Potential for Nonnative Endozoochorous Seed Dispersal by White-Tailed Deer in a Southeastern Maritime Forest

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren S. Pile ◽  
Geofeng Geoff Wang ◽  
Robert Polomski ◽  
Greg Yarrow ◽  
Claire M. Stuyck
Keyword(s):  
Timber Harvest ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Triadica Sebifera ◽  
Treatment Methods ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Invasive Tree ◽  
Maritime Forest ◽  
Invasive Tree Species

AbstractNonnative invasive plants (NNIP) have far-reaching effects on native ecosystems worldwide. Understanding the role of generalist seed dispersers in spreading NNIP across the landscape is important to the conservation of native ecosystems and to the management of NNIP. We studied white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as a seed disperser in a mixed maritime pine (Pinus spp.) forests on Parris Island, SC, with particular interest in the dispersal of Chinese tallowtree [Triadica sebifera (L.) Small], a highly invasive tree species in the southeastern United States, which is a management concern on Parris Island, SC. We collected deer scat pellet groups along transects in two forest types: those that had recently been treated with silvicultural timber harvest (thinned) and those that have not been so treated (unthinned). Using two pellet-treatment methods, directly planting or rinsing and sorting, we determined that, out of 25 species grown under greenhouse conditions, 28% (n = 7) were nonnative, small-seeded, herbaceous species. However, T. sebifera was not identified in either of the two treatment methods. Recent forest thinning significantly affected the number of species determined in deer pellet groups (F = 8.37; df = 1; P < 0.01), with more native plant species identified in unthinned (x̄ = 25 ± 11) than in thinned (x̄ = 3 ± 10) forest stands (F = 5.33; df = 1; P = 0.02). Our results indicate that white-tailed deer are actively dispersing nonnative seeds but not those of T. sebifera or other woody NNIP.

Leaf litter of invasive Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) negatively affects hatching success of an aquatic breeding anuran, the Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 991-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.K. Adams ◽  
D. Saenz
Keyword(s):  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Leopard Frog ◽  
Stages Of Development ◽  
Triadica Sebifera ◽  
Chinese Tallow ◽  
Invasive Tree ◽  
Invasive Tree Species

Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) is an aggressive invasive tree species that can be abundant in parts of its non-native range. This tree species has the capability of producing monocultures, by outcompeting native trees, which can be in or near wetlands that are utilized by breeding amphibians. Existing research suggests that leaf litter from invasive Chinese tallow reduces survival in larval anurans. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Chinese tallow leaf litter on anuran eggs. We exposed eggs of the Southern Leopard Frog ( Lithobates sphenocephalus (Cope, 1886)) at various stages of development to different concentrations of Chinese tallow leaf litter to determine survival. Eggs in the earliest stages of development that we exposed to tallow leaf litter died, regardless of concentration; however, some more-developed eggs exposed to tallow leaf litter did hatch. We determined that the greater the concentration of tallow leaf litter, the lower the dissolved oxygen and pH levels we observed. We suggest that changes in these water-quality parameters are the cause of the observed mortality of anuran eggs in our experiments. Eggs exposed to water containing tallow leaf litter with dissolved oxygen <1.59 mg/L and a pH <5.29 did not survive to hatching.

scholarly journals Impact of Invasive Tree Species on Natural Regeneration Species Composition, Diversity, and Density

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin K. Dyderski ◽  
Andrzej M. Jagodziński
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Native Tree ◽  
Invasive Tree ◽  
Native Tree Species ◽  
Invasive Tree Species

Invasive tree species decrease ecosystem resilience with negative impacts on natural regeneration. The influence of alien tree species on ecosystems is unevenly recognized and does not always account for different habitat specificity. We assessed the impacts of the three most frequent invasive tree species in European forests: Prunus serotina Ehrh., Quercus rubra L., and Robinia pseudoacacia L. on natural regeneration diversity, species composition, and density. We hypothesized that invaded forest types, in comparison with non-invaded, will differ in terms of species composition, will have lower taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of natural regeneration, and will have lower densities of native tree species. We used a set of 189 study plots (200 m2) in a systematic design, established in various forest types in Wielkopolski National Park (West Poland). We analyzed impacts of forest type, accounting for soil C:N ratio, soil pH, and light availability on natural regeneration (woody species up to 0.5 m height) species composition, diversity, and density. We found an overlap of species composition among invaded and non-invaded forests and low impacts of invasive species on taxonomic diversity and functional richness. We found no impacts on phylogenetic diversity and other functional diversity components. In contrast, we found that the natural regeneration of forest-forming tree species reached lower densities in invaded than non-invaded forest types. However, sub-canopy and shrub species reached higher densities in invaded than non-invaded forest types. We confirmed that invasive tree species affect natural regeneration by decreasing the regeneration density of native tree species (in eight of nine tree species studied), species composition homogenization, and supporting natural regeneration of sub-canopy and shrub species. Therefore, the restoration of invaded forests requires eradication of invasive tree species to decrease propagule pressure and to stop decreases in the abundance of native tree species’ natural regeneration.

scholarly journals Diversity patterns of alien and native plant species in Trieste port area: exploring the role of urban habitats in biodiversity conservation

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1151-1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Tordoni ◽  
Rossella Napolitano ◽  
Pierluigi Nimis ◽  
Miris Castello ◽  
Alfredo Altobelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Urban Habitats ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Diversity Patterns ◽  
Port Area

scholarly journals Invasion of Celtis tala forests by Ligustrum lucidum in Argentina: impact on soil properties and the arbuscular mycorrhizal community

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Abarca ◽  
Marcelo Daniel Barrera ◽  
Marcelo Arturi ◽  
Natalia Allegrucci ◽  
María Silvana Velazquez
Keyword(s):  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Ligustrum Lucidum ◽  
Invasive Tree ◽  
Central Western Argentina ◽  
Chemical Factors ◽  
Invasive Tree Species ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Community

The arrival of invasive plants can cause drastic changes to ecosystems, such as the displacement of native plant communities and the disruption of ecological functions. <i>Ligustrum lucidum</i> is an invasive tree species that has been registered in numerous regions worldwide. We analysed the effect of the expansion of <i>L. lucidum</i> on the edaphic properties and mycorrhizal fungal communities in forests of <i>Celtis tala</i> located in central-western Argentina. Sampling sites were established along a gradient of invasion, in which we measured the forest structure and soil physical-chemical factors and identified the fungal species using morphological techniques. The analysis of the variance revealed severe changes in the tree structure and a decrease in the concentrations of organic matter and nitrogen in the invaded sites. Thirty-two Glomeromycota species were identified, belonging to 6 families. The abundance of <i>Dentiscutata cerradensis</i> decreased with the invasion, whereas <i>Funneliformis mosseae</i> and <i>Septoglomus constrictum</i> increased. The alpha diversity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal communities showed no differences between sites. The beta diversity decreased at invaded sites, indicating a tendency towards convergence and reduced variability in these communities in the presence of the exotic species.

scholarly journals Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallow tree).

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval
Keyword(s):  
Germination Rate ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
The United States ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Chinese Tallow Tree ◽  
Triadica Sebifera ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
High Germination ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Composition Structure

Abstract Triadica sebifera is a tree that behaves as an aggressive weed and forms monospecific stands with the potential to displace native plant species altering the composition, structure and functioning of invaded ecosystems. It is also able to alter nutrient cycles, fire regimes and successional patterns of invaded sites. Triadica sebifera is a prolific seed producer adapted to grow in a wide range of habitats. Its tolerance to drought, flooding and a degree of salinity, effective dispersal of seeds by avian vectors and water and a high germination rate contribute to the invasiveness of this species. Currently, this species is listed as invasive in the United States, India and Australia, but the range of introduction and naturalization of this species is very extensive across tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world.

scholarly journals Impacts of alien tree species on the abundance and diversity of terricolous bryophytes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin K. Dyderski ◽  
Andrzej M. Jagodziński
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Light Limitation ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Understorey Vegetation ◽  
Invasive Tree ◽  
Invasive Tree Species

AbstractBryophytes comprise an important element of temperate forest biodiversity and functioning. Although numerous studies reported impacts of alien tree species on understorey vegetation, few focused on impacts on bryophytes. Here we checked whether three invasive tree species in Europe (Prunus serotina Ehrh., Quercus rubra L. and Robinia pseudoacacia L.) influence terricolous bryophyte communities, alpha and beta diversity, and cover. We used a set of 186 study plots in western Poland with data on the cover of bryophytes species, as well as light availability, soil C:N ratio and pH. We found that light availability was the main driver of bryophyte species richness, cover and composition. Poor Pinus sylvestris L. forests invaded by P. serotina hosted more species and higher species richness than non-invaded P. sylvestris forests, while forests invaded by Q. rubra and R. pseudoacacia hosted fewer species than native forest types. Low differences among forest types studied resulted from small pools of species and the presence of generalist species. Fagus sylvatica L. forest, Q. rubra and R. pseudoacacia forests hosted the smallest number of species, while the most species rich stands were poor P. sylvestris forest invaded by P. serotina and non-invaded P. sylvestris forests. We concluded that light limitation by invasive species might be more important than dominant tree species identity in limiting terricolous bryophyte species richness and abundance. This requires further studies, accounting for varied abundances of invasive tree species. Therefore, the conservation of sites with high terricolous bryophyte biodiversity needs to be focused on canopy cover.

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