An assessment of invasive plant species monitored by the Northern Research Station Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, 2005 through 2010

Abstract

Invasive plant species (IPS) are a worldwide concern due to the high ecological and economic costs associated with their presence. These species can displace native fauna and flora and alter ecosystem processes. Despite their negative impacts, these invaders are frequently used for erosion control and site reclamation due to their ability to rapidly colonize an area. These plants also have

Delaware Forests 2013

“…Ongoing research is aimed at improving the estimates (US EPA 2015). The carbon estimates provided here are consistent with the methods used to develop the forest carbon reported in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2013" (US EPA 2015, but the 2013 inventory summarized here includes some newer data relative to the Delaware forests.…”

“…Common buckthorn is another troublesome IPS that is an alternate host for the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines). While there are some beneficial uses for these invaders (e.g., culinary, medicinal, and soil contaminant extraction [Kurtz 2013]), the negative effects are worrisome. Each year the inspection, management, and mitigation of IPS costs the United States billions of dollars.…”

An assessment of black locust in northern U.S. forests

“…1), the spread of this species outside of its native range is a concern. It has been planted extensively outside of its native range which has caused ecological concern due to its ability to compete with native vegetation (Kurtz 2013). A fast growing species with many appealing characteristics, black locust has been planted across the globe even in climates that differ from its native range (Huntley1990).…”

“…For the 2015 inventory, black locust is the eighth most commonly observed invasive species, after multiflora rose (30.0 percent of P2 invasive plots), nonnative bush honeysuckles (18.9 percent), garlic mustard (10.4 percent), Japanese honeysuckle (8.0 percent), autumn olive (7.3 percent), Japanese stiltgrass (6.9 percent), and reed canarygrass (6.6 percent). Additional information about the invasives monitored and county level occurrence maps for the NRS region from 2005 through 2010 can be found in Kurtz (2013).…”

An assessment of multiflora rose in northern U.S. forests

“…Of these forested plots, multiflora rose was found on 2,169 plots (24.7 percent). A county level map of multiflora rose presence in the NRS region from 2005 through 2010 is shown in Kurtz (2013). Regeneration of oak seedlings may also be affected by multiflora rose (Fig.…”