Testing the Paradigms of Exotic Species Invasion in Urban Riparian Forests

A perfect storm: two ecosystem engineers interact to degrade deciduous forests of New Jersey

“…3. In the second scenario, stilt grass invasion serves to prevent the shrub layer from returning (Leicht et al 2005;Vidra et al 2006;Aronson 2007), thus maintaining overbrowsed forests in a state unsuitable for understory and midcanopy birds for long periods regardless of short-term fluctuations in deer abundance (Fig. 2b).…”

“…The result is the regeneration failure of the dominant native trees of these forests such as Quercus alba and Quercus rubra (Vidra et al 2006;Aronson 2007). Seedlings of species that can grow in these conditions may penetrate the stilt grass layer but are then subject to deer browsing (Aronson 2007), which often reduces their ability to compete for the resources that are available (Vidra et al 2006).…”

Native, insect herbivore communities derive a significant proportion of their carbon from a widespread invader of forest understories

“…It invades forest understories across 25 US states (http:/plants.usda.gov/) and, given the extent of its distribution, understanding its impacts is important (Morrison et al 2007). These include alterations to ecosystem structure (Baiser et al 2008), plant and faunal communities (Baiser et al 2008;Civitello et al 2008;Oswalt et al 2007;Vidra et al 2006), soil properties (Kourtev et al 2002), and success of other invasive plants (Belote and Weltzin 2006;Morrison et al 2007). Whether its apparent lack of herbivores explains its expanding distribution and consequent impacts is unknown, as is its relevance to green foodwebs within its introduced range.…”

Plant community responses to the removal of Lonicera maackii from an urban woodland park.

“…Two other exotic low-growing vines found in this study, known to be shade tolerant, Hedera helix and Lonicera japonica, have been found to exclude seedlings of native trees and shrubs in other forests (Vidra et al 2006). However, Euonymus fortunei is likely the vine of most concern to restoration efforts of both woody and herbaceous communities in Cherokee Park.…”