Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Facilitations between the Introduced Nitrogen-fixing Tree, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Nonnative Plant Species in the Glacial Outwash Upland Ecosystem of Cape Cod, MA

  • Published:
Biodiversity & Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Robinia pseudoacacia, a nitrogen-fixing, clonal tree species native to the central Appalachian and Ozark Mountains, is considered to be one of the top 100 worldwide woody plant invaders. We initiated this project to determine the impact of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) on an upland coastal ecosystem and to estimate the spread of this species within Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS). We censused 20 × 20 m plots for vegetation cover and environmental characteristics in the center of twenty randomly-selected Robinia pseudoacacia stands. Additionally, paired plots were surveyed under native overstory stands, comprised largely of pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and mixed pitch pine–oak (Quercus velutina and Quercus alba) communities. These native stands were located 20 m from the edge of the sampled locust stand and had similar land use histories. To determine the historical distribution of black locust in CCNS, we digitized and georeferenced historical and current aerial photographs of randomly-selected stands. Ordination analyses revealed striking community-level differences between locust and pine–oak stands in their immediate vicinity. Understory nonnative species richness and abundance values were significantly higher under Robinia stands than under the paired native stands. Additionally, animal-dispersed plant species tended to occur in closer stands, suggesting their spread between locust stands. Robinia stand area significantly decreased from the 1970’s to 2002, prompting us to recommend no management action of black locust and a monitoring program and possible removal of associated animal-dispersed species. The introduction of a novel functional type (nitrogen-fixing tree) into this xeric, nutrient-poor, upland forested ecosystem resulted in ‘islands of invasion’ within this resistant system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • L.R. Boring W.T. Swank (1984) ArticleTitleThe role of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in forest succession J. Ecol. 72 749–766

    Google Scholar 

  • B.T. Bormann F.H. Bormann W.B. Bowden R.S. Pierce S.P. Hamburg D. Wang M.C. Snyder C.Y. Li R.C. Ingersoll (1993) ArticleTitleRapid N2 fixation in pines, alderand locust - Evidence from the sandbox ecosystem study Ecology 74 583–598 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1939318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A.G. Chapman (1935) ArticleTitleThe effects of black locust on associated species with special reference to forest trees Ecol. Monogr. 5 37–60 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaA2MXjslGjtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.2307/1943097

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J.S. Clark (1986) ArticleTitleCoastal forest tree populations in a changing environment, southeastern Long Island, New York Ecol. Monogr. 56 259–277 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2937077

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Q.C.B. Cronk J.L. Fuller (1995) Plant Invaders: The Threat to Natural Ecosystems Chapman and Hall London

    Google Scholar 

  • J.B. Cuno (1919) Utilization of Black Locust United States Department of Agriculture Washington D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • C.M. D’Antonio P.M. Vitousek (1992) ArticleTitleBiological invasions by exotic grasses, the grass fire cycleand global change Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 23 63–87

    Google Scholar 

  • C.C. Daehler (1998) ArticleTitleThe taxonomic distribution of invasive angiosperm plants: ecological insights and comparison to agricultural weeds Biol. Conserv. 84 167–180 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0006-3207(97)00096-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deacon J. 1997. The Microbial World: the Nitrogen Cycle and Nitrogen Fixation. Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology University of Edinburgh.

  • J.M. Diamond (1972) ArticleTitleBiogeographic kinetics – Estimation of relaxation times for avifaunas of southwest Pacific Islands Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 69 3199 Occurrence Handle16592024 Occurrence Handle10.1073/pnas.69.11.3199 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cngslanug%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Donohue D.R. Foster G. Motzkin (2000) ArticleTitleEffects of the past and the present on species distribution: land-use history and demography of wintergreen J. Ecol. 88 303–316 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2745.2000.00441.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Z. Dzwonko S. Loster (1997) ArticleTitleEffects of dominant trees and anthropogenic disturbances on species richness and floristic composition of secondary communities in southern Poland J. Appl. Ecol. 34 861–870

    Google Scholar 

  • R.W. Eberhardt D.R. Foster G. Motzkin B. Hall (2003) ArticleTitleConservation of changing landscapes: Vegetation and land-use history of Cape Cod National Seashore Ecol. Appl. 13 68–84

    Google Scholar 

  • J.S. Findley M.T. Findley (2001) ArticleTitleGlobal, regional, and local patterns in species richness and abundance of butterflyfishes Ecol. Monogr. 71 69–91 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3100045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D.R. Foster G. Motzkin (2003) ArticleTitleInterpreting and conserving the openland habitats of coastal New England: Insights from landscape history Forest Ecol. Manag. 185 127–150 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0378-1127(03)00251-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • H.A. Gleason A. Cronquist (1991) Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada New York Botanical Garden Bronx, N.Y., USA

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Hall G. Motzkin D.R. Foster M. Syfert J. Burk (2002) ArticleTitleThree hundred years of forest and land-use change in Massachusetts, USA J. Biogeogr. 29 1319–1335 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2699.2002.00790.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S.I. Higgins D.M. Richardson (1999) ArticleTitlePredicting plant migration rates in a changing world: the role of long-distance dispersal Am. Nat. 153 464–475 Occurrence Handle10.1086/303193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T.G. Howard J. Gurevitch L. Hyatt M. Carreiro M. Lerdau (2004) ArticleTitleForest invasibility in communities in southeastern New York Biol. Invas. 6 393–410 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:BINV.0000041559.67560.7e

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P.M. Kloot (1983) ArticleTitleThe role of common iceplant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) in the deterioration of medic pastures Aust. J. Ecol. 8 301–306 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1442-9993.1983.tb01327.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S.A. Levin H.C. Muller-Landau R. Nathan J. Chave (2003) ArticleTitleThe ecology and evolution of seed dispersal: a theoretical perspective Ann. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 34 575–604 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.34.011802.132428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.C. Mack C.M. D’Antonio (1998) ArticleTitleImpacts of biological invasions on disturbance regimes Trends Ecol. Evol. 13 195–198 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0169-5347(97)01286-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E.L. Martin (2001) Status of Exotic Plants at Cape Cod National Seashore National Park Service Wellfleet, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • B. McCune M.J. Mefford (1999) PC-ORD. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data MjM Software Design Gleneden Beach, Oregon, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Mehlich (1984) ArticleTitleMehlich-3 soil test extractant – a modification of Mehlich-2 extractant Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 15 1409–1416 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXhvVChsro%3D Occurrence Handle10.1080/00103628409367568

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L.J. Mehrhoff J.A. Silander S.A. Leicht E. Mosher (2003) IPANE: Invasive Plant Atlas of New England Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut Storrs, CT, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • J.H. Miller (2003) Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Research Station Asheville, NC

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Motzkin R. Eberhardt B. Hall D.R. Foster J. Harrod D. MacDonald (2002) ArticleTitleVegetation variation across Cape CodMassachusetts: environmental and historical determinants J. Biogeogr. 29 1439–1454 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2699.2002.00800.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Myers M. Vellend S. Gardescu P.L. Marks (2004) ArticleTitleSeed dispersal by white-tailed deer: implications for long-distance dispersal, invasion, and migration of plants in eastern North America Oecologia 139 35–44 Occurrence Handle14740288 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00442-003-1474-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J.G. Ogden (1961) ArticleTitleForest history of Martha’s Vineyard Am. Midl. Nat. 66 417–430 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2423041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K.S. Olesniewicz R.B. Thomas (1999) ArticleTitleEffects of mycorrhizal colonization on biomass production and nitrogen fixation of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) seedlings grown under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide New Phytol. 142 133–140 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.1999.00372.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I.M. Parker D. Simberloff W.M. Lonsdale K. Goodell M. Wonham P.M. Karieva M.H. Williamson B. Holle ParticleVon P.B. Moyle J.E. Byers L. Goldwasser (1999) ArticleTitleImpact: towards a framework for understanding the ecological effects of invaders Biol. Invas. 1 3–19 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010034312781

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R.L. Peloquin R.D. Hiebert (1999) ArticleTitleThe effects of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) on species diversity and composition of black oak savanna/woodland communities Nat. Area J. 19 121–131

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Porter (2003) Ozone Sensitive Plant Species on National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands: Results of a June 24–25, 2003 Workshop Air Resources Division, National Park Service Baltimore, Maryland

    Google Scholar 

  • W.R. Rice (1989) ArticleTitleAnalyzing tables of statistical tests Evolution 43 223–225 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2409177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2002. Electronic Plant Information Centre.

  • F. Royer R. Dickinson (1999) Weeds of the Northern U.S. and Canada : A Guide for Identification Lone Pine Pub., University of Alberta Press Renton, WA

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Saxe M.G.R. Cannell B. Johnsen M.G. Ryan G. Vourlitis (2001) ArticleTitleTree and forest functioning in response to global warming New Phytol. 149 369–399 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXis1ansrk%3D Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00057.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • N. Shigesada K. Kawasaki (1997) Biological Invasions: Theory and Practice Oxford University Press Oxford, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Simberloff B. Von Holle (1999) ArticleTitlePositive interactions of nonindigenous species: Invasional meltdown? Biol. Invas. 1 21–32 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010086329619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B.A. Sorrie P. Somers (1999) The Vascular Plants of Massachusetts: A County Checklist Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Westborough, Mass

    Google Scholar 

  • T.A. Stone (1999) ArticleTitleThe land cover and land use of Cape Cod, 1951–1990 Environ. Cape Cod 1 35–49

    Google Scholar 

  • D.A. Storer (1984) ArticleTitleA simple high sample volume ashing procedure for determination of soil organic matter Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 15 759–772 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXkvV2ls74%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United States Congress. 1999. National Historic Preservation Act. 80 Stat 915:16 USC 470.

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameUSDA (2004) The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 National Plant Data Center Baton Rouge, LA

    Google Scholar 

  • R.H. Uva J.C. Neal J.M. DiTomaso (1997) Weeds of the Northeast Comstock Publishing Associates Ithaca

    Google Scholar 

  • P.M. Vitousek (1990) ArticleTitleBiological invasions and ecosystem processes – Towards an integration of population biology and ecosystem studies Oikos 57 7–13

    Google Scholar 

  • P.M. Vitousek L.R. Walker (1989) ArticleTitleBiological invasion by Myrica faya in Hawaii – Plant demography, nitrogen fixation, ecosystem effects Ecol. Monogr. 59 247–265 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1942601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • N.J. Vivrette C.H. Muller (1977) ArticleTitleMechanism of invasion and dominance of coastal grassland by Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Ecol. Monogr. 47 301–318 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1942519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.H. Zar (1999) Biostat. Anal Prentice-Hall Englewood Cliffs, N.J., USA

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Forest, Harvard University, PO Box 68, Petersham, MA, 01366

    Betsy Von Holle

  2. College of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Virginia Polytechnic University, 319 Cheatham Hall Blacksburg, VA, 24061

    Katherine. A. Joseph

  3. Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 205 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06511

    Erin F. Largay

  4. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520

    Rebecca G. Lohnes

Authors
  1. Betsy Von Holle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katherine. A. Joseph
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Erin F. Largay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rebecca G. Lohnes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Betsy Von Holle.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Von Holle, B., Joseph, K.A., Largay, E.F. et al. Facilitations between the Introduced Nitrogen-fixing Tree, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Nonnative Plant Species in the Glacial Outwash Upland Ecosystem of Cape Cod, MA. Biodivers Conserv 15, 2197–2215 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-6906-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-6906-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation