RUI: Dynamics of European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) Invasion in the Northeastern United States

RUI：欧洲沙棘（Rhamnus cathartica L.）入侵美国东北部的动态

• 批准号: 0111743
• 负责人: Deanna McCay
• 金额: $ 10.73万
• 依托单位: Colgate University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-08-01 至 2005-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0111743&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Dynamics; European; Buckthorn; Rhamnus

Invasive non-native plants threaten the ecological integrity and economic value of natural areas throughout the world. Despite the severity of this growing problem, our understanding of how exotic plants become established in new areas and move across the landscape is weak. The objective of this research is to describe the process by which European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), a shrub native to Eurasia, colonizes new areas in North America and how that process varies with ecological context. Field observations and experiments will be used to examine each stage of the colonization process in second-growth deciduous forests, conifer plantations, and abandoned agricultural fields. Differences in microclimate, soils, and resident fauna will be considered as potential sources of variation in colonization. Spatial configuration of the environment also will be considered as a factor affecting colonization. Detailed stand-level maps relating species composition, canopy gaps, edges, and streams to European buckthorn distribution will reveal factors facilitating colonization and spread. Aerial photographs and geographic information systems will allow measurement of size, shape and spatial context of areas occupied by this plant. This research will demonstrate whether fragmentation of North American forests serves to promote or inhibit the spread of European buckthorn.European buckthorn competes with native plants and is a host of oat crown rust fungus, a disease that attacks oat crops. Native birds nesting in this shrub experience high rates of predation, and leaves of European buckthorn may be toxic to native mammals. This research will lead to a greater knowledge of the physiology and ecology of this relatively unstudied species of conservation concern. In addition, this research will contribute to understanding of how invasion success is affected by the properties of invaded ecosystems. This study also will quantify how forest fragmentation due to timber harvest and abandonment of agricultural lands affects the movement of an exotic species across the landscape. Although many invasive species are found in human-modified environments, there is growing concern about the presence of invasive species within pristine natural areas. Understanding the effect of environmental context, within particular settings and among settings in the landscape, will guide land managers and scientists to identify potential threats to natural environments.

外来入侵植物威胁着世界各地自然区的生态完整性和经济价值。 尽管这一问题日益严重，但我们对外来植物如何在新的地区扎根并在景观中移动的理解仍然很薄弱。 本研究的目的是描述的过程中，欧洲沙棘（鼠李cathartica），原产于欧亚大陆的灌木，殖民地在北美新的地区，以及如何改变生态环境的过程。 实地观察和实验将被用来检查在第二次生长的落叶林，针叶树种植园，和废弃的农田殖民化过程的每个阶段。 小气候，土壤和居民动物的差异将被视为殖民变化的潜在来源。 环境的空间结构也将被视为影响殖民化的一个因素。 详细的立场，有关物种组成，冠层间隙，边缘和流欧洲沙棘分布水平的地图将揭示促进殖民化和传播的因素。 航空照片和地理信息系统将允许测量该工厂所占区域的大小，形状和空间背景。 这项研究将证明北美森林的破碎化是否有助于促进或抑制欧洲沙棘的传播。欧洲沙棘与本土植物竞争，是燕麦冠锈菌的宿主，这种疾病会袭击燕麦作物。 在这种灌木中筑巢的本地鸟类的捕食率很高，欧洲沙棘的叶子可能对本地哺乳动物有毒。 这项研究将导致对这种相对未研究的保护物种的生理学和生态学有更多的了解。 此外，这项研究将有助于了解入侵的成功是如何受到入侵生态系统的属性。 这项研究还将量化由于木材采伐和农业用地的放弃造成的森林破碎化如何影响外来物种在景观中的移动。 虽然许多入侵物种是在人类改造的环境中发现的，但人们越来越关注原始自然区域内入侵物种的存在。 了解特定环境中和景观环境之间的环境背景的影响，将指导土地管理人员和科学家确定对自然环境的潜在威胁。