Predicting rapid invasion of the Florida Everglades by Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum)

Abstract

Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Lygodiaceae) is a climbing fern that is becoming one of the worst non‐indigenous invasive plant species in the greater Everglades ecosystem of southern Florida, USA. We examined the fern across a range of scales including the seasonality of its spore production, its height growth within infested sites and its community ecology. These attributes, combined with a series of aerial transects that identified L. microphyllum infestations across southern Florida, were used to develop a spatial model to predict its future spread in the Everglades landscape. The model shows that this non‐indigenous invader could become widely established throughout the Everglades by 2014. Although several factors, such as release from natural enemies, may help explain the invasion success of L. microphyllum, it appears likely that traits related to its reproduction, such as propagule pressure, and its ability to grow in a low‐light understorey environment, may be among the most important in explaining its ability to invade both disturbed and undisturbed areas far from source populations.

Effect of exotic invasive old world climbing fern (lygodium microphyllum) on soil properties

“…Managing L. microphyllum has been a significant challenge for land resource managers and researchers due to its extensive rapid invasion in natural areas of south Florida. Once established, L. microphyllum dominates both understory and overstory native wetland habitats, and has the ability to grow in varying hydrological (Gandiaga et al 2009), nutrient (Volin et al 2010), soil pH (Soti et al 2014, and light gradients (Volin et al 2004). Soti et al (2014) have shown that L. microphyllum is highly dependent on mycorrhizal fungi for growth and phosphorus uptake which could highly enhance its invasiveness.…”

Classical biological control for the protection of natural ecosystems

“…Two-thirds of southern Florida is susceptible to invasion by this weed (Volin et al, 2004). The pyralid moth Neomusotima conspurcatalis and the gall mite Floracarus perrepae have been introduced and become established (Boughton and Pemberton, 2009;Boughton and Pemberton, unpublished data).…”

The Effects of Fire on Spore Viability of Lygodium microphyllum (Old World Climbing Fern)

“…The rhizome grows at, or just below, the soil surface and, once established, can withstand temporary inundation and variable water levels (Gandiaga et al 2009, Mueller 1982a, Volin et al 2004. Leaves form dorsally on the rhizome, follow a single rank, and develop from a single cell produced by the apical meristem (Mueller 1982a).…”

“…Subdivisions of pinnules (pinnulules) are usually unlobed if sterile but fertile pinnulules will form sorophores of enrolled leaf margins (Gandolfo et al 2000) that bear sporangia on the abaxial surface. A typical pinnulule may produce more than 28,000 spores, which are wind-dispersed and can be produced throughout the year (Volin 2004). Lygodium microphyllum spores are achlorophyllous and are reported to maintain their viability for four years (Stocker et al 2008).…”