Shoot flammability patterns among plant species of the wildland–urban interface in the fire-prone Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

International Journal of Wildland Fire, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(7), P. 1119 - 1134

Published: April 26, 2023

Background Mitigation of wildfires at the wildland–urban interface (WUI) will be enhanced by understanding flammability plants growing in this zone. Aims We aimed to: (1) compare shoot among wildland native, and both urban native exotic ornamental plants; (2) quantify relationships between traits flammability; (3) establish scores to distinguish low- from high-flammability species. Methods Flammability field-collected shoots were measured quantified 44 species Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Australia. Key results In our study area, less flammable than plants. Slow-igniting had high fuel moisture bulk density; short-burning low density volume; recording maximum temperatures moisture, with biomass consumed flames volume. Our novel distinguished low-flammability (e.g. Lophostemon confertus) Callistemon citrinus). Conclusions implications Low-flammability plantings WUI should preferably use given potential ecological impacts exotics. suggest that future work seek identify broader suites

Language: Английский

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Impacts of Plant Invasions on Ecosystem Functionality: A Perspective for Ecosystem Health and Ecosystem Services

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Invasive plants affect the capacity of ecosystems to perform key functions, including primary production, nutrient and water cycling, decomposition, energy flow through food webs, or control disturbance regimes, hydrology, sedimentation. can also change composition structure resident community different mechanisms, direct competition, allelopathy, habitat alterations, hybridization. Both changes in ecosystem functionality deliver three categories services that contribute human well-being: provisioning (e.g., food, water, wood, medicines, etc.), regulating maintenance climate regulation, erosion control, flood fire protection, regulation soil fertility quality, cultural spiritual, intellectual, symbolic assets). increase negative effects on well-being (i.e., disservices, such as allergies infrastructure damage). Impacts may vary magnitude direction depending type invader, invasion scenario, spatio-temporal scale. Also, synergies trade-offs between arise when invasive species promote many simultaneously favor some at expense impairing others. For example, act C sinks, timber provision, formation protection against erosion, while increasing risk increased fuel input, declining provision high consumption, reducing landscape aesthetics. Climate create opportunities for alter severity their impacts services, alterations distributions, biological interactions, processes. Indeed, synergistic effect often cause most detrimental outcomes ecosystems. In this chapter, we first compile information regarding plant invasions functionality, focusing functions regulate fluxes cycles matter. Then, examine how those delivery provisioning, regulating, services. Lastly, analyze role altering service delivery. We recommend future studies investigate affects impact multiple processes rather than considering them isolation. This would improve decision-making management under change.

Language: Английский

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Framing the concept of invasive species “impact” within a management context

Invasive Plant Science and Management, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 13(2), P. 37 - 40

Published: May 4, 2020

Abstract Governments and conservation organizations worldwide are motivated to manage invasive species due quantified perceived negative ecological economic impacts impose. Thus, determining which cause significant impacts, as well clear articulation of those is critical meet priorities. This process warrant management can be straightforward when there such dramatic reductions in native diversity. However, the majority changes ecosystem pools fluxes cannot readily categorized ecologically or positive (e.g., lower soil pH). Additionally, diverse stakeholders may not all agree on negative. complexity challenges our ability simply uniformly determine impact, thus merit management, especially we expand invader encompass a more holistic perspective beyond biodiversity consider stakeholder perspectives suggest impact evaluated context that dictated by governing policies conservation/land missions with support scientists. In other words, within each jurisdiction, populations identified causing based hierarchical mission parcel. Framing has advantages (1) easily scaling from individual landscapes geopolitical states; (2) better representing how managers practice, (3) reflecting spatially contextual, universal, (4) allowing for flexibility dynamic ecosystems undergoing global change. We hope framing an applied aids prioritization achieving goals.

Language: Английский

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No evidence of three herbicides and one surfactant impacting biological soil crusts

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 31(6)

Published: Oct. 1, 2022

Land managers rely heavily on herbicides to mitigate exotic plant invasions but the nontarget effects of treated plant, animal, and soil communities are often overlooked. Biological crusts (biocrusts) important components ecosystems yet different biocrusts rarely considered. We tested impact three widely used herbicides, indaziflam, imazapic, aminocyclopyrachlor, chlorsulfuron, two which were applied with or without a surfactant, dominated by mosses lichens in intermountain grasslands. found that neither nor surfactant impacted biocrust moss lichen cover within 2 years their application.

Language: Английский

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Functional and phylogenetic similarities of co-occurring invaders affect the growth of an invasive forb

Journal of Plant Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 16(5)

Published: March 1, 2023

Abstract Expansion of global trade and acceleration climate change dramatically promote plant invasions. As a result, large number habitats harbor multiple invasive species. However, patterns interactions the drivers mediating their remain unclear. In this greenhouse, potted study, we tested impacts 18 species on growth target invader Erigeron canadensis which is dominant in central China. Neighboring belong to three functional groups (grass, forb legume) have different levels relatedness E. canadensis. Growth canadensis’ strongly depended identity neighboring invaders. Some suppressed canadensis, others had no effect, while some promoted Through analyses phylogenetic similarities between invaders, showed that two factors probably play roles determining relative responses Generally, responded negatively grasses forbs, it positively legumes. Furthermore, negative forbs increased with increasing distance neighbors contrast, positive legumes did not depend from Our results suggest successful invasion depends co-occurring Interactions other should help managers select management priorities.

Language: Английский

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