Exotic Plant Species Invasion and Control in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States

2008 ◽  
pp. 295-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Jenkins ◽  
Kristine Johnson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Exotic Plant ◽  
Species Invasion ◽  
Exotic Plant Species ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Smoky Mountains ◽  
And Control

scholarly journals A New Species of Land Planarian, Diporodemus merridithae, and Cohabitant Specimens from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina, U.S.A

2013 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Benny C. Glasgow
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
New Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
The United States ◽  
Internal Anatomy ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Smoky Mountains ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Land Planarian

Abstract A new endemic species of land planarian, Diporodemus merridithae, belonging to subfamily Microplaninae is described from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is the first report of a new land planarian of the subfamily Microplaninae from the United States since 1954 (Hyman 1954). Species external and internal anatomy is described using photographs and a drawing and notes on species distribution, habitat, and conservation are provided. Identifications and previous reports of land planarians from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the United States, and Europe is discussed, as are collections of two cohabitants and the observation of asexual reproduction observed in one cohabitant specimen.

scholarly journals Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal response to fire and urbanization in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie N. Kivlin ◽  
V. Rosanne Harpe ◽  
Jackson H. Turner ◽  
Jessica A. M. Moore ◽  
Leigh C. Moorhead ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Am Fungi ◽  
The United States ◽  
Burn Severity ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Wildland Urban Interface ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Smoky Mountains

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity as drier and warmer climates increase plant detrital fuel loads. At the same time, increases in urbanization position 9% of fire-prone land within the United States at the wildland–urban interface. While rarely studied, the compounded effects of urbanization and wildfires may have unknown synergistically negative effects on ecosystems. Previous studies at the wildland–urban interface often focus on aboveground plant communities, but belowground ecosystems may also be affected by this double disturbance. In particular, it is unclear how much fire and urbanization independently or interactively affect nutritional symbioses such as those between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and the majority of terrestrial plants. In November 2016, extreme drought conditions and long-term fire suppression combined to create a wildfire within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the neighboring exurban city of Gatlinburg, TN. To understand how the double disturbance of urbanization and fire affected AM fungal communities, we collected fine roots from the 5 dominant understory species in September 2018 at each of 18 sites spanning 3 burn severities in both exurban and natural sites. Despite large variation in burn severity, plant species identity had the largest influence on AM fungi. AM fungal colonization, richness, and composition all varied most among plant species. Fire and urbanization did influence some AM fungal metrics; colonization was lower in burned sites and composition was more variable among exurban locations. There were no interactions among burn severity and urbanization on AM fungi. Our results point to the large influence of plant species identity structuring this obligate nutritional symbiosis regardless of disturbance regime. Therefore, the majority of AM fungal taxa may be buffered from fire-induced ecosystem changes if plant community composition largely remains intact, plant species life history traits allow for AM fungal persistence after fire disturbance, and/or nearby undisturbed habitat can act as an inoculum source for recolonization following fires. Thus, it is critical to maintain natural, undisturbed habitats interspersed within the wildland–urban interface.

scholarly journals Geographical Analysis of the Distribution and Spread of Exotic Plant Species in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 3-12
Author(s):  
Deborah Kurtz ◽  
Richard Aspinall ◽  
Katherine Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Exotic Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
National Park Service ◽  
Exotic Plants ◽  
Rare Plants ◽  
Exotic Plant ◽  
Exotic Plant Species ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Park Service

The effects of introduced exotic species in natural environments are becoming important issues in conservation biology and natural resource management and recent scientific literature reveals increasing concern regarding the spread of invasive exotic plant species (Allen, 1996; Vitousek et al. 1996; Walker and Smith, 1997). Ecological consequences of these species include increased competition for space, water, and nutrients with native plants (which could result in a decrease in biodiversity), decreased forage quality for native ungulates, and changes in the microenvironments where the establishments took place (Woods, 1997). Sheley et al (1998) list several ecologically and economically detrimental impacts of exotic species. The National Park Service recognizes the need to protect ecosystems from exotic species (National Park Service, 1997) through management based on the ability to predict species distributions and spread, and monitoring in areas that are most susceptible to invasion. Recommended strategies for preventing the spread of exotic species include developing an early warning system to identify and eradicate new infestations of exotic plants in National Parks, and continued inventory and monitoring of exotic plants (National Park Service, 1997). These strategies will be based on assessment of the distribution and spread of exotic plants (National Park Service, 1997) using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies for mapping and monitoring exotic plants, and models to predict the invasiveness and spread of exotic plants. In Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), exotic species are a great concern for park managers (National Park Service, 1997). Of the 1000 species of flowering plants within GTNP, there are also four (possibly five) rare plants that may be threatened as a result of competition with exotics (Wyoming Rare Plant Technical Committee, 1994): Draba borealis (Boreal draba), Epipactis gigantea (Giant helleborine), Lesquerella carinata var. carinata (Keeled bladderpod), Lesquerella paysonni (Payson's bladderpod), and possibly Draba densifolia var. apiculata (Rockcress draba). The continued survival of these sensitive plants in GTNP increases the need for management of exotic plants. GTNP has implemented a classification system for exotic plant species that consists of three priority levels (GTNP, 1997a). Priority 1 species are designated as "noxious" since they are capable of invading natural ecosystems and disrupting or displacing native vegetation. Currently, there are thirteen exotic plant species with a Priority 1 status within GTNP (Table 1 ).

scholarly journals Estimating the Potential for Forest Degradation in the Eastern United States Woodlands from an Introduction of Sudden Oak Death

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1334
Author(s):  
Dillon J. Haller ◽  
Michael C. Wimberly
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
National Park ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Phytophthora Ramorum ◽  
Sudden Oak Death ◽  
Connectivity Analysis ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Smoky Mountains ◽  
In The Wild

Research Highlights: This research identified areas of the eastern United States forests that may be at particular risk from Sudden Oak Death (SOD) if it becomes established in the region. The highest suitability for SOD occurs where there are both species at risk of serious infection and species that could spread SOD to new hosts. Background and Objectives: SOD, caused by Phytophthora ramorum, can cause serious damage to forests. Although SOD is not believed to exist in the wild in the eastern United States, the presence of potential P. ramorum hosts in the area has led to questions about the potential for its establishment there. The present project expanded on previous efforts by examining both the possibility and potential consequences of P. ramorum establishment based on the presence of suitable hosts. Materials and Methods: We developed a map of the potential severity of tree loss that could result from a P. ramorum establishment in the eastern United States as well as a habitat suitability index based on the density of P. ramorum susceptible and spreader host species. We also implemented a connectivity analysis method for determining patches important to the spread of P. ramorum in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Results: The Ozarks and Appalachians both had a high potential severity of infection due to their high percentage of susceptible species, but the Appalachians had a higher overall level of risk due to the presence of more spreader tree species in the area. Connectivity analysis in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park identified patches likely to be particularly important to P. ramorum spread. Conclusions: Analysis of the presence of potential P. ramorum hosts in the eastern United States identified suitable conditions for SOD establishment there, particularly in the Appalachians. Techniques developed in this research can identify critical areas for SOD spread at both landscape and regional scales.

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