Invasive-Plant-Removal Frequency—Its Impact on Species Spread and Implications for Further Integration of Forest-Management Practices

Abstract

For a given invasive plant species and control method, effective invasive plant eradication requires regular monitoring and management. While most previous studies characterize invasive plant species, develop appropriate control methods, or prioritize species for management using aggressiveness and other considerations, few study why some forestland owners are less likely than others to regularly remove invasive plant species. Such information is useful in prioritizing and targeting forestland owners who are at greater risk for invasion, with the stands threatening adjacent forestlands. Towards this end, we surveyed 1800 forestland owners in Virginia and Texas. We use data on forestland owners’ socioeconomics and forestland features—such as acreage, forestland ownership objectives, and forest management activities—to determine how these factors affect the regularity of invasive-plant removal. For these purposes, we used the Cochran–Armitage trend test, the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszal regression, odds ratio estimates, and partition-analysis techniques. Our results suggest that female forestland owners, owners with smaller forestlands, and forestland owners without written forest-management plans are less likely than others to regularly remove invasive plant species. Forest-management activities, such as building/maintaining roads in the forestland, partially harvesting stands, and wildlife- and fisheries-improvement projects, also significantly predict a more regular invasive-plant-removal tendency. However, since these activities are potential pathways for the spread of invasive plant species, we controlled for the other significant covariates and measured the relationship between frequent practice of the given forest-management activities and having a tendency to regularly remove invasive plant species. The results suggest that forestland owners that regularly practiced the said forest-management activities have higher odds for tending to remove invasive plant species regularly, suggesting that, despite their demonstrated effort at removing invasive plant species from their forest, their management activities may be inadvertently contributing to the spread of invasive plant species. These results highlight the importance of integrating invasive-plant-removal plans with forest-management plans as well as forestland owners’ educational and outreach needs.

Allelopathic Effects of Caffeic Acid and Its Derivatives on Seed Germination and Growth Competitiveness of Native Plants (Lantana indica) and Invasive Plants (Solidago canadensis)

“…Complete removal of S. canadensis plants, encompassing their root systems, holds paramount importance in thwarting their extensive dissemination and curbing their detrimental impact on the germination process of indigenous plants in the following years. The formulation of efficient management approaches should concentrate on curbing the proliferation and establishment of S. canadensis populations, ultimately reducing their ecological footprint within native plant ecosystems and bolstering endeavors aimed at ecological restoration in the agricultural context [65][66][67].…”

The effects of extreme climate on the invasive plant Gutenbergia cordifolia: implications for its future management in savannah ecosystems

“…Plant water stress is considered to be one of the main environmental constraints shaping natural variation and development of plant growth and physiology ( Ruckelshaus et al., 2020 ). As populations of invasive plants increase in coverage and density in an area, they tend to threaten both economic and ecological stability ( Wolde and Lal, 2018 ). These species affect native biota through hybridization, resources competition and disease transmission (Piero Genovesi et al., 2015 ).…”

Morphological and physiological responses of the invasive plant gutenbergia cordifolia to varying biophysical conditions

“…Invasive plants pose a danger to both economic and ecological stability when they display a steady rise in spatial and density in a given area (Wolde & Lal, 2018). Invasive species were identified as the second most important driver of biodiversity and habitat loss after habitat degradation (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005).…”