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83 results for “invasive grasses”
Invasive grass litter suppresses a native grass species and promotes disease
Plant litter can alter ecosystems and promote plant invasions by altering resource availability, depositing phytotoxins, and transmitting microorganisms to living plants. Transmission of microorganisms from invasive plant litter to live plants may gain importance as invasive plants, which often escape pathogens upon introduction to a new range, acquire new pathogens over time. It is unclear, however, if invasive plant litter affects native plant communities by promoting disease. Microstegium vimineum is an invasive grass that suppresses native populations, in part through litter production, and has acquired new fungal leaf spot diseases since its introduction to the United States. In a greenhouse experiment, we evaluated how M. vimineum litter and its pathogens mediated competition with the native grass Elymus virginicus. Microstegium vimineum litter promoted disease on E. virginicus and suppressed establishment and biomass of both species. Litter had stronger negative effects on E. virginicus than M. vimineum, increasing the relative biomass of M. vimineum. Live plant competition reduced biomass of both species and live M. vimineum increased disease incidence on E. virginicus. Altogether, invasive grass litter suppressed both species, ultimately favoring the invasive species in competition, and increased disease incidence on the native species.
Invasive buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) increases water stress and reduces growth of native foothills palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) seedlings in pot experiments
Although buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) invasions on several continents have significant ecological impacts, little information is available on its effect on seedling emergence and establishment of native vegetation. In highly impacted areas of the Sonoran Desert of North America, perennial plants are particularly vulnerable during their seedling stage. We studied the impact of buffel grass on the emergence, survival, and water stress in the seedlings of a locally dominant native tree, the foothills palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), using two pot experiments. In the first experiment, we compared the germination, growth, and survival of concentric rings of palo verde seedlings around mature individuals of buffel grass, a native shrub of a similar diameter and height to buffel grass, or in a pot with bare soil. In the second experiment, we compared the competitive effects of buffel grass seedlings on palo verde seedlings with the effects of conspecific seedlings, again using germination, growth, and survival as metrics. We followed up both experiments by quantifying the ratio of stable carbon isotopes in the tissues of the palo verde seedlings, which can be an indicator of water stress. We found evidence of relatively greater water stress in palo verde seedlings grown with buffel grass seedlings in pots than those grown with no competitor, and reduced survival of palo verde seedlings when grown with mature buffel grass. Our results highlight the need for more manipulative studies of density to improve mechanistic understanding of population dynamics, and to forecast how populations and communities will respond in the long term to perturbations such as invasion.
First spectral Reflectance Dataset of Equisetum hyemale (Snake grass) Invasive Alien Plant
<p><em><span>This repository contains the first spectral reflectance dataset of <span>snakegrass</span> (Equisetum hyemale) invasive alien species recorded in South Africa. Spectral reflectance measurements were collected under lab conditions using the Spectral Evolution PSR-300 full-range spectrometer. Spectral pre-processing was performed in R statistical software to remove noisy spectra and regions and perform averaging per sample (code accessible: https://github.com/mkganyago/SpectralEvolutionFileReader).<br></span></em></p>
Native seedlings recorded on field plots with and without invasive buffel grass during the monsoon season of 2013 near Tucson, Arizona, USA
Although buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) invasions on several continents have significant ecological impacts, little information is available on its effect on seedling emergence and establishment of native vegetation. In highly impacted areas of the Sonoran Desert of North America, perennial plants are particularly vulnerable during their seedling stage. We studied the impact of buffel grass on the emergence and early survival of native seedlings in a field experiment. We marked out 2m x 2m field plots at three locations near Tucson, Arizona, with and without buffel grass. We removed the buffel grass from half of those with the invasion, and censused and marked native perennial seedlings that emerged in each plot for ten weeks during July-September (monsoon season) of 2013. Emergence and survival of native perennials in the field were both significantly higher where mature buffel grass was removed or had never invaded than where it remained. Our results highlight the need for more manipulative studies of density to improve mechanistic understanding of population dynamics, and to forecast how populations and communities will respond in the long term to perturbations such as invasion.
Emerging fungal pathogen of an invasive grass: Implications for competition with native plant species
This data package includes data and code from an experiment testing the effects of a leaf spot fungal infection and competition from the invasive (to the U.S.) grass Microstegium vimineum on the performance of three native grass species: Dichanthelium clandestinum, Elymus virginicus, and Eragrostis spectabilis. The experiment was performed between June and September of 2019 in a greenhouse on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, FL, USA. The leaf spot infection is caused by the fungal pathogen Bipolaris gigantea, which has recently emerged on populations of M. vimineum in the U.S. We tested the hypothesis that infection of B. gigantea would both directly and indirectly affect the native grass species by measuring the change in biomass of each species with and without pathogen inoculation (direct effects) and by measuring the effect of pathogen inoculation on M. vimineum competition through changes in native grass biomass across a density gradient of M. vimneum (indirect effects). The code includes statistical analyses and figures. The code was run using R (version 4.0.1).
Data and code from: Invasive grass indirectly alters seasonal patterns in seed predation
<p>Invasive species threaten ecosystems globally, but their impacts can be cryptic when they occur indirectly. Invader phenology can also differ from that of native species, potentially causing seasonality in invader impacts. Yet, it is unclear if invader phenology can drive seasonal patterns in indirect effects. We used a field experiment to test if an invasive grass (<em>Imperata cylindrica</em>) caused seasonal indirect effects by altering rodent foraging and seed predation patterns through time. Using seeds from native longleaf pine (<em>Pinus palustris</em>), we found seed predation was 25% greater, on average, in invaded than control plots, but this effect varied by season. Seed predation was 24% - 157% greater in invaded plots during spring and fall months, but invasion had no effect on seed predation in other months. One of the largest effects occurred in October when longleaf pine seeds are dispersed, suggesting potential effects on tree regeneration. Thus, seasonal patterns in indirect effects from invaders may cause underappreciated impacts on ecological communities.</p>
Potential local adaptation in populations of invasive reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) across an urbanization gradient
<p>Urban stressors represent strong selective gradients that can elicit evolutionary change, especially in non-native species that may harbor substantial within-population variability. To test whether urban stressors drive phenotypic differentiation and influence local adaptation, we compared stress responses of populations of a ubiquitous invader, reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). Specifically, we quantified responses to salt, copper, and zinc additions by reed canary grass collected from four populations spanning an urbanization gradient (natural, rural, moderate urban and intense urban). We measured ten phenotypic traits and trait plasticities, because reed canary grass is known to be highly plastic and because plasticity may enhance invasion success. We tested the following hypotheses: 1) source populations vary systematically in their stress response, with the intense urban population least sensitive and the natural population most sensitive, and 2) plastic responses are adaptive under stressful conditions. We found clear trait variation among populations, with the greatest divergence in traits and trait plasticities between the natural and intense urban populations. The intense urban population showed stress tolerator characteristics for resource acquisition traits including leaf dry matter content and specific root length. Trait plasticity varied among populations for over half the traits measured, highlighting that plasticity differences were as common as trait differences. Plasticity in root mass ratio and specific root length were adaptive in some contexts, suggesting that natural selection by anthropogenic stressors may have contributed to root trait differences. Reed canary grass populations in highly urbanized wetlands may therefore be evolving enhanced tolerance to urban stressors, suggesting a mechanism by which invasive species may proliferate across urban wetland systems generally.</p>
Figure 6 in New records of alien and potentially invasive grass (Poaceae) species for southern Africa
Figure 6. Jarava plumosa global distribution map, with country- or regional-level shading, taken and modified from POWO (2020).
Figure 2 in New records of alien and potentially invasive grass (Poaceae) species for southern Africa
Figure 2. Agrostis capillaris global distribution map, with country- or regional-level shading, taken and modified from POWO (2020).
Figure 5 in New records of alien and potentially invasive grass (Poaceae) species for southern Africa
Figure 5. Jarava plumosa; A, whole plant; B, inflorescence close-up; C, floret. Image A of R.J. Soreng et al. ZA-30 (US), B and C of R.J. Soreng et al. ZA-30 (PRE).
Figure 4 in New records of alien and potentially invasive grass (Poaceae) species for southern Africa
Figure 4. Festuca rubra global distribution map, with country- or regional-level shading, taken and modified from POWO (2020).
Figure 3 in New records of alien and potentially invasive grass (Poaceae) species for southern Africa
Figure 3. Festuca rubra; A, whole plant; B, lateral-tending rhizome covered in cataphylls; C, leaf sheath and junction with blade of a tiller showing strigose hairs; D, spikelet; E, base of palea with lemma removed to reveal the ovary and stamens; F, close-up of glabrous ovary apex. Images A and B of S.P. Sylvester et al. 3455 (US), C–F of S.P. Sylvester et al. 3455 (PRE).
Dataset and code supporting Cornelis et al. 2023. Stuck in the weeds: Invasive grasses reduce tiger snake movement
<p>Data and code used in the publication:</p> <p>Cornelis, J., Cooper, C. E., Lettoof, D. C., Mayer, M., Marshall, B. M. 2023 Stuck in the weeds: Invasive grasses reduce tiger snake movement. bioRxiv 2023.03.06.531246; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.06.531246</p> <p>Includes telemetry data, aKDE, dBBMM, and Bayesian model specification and results, code to reproduce analysis and generate figures </p> <p> </p> <div> </div>
Data from: Plant, insect, and soil microbial communities vary across brome invasion gradients in northern mixed-grass prairies
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Data and code from: Invasive grass indirectly alters seasonal patterns in seed predation
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Potential local adaptation in populations of invasive reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) across an urbanization gradient
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Survey of the impacts of an invasive grass (Microstegium vimineum) on soil C and N dynamics in western North Carolina
A survey of soil carbon, nitrogen, plant, and litter decomposition dynamics was conducted along a land-use gradient extending NW from Asheville, NC in the French Broad River Watershed. We selected 12 forest sites between 580 and 780m in elevation. Within each site, there were four paired invaded-uninvaded plots (48 pairs; 96 plots). Invaded plots contained populations of Microstegium vimineum. Soil C pools, soil N pools and transformations, plant community dynamics and litter decomposition rates were quantified in each plot.
Synergistic impacts of co-occurring invasive grasses cause persistent effects in the soil-plant system after selective removal
1. Human influence on the environment is so extensive that virtually all ecosystems on the planet are now affected by biological invasions. And, often, ecosystems are invaded by multiple co-occurring non-native species. Hence, it is important to understand the impacts these invasions are producing on biodiversity and ecosystem processes. 2. Here, we present results of a two-year long field experiment where we tested the effects of co-occurring invasive C4 African grasses in a Cerrado area in central Brazil. We compared plant and arthropod communities, plant biomass, and soil nitrogen dynamics and soil chemical characteristics across five experimental treatments: Urochloa decumbens removal, Melinis minutiflora removal, both U. decumbens, and M. minutiflora removal, U. decumbens and M. minutiflora invaded plots, and uninvaded Cerrado. We hypothesized that selective removal of invasive grasses would have distinct effects on the native ecosystem structure and functioning. We expected that each invasive grass would produce a different type of impact on the native ecosystem and that their impacts would be synergistic when co-occurring. 3. Removal of M. minutiflora doubled native plant diversity and biomass when compared to invaded plots, whereas removal of U. decumbens did not alter these parameters. Cerrado plots had four times more plant species than plots cleared of invasives. Removal of invasive grasses did not affect the species richness or community composition of soil epigeal fauna. Cerrado soils had lower fertility, organic matter content, and pH than invaded soils. The effects were generally higher when both invasive grasses were removed, suggesting impacts were synergistic, but M. minutiflora had greater effects on plants and soils than U. decumbens. Both invasive species produced negative impacts, but a single species was the main driver. We also detected persistent effects of the invasive grass species on the ecosystem after two years of removal. 4. We conclude that invasive species of the same functional group have similar types of effects in native ecosystems, but the magnitude of impact was largely dependent on invasive species biomass and cover. Where multiple invasive species are present, research and management of invaded ecosystems should tackle the interacting effects of co-occurring invaders.
Data from: Effects of native bryophytes on exotic grass invasion across an environmental gradient
Understanding the role that native biodiversity plays in controlling exotic species invasion is a critical goal in ecology. In terrestrial plant communities, most research has focused on the effects of native vascular plants on invasion by exotic vascular plants. However, in many ecosystems, native bryophytes and other non-vascular plants are common and can affect the establishment, survival and growth of vascular plants. A more complete picture of how native biodiversity affects exotic plant invasion, demands that more studies measure the effects of native bryophytes on exotic vascular plants. Moreover, there is growing realization that the effects of native species on invaders can range from negative to positive and that a complete picture of interactions between native and exotic plants requires measuring interactions in multiple environments. We used both observational and experimental studies to quantify the effects of native moss on two exotic annual grass species along a 200-m environmental gradient in a coastal dune in northern California. We found the effects of bryophytes to be species-specific and to vary with environmental context. Bryophytes facilitated the survival of one exotic grass species at both ends of the environmental gradient. For the other exotic grass species, bryophytes reduced survival at one end of the environmental gradient and had no effect at the other end. Our findings provide an important test of the effects of native bryophytes on exotic vascular plant invasion, and importantly show that these effects can vary dramatically even across local environmental gradients.
Phenology-based classification of invasive annual grasses to the species level
<p><span>The ability to detect and map invasive plants to the species level, both at high resolution and over large extents, is essential for their targeted management. Yet development of such remote sensing methodology is challenged by the spectral and structural similarities among many invasive and native plant species. We developed a multi-temporal classification approach that uses unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery to map two invasive annual grasses to the species level, and to distinguish these from key functional types of native vegetation, based upon differences in plant phenology. For a case study area in the western Great Basin, USA, we intentionally over-sampled with frequent (n=9) UAV flights over the growing season. Using this information we compared the importance of spectral variation at a given point in time (i.e., with and without near-infrared wavelengths), with spectral variation across multiple time periods. We found that differences in species phenology allowed for accurate classification of nine cover types, including the two annual grass species of interest, using just three dates of imagery that captured species-specific differences in the timing of active growth, seed head production, and senescence. Availability of near-infrared imagery proved less important than true-color RGB imagery collected at appropriate time periods. Thus, multi-temporal information provides a substitute for more extensive spectral information obtained from a single point in time. The substitution of temporal for spectral information is particularly well suited to UAV remote sensing, where RGB image collection is inexpensive, and the timing can be flexible. The datasets arising from our multi-temporal classification approach provide high-resolution information for modeling patterns of invasive plant spread, for quantifying plant invasion risk, and for early detection of novel plant invasions when patch sizes are still small. Widespread application and up-scaling of our approach requires 42 advances in our ability to model the variability in phenology that occurs across years and over fine spatial scales, even within a single species.</span></p>
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Allen Brain Atlas
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International Brain Laboratory public data
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OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.