire is an increasingly important driver of ecological change on Pacific islands including southeastern Polynesia, but fire ecology studies are almost completely absent for this region. Where observations do exist, they mostly represent descriptions of fire effects on plant communities before the introduction of invasive species in the modern era. Understanding the effects of wildfire in southeastern Polynesian island vegetation communities can elucidate which species may become problematic invasives with continued wildfire activity. We investigate the effects of wildfire on vegetation in three low-elevation sites (45-379 m) on the island of Mo’orea in the Society Islands, French Polynesia, which are already heavily impacted by past human land use and invasive exotic plants, but retain some native flora. In six study areas (3 burned and 3 unburned comparisons), we placed 30 transects across sites and collected species and abundance information at 390 points. We analyzed each local community of plants in three categories: natives, those introduced by Polynesians before European contact (1767 C.E.), and those introduced since European contact. Burned areas had the same or lower mean species richness than paired comparison sites. Although wildfire did not affect the proportions of native and introduced species, it may increase the abundance of introduced species on some sites. Non-metric multidimensional scaling indicates that (not recently modified) comparison plant communities are more distinct from one another than are those on burned sites. We discuss conservation concerns for particular native plants absent from burned sites, as well as invasive species (including Lantana camara and Paraserianthes falcataria) that may be promoted by fire in the Pacific.

scholarly journals Effects of anthropogenic wildfire in low-elevation Pacific island vegetation communities in French Polynesia

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica A. Newman ◽  
Carlea A. Winkler ◽  
David H. Hembry
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Fire Ecology ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Paired Comparison ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Vegetation Communities ◽  
European Contact

Anthropogenic (or human-caused) wildfire is an increasingly important driver of ecological change on Pacific islands including southeastern Polynesia, but fire ecology studies are almost completely absent for this region. Where observations do exist, they mostly represent descriptions of fire effects on plant communities before the introduction of invasive species in the modern era. Understanding the effects of wildfire in southeastern Polynesian island vegetation communities can elucidate which species may become problematic invasives with continued wildfire activity. We investigate the effects of wildfire on vegetation in three low-elevation sites (45–379 m) on the island of Mo’orea in the Society Islands, French Polynesia, which are already heavily impacted by past human land use and invasive exotic plants, but retain some native flora. In six study areas (three burned and three unburned comparisons), we placed 30 transects across sites and collected species and abundance information at 390 points. We analyzed each local community of plants in three categories: natives, those introduced by Polynesians before European contact (1767 C.E.), and those introduced since European contact. Burned areas had the same or lower mean species richness than paired comparison sites. Although wildfire did not affect the proportions of native and introduced species, it may increase the abundance of introduced species on some sites. Non-metric multidimensional scaling indicates that (not recently modified) comparison plant communities are more distinct from one another than are those on burned sites. We discuss conservation concerns for particular native plants absent from burned sites, as well as invasive species (includingLantana camaraandParaserianthes falcataria) that may be promoted by fire in the Pacific.

Effect of the invasive exotic herb Centaurea solstitialis on plant communities of a semiarid ecosystem

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 267-275
Author(s):  
Pablo I. Becerra ◽  
Lohengrin Cavieres ◽  
Ramiro O. Bustamante
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Centaurea Solstitialis ◽  
Semiarid Ecosystem ◽  
Invasive Exotic

scholarly journals Shifts in soil and plant functional diversity along an altitudinal gradient in the French Alps

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexia Stokes ◽  
Guillermo Angeles ◽  
Fabien Anthelme ◽  
Eduardo Aranda-Delgado ◽  
Isabelle Barois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Biophysical Properties ◽  
Tropical Zone ◽  
Soil Microbial

Abstract Objectives Altitude integrates changes in environmental conditions that determine shifts in vegetation, including temperature, precipitation, solar radiation and edaphogenetic processes. In turn, vegetation alters soil biophysical properties through litter input, root growth, microbial and macrofaunal interactions. The belowground traits of plant communities modify soil processes in different ways, but it is not known how root traits influence soil biota at the community level. We collected data to investigate how elevation affects belowground community traits and soil microbial and faunal communities. This dataset comprises data from a temperate climate in France and a twin study was performed in a tropical zone in Mexico. Data description The paper describes soil physical and chemical properties, climatic variables, plant community composition and species abundance, plant community traits, soil microbial functional diversity and macrofaunal abundance and diversity. Data are provided for six elevations (1400–2400 m) ranging from montane forest to alpine prairie. We focused on soil biophysical properties beneath three dominant plant species that structure local vegetation. These data are useful for understanding how shifts in vegetation communities affect belowground processes, such as water infiltration, soil aggregation and carbon storage. Data will also help researchers understand how plant communities adjust to a changing climate/environment.

Vegetation ecology with anthropic drivers and consequences

2021 ◽  
pp. 030913332199937
Author(s):  
George P Malanson ◽  
Michelle L Talal ◽  
Elizabeth R Pansing ◽  
Scott B Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Fire Ecology ◽  
Progress Report ◽  
Processes Of Change ◽  
Community Classification ◽  
The Status ◽  
Plant Community Classification ◽  
Anthropogenic Drivers

Current research on vegetation makes a difference in people’s lives. Plant community classification is a backbone of land management, plant communities are changing in response to anthropogenic drivers, and the processes of change have impacts on ecosystem services. In the following progress report, we summarize the status of classification and recent research on vegetation responses to pollution, especially nitrogen deposition, invasive species, climate change, and land use and direct exploitation. Two areas with human feedbacks are underscored: fire ecology and urban ecology. Prominent questions at the current research frontier are highlighted with attention to new perspectives.

scholarly journals Using Microwave Soil Heating to Inhibit Invasive Species Seed Germination

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélissa De Wilde ◽  
Elise Buisson ◽  
Nicole Yavercovski ◽  
Loïc Willm ◽  
Livia Bieder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
Experimental Conditions

Successful invasive plant eradication is rare, because the methods used target the adult stage, not taking into account the development capacity of a large seedbank. Heating by microwave was considered, because it offers a means to quickly reach the temperature required for loss of seed viability and inhibition of germination. Previous results were not encouraging, because homogeneous and deep-wave penetration was not achieved, and the various parameters that can affect treatment effectiveness were incompletely addressed. This study aimed to determine, under experimental conditions, the best microwave treatment to inhibit invasive species seed germination in terms of power (2, 4, 6 kW) and duration (2, 4, 8 min) of treatments and depending on soil moisture (10%, 13%, 20%, 30%) and seed burial depth (2, 12 cm). Three invasive species were tested: Bohemian knotweed, giant goldenrod, and jimsonweed. The most effective treatments required relatively high power and duration (2kW8min, 4kW4min, 6kW2min, and 6kW4min; 4kW8min and 6kW8min were not tested for technical reasons), and their effectiveness diminished with increasing soil moisture with germination percentage between 0% and 2% for the lowest soil moisture, 0% and 56% for intermediate soil moisture, and 27% and 68% in control treatments. For the highest soil moisture, only 2kW8min and 4kW4min reduced germination percentage between 2% and 19%. Occasionally, germination of seeds located at the 12-cm depth was more strongly affected. Giant goldenrod seeds were the most sensitive, probably due to their small size. Results are promising and justify further experiments before developing a field microwave device to treat large volumes of soil infested by invasive seed efficiently and with reasonable energy requirements. Other types of soil, in terms of texture and organic matter content, should be tested in future experiments, because these factors influence soil water content and, consequently, microwave heating.

Pilbara Seed Atlas and Field Guide

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Extreme Temperatures ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Plant Identification ◽  
Field Guide ◽  
Boom And Bust ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Boom And Bust Cycles

The Pilbara region in Australia’s arid northwest is rich in flora that is suited to extreme temperatures and boom and bust cycles of moisture availability. It is also a region important for its natural resources. In places where mining activities have finished and the land is under management for ecological restoration, there is increasing demand for information about native plant communities and the biology of their seeds. Pilbara Seed Atlas and Field Guide is the first book to combine plant identification with robust, scientific criteria for cost-effective seed-based rehabilitation. It describes 103 regional plant taxa and provides guidelines for effective collection, cleaning, storage and germination of their seeds. It addresses issues such as timing of collection, quality and viability of seed, and dormancy release, which are essential for successful restoration programs. With photographs to portray the subtle differences and unique features of each species’ biology, this book will be of great use to practitioners in the field, including environmental consultants, rehabilitation companies, commercial seed collectors and government authorities, as well as naturalists and people interested in growing the Pilbara’s remarkable plants.

Comparing Effectiveness and Impacts of Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) Control Treatments and Herbivory on Plant Communities

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Ward ◽  
Scott C. Williams ◽  
Thomas E. Worthley
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Initial Treatment ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Labor Cost ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Japanese Barberry ◽  
Treatment Type

AbstractTwo factors that can degrade native plant community composition and structure, and hinder restoration efforts, are invasive species and chronic overbrowsing by ungulates such as white-tailed deer. Beginning in 2007, the effectiveness, costs, and impacts of Japanese barberry control treatments and herbivory on nonnative and native plant communities was examined at eight study areas over 4 to 5 yr. Prescribed burning and mechanical mowing by wood shredder or brush saw were utilized as initial treatments to reduce the aboveground portion of established barberry and were equally effective. Without a follow-up treatment, barberry had recovered to 56 to 81% of pretreatment levels 50 to 62 mo after initial treatment. Follow-up treatments in mid-summer to kill new sprouts included directed heating and foliar herbicide applications. Relative to untreated controls, follow-up treatments lowered barberry cover 50 to 62 mo after initial treatment by at least 72%. Although all follow-up treatments were equally effective, the labor cost of directed heating was four times higher than for herbicide applications. Follow-up treatment type (directed heating vs. herbicide) had minimal impact on species other than barberry. White-tailed deer herbivory had a larger impact on other species than did barberry control treatments. Native grass and fern cover was higher outside of exclosures. Areas inside exclosures had higher cover of Oriental bittersweet and multiflora rose, but not Japanese barberry. Thus, recovery of native communities will require more than simply removing the dominant invasive species where deer densities are high. Excellent reduction of Japanese barberry cover can be achieved using either directed heating or herbicides as follow-up treatments in a two-step process, but other invasive plants may become a problem when barberry is removed if deer populations are low.

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