Invasion and Control of the Introduced Red Quinine Tree (Cinchona pubescens) in Galápagos: Long-term Impacts on the Native Flora

据说，大洋岛生态系统更容易受到外来物种的入侵，但支持这一观点的研究很少。引进的红色奎宁树(Cinchona Pubescens)在圣克鲁斯岛的高地广泛传播，显然是加拉帕戈斯最具侵入性的物种之一。受到奎宁入侵威胁的特有植物物种包括：米团地带的灌木罗宾逊，鳞片地带的雏菊，蕨类边缘地带的树蕨，均为IUCN红色名录标准濒危物种。该项目将对解决入侵生态学和非目标物种对控制努力的反应方面的下列关键问题作出重要贡献：导致奎宁成功入侵的“生态位机会”是什么？奎宁对周围本地植被和生态系统参数的长期影响是什么？奎宁管理(人工和化学控制)对本地植物群落的影响是什么？方法论方法是基于对1998年已经建立的永久样地和样带(种群和定位参数)的分析。这为研究入侵过程和相关影响提供了一个极好的机会，超越了通常的短期研究框架。这项研究的最终结果将加强对入侵过程中机制的理解，为控制对非目标物种的影响提供更深层次的见解，并将其纳入加拉帕戈斯和其他海洋群岛奎宁管理的建议中。

Oceanic island ecosystems are said to be much more prone to invasions by alien species but studies to support this view are scarce. The introduced red quinine tree (Cinchona pubescens) has spread widely in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and is clearly one of the most invasive species in Galápagos. Endemic plant species threatened by the quinine invasion include the shrub Miconia robinsoniana in the Miconia zone, the daisy tree Scalesia pedunculata in the Scalesia zone, and the tree fern Cyathea weatherbyana in the Fern-Sedge zone, all endangered according to IUCN red-list criteria.By using quinine as a model species, this project will make an important contribution to the resolution of the following key questions in invasion ecology and response of nontarget species to control efforts:What are the `niche opportunities¿ leading to the successful invasion of quinine?What are the long-term impacts of quinine on the surrounding native vegetation and on ecosystem parameters?What are the impacts of quinine management (manual and chemical control) on native plant communities?The methodological approach is based on analyses of permanent plots and transects (populationand site-orientated parameters) that have already been established in 1998. This provides an excellent opportunity to study invasion processes and related impacts beyond the usual timeframe of short-term studies.The final results from this study willenhance the understanding of mechanisms in invasion processesprovide deeper insights into rarely studied impacts of control on non-target speciesbe incorporated into recommendations for quinine management in Galápagos and on other oceanic archipelagos.