Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) Removal and its Effect on Native Plant Communities of Riparian Forests

AbstractChinese privet is a major invasive shrub within riparian zones throughout the southeastern United States. We removed privet shrubs from four riparian forests in October 2005 with a Gyrotrac® mulching machine or by hand-felling with chainsaws and machetes to determine how well these treatments controlled privet and how they affected plant community recovery. One year after shrub removal a foliar application of 2% glyphosate was applied to privet remaining in the herbaceous layer. Three “desired-future-condition” plots were also measured to assess how well treatments shifted plant communities toward a desirable outcome. Both methods completely removed privet from the shrub layer without reducing nonprivet shrub cover and diversity below levels on the untreated control plots. Nonprivet plant cover on the mulched plots was > 60% by 2007, similar to the desired-future-condition plots and higher than the hand-felling plots. Both treatments resulted in higher nonprivet plant cover than the untreated controls. Ordination showed that after 2 yr privet removal plots were tightly grouped, suggesting that the two removal techniques resulted in the same plant communities, which were distinctly different from both the untreated controls and the desired-future-condition. Both treatments created open streamside forests usable for recreation and other human activities. However, much longer periods of time or active management of the understory plant communities, or both, will be required to change the forests to typical mature forest plant communities.

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Decoupled recovery of ecological communities after reclamation

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.7038 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e7038 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zachary A. Sylvain ◽

David H. Branson ◽

Tatyana A. Rand ◽

Natalie M. West ◽

Erin K. Espeland

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Plant Cover ◽

Reference Conditions ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Ecological Communities ◽

Native Plant ◽

Ecosystem Recovery ◽

Nematode Communities

Grassland restoration is largely focused on creating plant communities that match reference conditions. However, these communities reflect only a subset of the biodiversity of grassland systems. We conducted a multi-trophic study to assess ecosystem recovery following energy development for oil and gas extraction in northern US Great Plains rangelands. We compared soil factors, plant species composition and cover, and nematode trophic structuring between reclaimed oil and gas well sites (“reclaims”) that comprise a chronosequence of two—33 years since reclamation and adjacent, undeveloped rangeland at distances of 50 m and 150 m from reclaim edges. Soils and plant communities in reclaims did not match those on undeveloped rangeland even after 33 years. Reclaimed soils had higher salt concentrations and pH than undeveloped soils. Reclaims had lower overall plant cover, a greater proportion of exotic and ruderal plant cover and lower native plant species richness than undeveloped rangeland. However, nematode communities appear to have recovered following reclamation. Although total and omni-carnivorous nematode abundances differed between reclaimed well sites and undeveloped rangeland, community composition and structure did not. These findings suggest that current reclamation practices recover the functional composition of nematode communities, but not soil conditions or plant communities. Our results show that plant communities have failed to recover through reclamation: high soil salinity may create a persistent impediment to native plant growth and ecosystem recovery.

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The long-term ability of phosphite to control Phytophthora cinnamomi in two native plant communities of Western Australia

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt00062 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 761 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

K. M. Tynan ◽

C. J. Wilkinson ◽

J. M. Holmes ◽

B. Dell ◽

I. J. Colquhoun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Western Australia ◽

Foliar Application ◽

Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽

Native Plant ◽

In Planta ◽

Eucalyptus Marginata ◽

Application Rates ◽

The Impact

This study examined the ability of foliar applications of the fungicide phosphite to contain colonisation of Phytophthora cinnamomi in a range of plant species growing in natural plant communities in the northern sandplain and jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of south-western Australia. Wound inoculation of plant stems with P. cinnamomi was used to determine the efficacy of phosphite over time after application. Colonisation by P. cinnamomi was reduced for 5–24 months after phosphite was applied, depending on the concentration of phosphite used, plant species treated and the time of phosphite application. Plant species within and between plant communities varied considerably in their ability to take up and retain phosphite in inoculated stems and in the in planta concentrations of phosphite required to contain P. cinnamomi. As spray application rates of phosphite increased from 5 to 20 g L–1, stem tissue concentrations increased, as did the ability of a plant species to contain P. cinnamomi. However, at application rates of phosphite above 5 g L–1 phytotoxicity symptoms were obvious in most species, with some plants being killed. So, despite 10 and 20 g L–1 of phosphite being more effective and persistent in controlling P. cinnamomi, these rates are not recommended for application to the plant species studied. The results of this study indicate that foliar application of phosphite has considerable potential in reducing the impact of P. cinnamomi in native plant communities in the short-term. However, in order to maintain adequate control, phosphite should be sprayed every 6–12 months, depending on the species and/or plant community.

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Impacts of removing Chinese privet from riparian forests on plant communities and tree growth five years later

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2014.04.013 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 324 ◽

pp. 101-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Jacob R. Hudson ◽

James L. Hanula ◽

Scott Horn

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Riparian Forests ◽

Chinese Privet

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Regularities of sinantropization processes of the vegetation cover in the cities of the south Cis-Urals (Bashkortostan Republic)

Vegetation of Russia ◽

10.31111/vegrus/2016.28.28 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 28-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ya. M. Golovanov ◽

L. M. Abramova

Keyword(s):

Alien Species ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Native Species ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Plant Cover ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Native Plant ◽

Anthropogenic Transformation ◽

Native Flora ◽

The Common

Increase of anthropogenic pressure on nature ecosystems leads to synanthropization of flora and vegetation. A replacement of native species in communities with synanthropic ones, including alien species, takes place as well as a change of native plant communities by synanthropic ones, decrease of biodiversity, simplification of structure, decrease in efficiency and stability of plant communities (Gorchakovskij, 1999). Synanthropization as an indicator of anthropogenic transformation of vegetation is a traditional object of studies (Sudnik-Wojcikowska, 1988; Abramova, 2010; Abramova, Mirkin, 2000; Abramova, Mikhailova, 2003; etc.). The ratio of synanthropic and native flora species for an assessment of synanthropization level is usually used. The assessment of synanthropization level is the most important element of monitoring as it helps to estimate a degree of ecosystems disturbance and to develop a system of their rational use and protection. Processes of synanthropization are most expressed in the towns. The towns are the heterotrophic ecosystems including uniform group of anthropogenically transformed communities formed on the residential, industrial, transport, agrarian, recreational territories where the florogenesis and the phytocoenogenesis are highly specific (Burda, 1991; Ilminskikh, 1993). The urban environment can have the leveling impact on climatic factors therefore the floras of towns in different nature zones quite often have the common features (Ilminskikh, 1993). An increase of a syntaxonomic variety due to destruction of native vegetation is compensated by increase of synanthropic syntaxa number from the synanthropic classes of vegetation, and also communities of aggressive alien species which are combined with species of local flora. The regularities of synanthropization of urban flora and vegetation are less studied (Kowarik, 1990; Burda, 1991; etc.). Due to a growth of urbanization process around the world the studying of anthropogenic transformation of vegetation cover is required. The article is devoted to the analysis of regularities of synanthropization of plant cover in towns of the southern Cis-Urals belonging to the Southern industrial zone of Bashkortostan Republic. 3 towns — Sterlitamak, Salavat and Ishimbay representing different categories by their population size were chosen for an assessment of synanthropization level.

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Plant community composition and tree seedling establishment in response to seeding and weeding treatments on different reclamation cover soils

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2018-0363 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 49 (7) ◽

pp. 836-843 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Leah A. deBortoli ◽

Bradley D. Pinno ◽

M. Derek MacKenzie ◽

Edith H.Y. Li

Keyword(s):

Plant Community ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Deciduous Tree ◽

Native Plant ◽

Tree Seedling ◽

Understory Plant ◽

Understory Plant Communities

The majority of plant diversity in North American boreal forests is comprised of understory plant communities undergoing continuous interspecific competition. Anthropogenic activities, particularly surface mining, have introduced higher severity disturbances that not only remove vegetation, but also modify soil. During reclamation, soils used to cap overburden materials have inhibited native plant growth and increased weed invasion. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of seeding and weeding treatments for promoting the establishment of native understory plant communities, as well as a common deciduous tree species, on three different reclamation cover soils (forest floor – mineral mix, peat–mineral mix, and transitional). The broadcasting of a native forb seed mix was not successful on any of the cover soils, whereas weeding affected each cover soil differently. With weeding, the forest floor – mineral mix and transitional cover soils experienced a decrease in the relative abundance of introduced forbs and an increase in the relative abundance of graminoids. The increase in graminoid cover on the forest floor – mineral mix was mostly attributed to the expansion of Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) P. Beauv. Overall, weeding effectively eliminated introduced plant species, allowing competitive native grasses to establish. However, weeding may have unintentionally hindered the development of a native understory plant community via the over-establishment of grass on reclamation sites.

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Measuring competitive impact: joint-species modelling of invaded plant communities

10.32942/osf.io/rcvt4 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Andrew O'Reilly-Nugent ◽

Elizabeth Wandrag ◽

Jane Catford ◽

Bernd Gruber ◽

Don Driscoll ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Native Species ◽

Plant Cover ◽

Avena Fatua ◽

High Fertility ◽

Native Plant ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Bromus Diandrus ◽

Fertility Gradient ◽

Biomass Removal

1.Non-native species can dominate plant communities by competitively displacing native species, or because environmental change creates conditions favourable to non-native species but unfavourable to native species. We need to disentangle these alternative mechanisms so that management can target competitively dominant species and reduce their impacts. 2.Joint-species distribution models (JSDMs) can potentially quantify competitive impacts by examining how species respond to environmental variation and to changes in community composition. We describe a JSDM to model variation in plant cover, which detected declines in species abundance in the presence of a dominant competitor.3.We applied our model to an experiment in an invaded grassy-woodland community in Australia where we manipulated biomass removal (through slashing and grazing by kangaroos) along a fertility gradient. Non-native species dominated plant cover at high fertility sites in the absence of biomass removal. Using a JSDM, we determined that three of the 72 non-native plant species (Bromus diandrus, Acetosella vulgaris and especially Avena fatua) were having a strong competitive impact on the community, driving changes in composition and reducing the cover of both native and non-native species, particularly in the absence of grazing. The dominant annual grasses (Bromus diandrus and Avena fatua) were two of the tallest species in the community and were good competitors for light under conditions of high fertility and low grazing. Consequently, their impacts were greatest on smaller statured species.4.Synthesis. We demonstrate a method to measure competitive impact using a JSDM, identify species driving compositional change through competitive displacement, and identify where on the landscape competitive impacts are greatest. This information is central to managing plant invasions: by targeting dominant non-native species with large competitive impacts, management can reduce impacts where they are greatest. We provide details of the modelling procedure and reproducible code to encourage further application.

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The ecological effects of Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) invasion: a synthesis

Invasive Plant Science and Management ◽

10.1017/inp.2020.4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 3-13

Author(s):

James S. Cash ◽

Christopher J. Anderson ◽

William D. Gulsby

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Ecological Effects ◽

Active Management ◽

Native Plant ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Chinese Privet ◽

Ample Evidence ◽

Ligustrum Sinense ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Negative Relationships

AbstractChinese privet (Ligustrum sinense Lour.) is a deciduous to evergreen shrub with an expansive nonnative global range. Control costs are often high, so land managers must carefully consider whether the plant’s potential negative effects warrant active management. To help facilitate this decision-making process, we reviewed and synthesized the literature on the potential ecological effects of L. sinense invasion. We also identified research gaps in need of further study. We found ample evidence of negative relationships between L. sinense invasion and native plant communities. While observational studies are not able to confirm whether L. sinense is driving these relationships, experimental evidence suggests that there is a cause–effect relationship. Of particular concern is the possibility that L. sinense could suppress forest regeneration and cause areas to transition from forest to L. sinense–dominated shrublands. Although this outcome would obviously impact a wide variety of wildlife species, empirical evidence of negative effects of L. sinense on wildlife are limited, and some species may actually benefit from the additional cover and foraging opportunities that L. sinense can provide. Further research on the potential effects of L. sinense invasion on large-scale forest structure and wildlife populations is needed. In areas where L. sinense invasion is a concern, evidence suggests early detection and management can mitigate control costs.

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Geobotanical studies at the Caucasus: a review of materials of the International Conference “Flora and conservation in the Caucasus: history and current state of knowledge” (Pyatigorsk, May 22–25, 2019)

Vegetation of Russia ◽

10.31111/vegrus/2019.36.91 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 91-94

Author(s):

T. M. Lysenko ◽

V. Yu. Neshatayeva ◽

Z. V. Dutova

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Aquatic Vegetation ◽

Plant Cover ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Current Status ◽

Wide Field ◽

The Caucasus ◽

International Conference ◽

Rare And Endangered Species ◽

Current State

The International conference “Flora and conservation in the Caucasus: history and current state of knowledge” dedicated to the 130-year anniversary of the Perkalsky Arboretum took place at 22–25 of May 2019 in Pyatigorsk (Stavropol Territory) on the base of the Pyatigorsk Museum of local lore and natural history. The participants were from 11 cities of Russia and 7 Republics of the Caucasus and represented 14 institutions. Proceedings of the conference were published by the beginning of the meeting the book of abstracts includes 49 papers on the study of vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and fungi, plant communities, as well as the protection of rare and endangered species, unique plant communities, and ecological problems in the Caucasus. The following geobotanical topics were highlighted in 13 papers: forest communities (3 reports), meadow and steppe vegetation (2), xeric open forests (2), communities of ecotone areas (1), structure of populations of rare plant species (3), as well as the history and current status of nature protected areas (2). The great emphasis has been focused on the study of floristic composition and plant populations. Thus, the conference showed that very few studies от vegetation are currently carried out in the Caucasus, and a lot of districts are not affected by the research. The greatest attention is paid to forest vegetation while meadow, steppe, alpine heath and xerophytic communities are studied rather poorly. Besides, there are “white spots” — mire, floodplain and aquatic vegetation. In nowadays, when the anthropogenic impact on the plant cover of the Caucasus is intensively increasing, it is especially important to study natural undisturbed communities preserved in protected natural areas. Another important issue is the conservation of the unique vegetation cover of the whole Caucasus. Thus, the study of vegetation of this region opens a wide field for researchers using various methods of modern plant science.

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