Functional Roles of Invasive Non-Indigenous Plants in Hurricane-Affected Subtropical Hardwood Forests

Horvitz, Carol C.; Pascarella, John B.; McMann, Stephen; Freedman, Andrea; Hofstetter, Ronald H.

doi:10.2307/2640954

Cited by 56 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(48 reference statements)

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“…In Jamaica, Bellingham et al (2005) found that hurricanes facilitated the spread of the exotic shrub Pittosporum undulatum Ventenat in native forests. Similar typhoon effects have been seen in Tahiti (Meyer 1994) and Florida (Horvitz et al 1998). However, other reviews have found that vegetation on some islands subject to frequent typhoons may regenerate rapidly following wind disturbances with little change in species composition (Brokaw & Walker 1991, Franklin et al 2004, Thompson et al 2007.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Invasive Exotic Plants in the Tropical Pacific Islands: Patterns of Diversity

Denslow

Space²,

Thomas

2009

Biotropica

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Oceanic islands are good model systems with which to explore factors affecting exotic species diversity. Islands vary in size, topography, substrate type, degree of isolation, native species diversity, history, human population characteristics, and economic development. Moreover, islands are highly vulnerable to exotic species establishment. We used AICc analyses of data on 1132 vascular plant species for 15 countries and 114 islands from the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) project to examine biological, geographical, and socioeconomic correlates of exotic species richness. PIER provides data on the distribution of naturalized non-native plant species thought to pose environmental or economic risk. We hypothesized that the numbers of PIER-listed species would be positively correlated with island size, habitat diversity, and proximity to major source pools for propagules. Further, we expected numbers of PIER-listed exotic species to be similar among islands in the same country and to be greater where human populations were larger and where economic activity was high. Most species (908) were found on ≤ 10 islands. Species number was significantly correlated with island and country areas and with native plant species richness. The strongest model revealed by AICc analyses of island data included log (area) and maximum elevation as well as country membership, substrate type, and presence of an airport with paved runway (an index of economic activity). By country, AICc analyses revealed two equivalent models, both of which included log (area) and per capita gross domestic product as well as a measure of population size (either log (population size) or (population density)). Our analyses provide strong evidence of the roles of biogeographic, environmental, and socioeconomic impacts on the distribution and spread of exotic species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Invasive Exotic Plants in the Tropical Pacific Islands: Patterns of Diversity

Denslow

Space²,

Thomas

2009

Biotropica

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“…lianas, Solanum spp., Dendrocnide spp., Calamus spp., Neolitsea dealbata) proliferate extensively in the understories of cyclone-disturbed rainforest fragments (Laurance 1991(Laurance , 1997. Such species are favoured by high light levels in the forest understorey following wind disturbance (Bellingham et al 1996;Horvitz et al 1998). Dense profusions of light-loving vines, such as Calamus spp., can dominate lowland forests in north Queensland that suffer recurring cyclone disturbance (Webb 1958).…”

Section: Species Invasionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of wind disturbance on fragmented tropical forests: A review and synthesis

2008

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Wind disturbance is an important ecological force in the tropics, especially in the cyclonic and hurricane zones from about 7-20°latitude. Damage from intense winds may be especially severe in fragmented forests because of their abrupt artificial margins and denuded surrounding landscapes. We review available information on the effects of windstorms on fragmented forests, synthesizing studies from Australasia, Amazonia and elsewhere in the tropics. Wind damage in fragmented landscapes can be influenced by a range of factors, such as forest-edge orientation, edge structure, the size of nearby clearings and local topography. We argue that wind disturbances are likely to interact with, and exacerbate, a range of deleterious environmental changes in fragmented forests. Among the most important of these are altered forest structure, shifts in plant species composition, exotic-plant invasions, reduced carbon storage and elevated vulnerability to fire.The damaging impacts of winds on fragmented forests could potentially increase in the future, particularly if global warming leads to increasingly severe or frequent windstorms.

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“…Invasive species not only directly impact human well being, but they also are recognized as agents that alter community structure and ecosystem function (for example, see ref. 4). In the United States alone, the damage wrought by invasive species totals approximately $122 billion per year (5).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybridization as a stimulus for the evolution of invasiveness in plants?

2006

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Invasive species are of great interest to evolutionary biologists and ecologists because they represent historical examples of dramatic evolutionary and ecological change. Likewise, they are increasingly important economically and environmentally as pests. Obtaining generalizations about the tiny fraction of immigrant taxa that become successful invaders has been frustrated by two enigmatic phenomena. Many of those species that become successful only do so (i) after an unusually long lag time after initial arrival, and͞or (ii) after multiple introductions. We propose an evolutionary mechanism that may account for these observations. Hybridization between species or between disparate source populations may serve as a stimulus for the evolution of invasiveness. We present and review a remarkable number of cases in which hybridization preceded the emergence of successful invasive populations. Progeny with a history of hybridization may enjoy one or more potential genetic benefits relative to their progenitors. The observed lag times and multiple introductions that seem a prerequisite for certain species to evolve invasiveness may be a correlate of the time necessary for previously isolated populations to come into contact and for hybridization to occur. Our examples demonstrate that invasiveness can evolve. Our model does not represent the only evolutionary pathway to invasiveness, but is clearly an underappreciated mechanism worthy of more consideration in explaining the evolution of invasiveness in plants.

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Functional Roles of Invasive Non-Indigenous Plants in Hurricane-Affected Subtropical Hardwood Forests

Cited by 56 publications

References 38 publications

Invasive Exotic Plants in the Tropical Pacific Islands: Patterns of Diversity

Invasive Exotic Plants in the Tropical Pacific Islands: Patterns of Diversity

Impacts of wind disturbance on fragmented tropical forests: A review and synthesis

Hybridization as a stimulus for the evolution of invasiveness in plants?

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