Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of chilling requirement on the southern distribution limit of exotic Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) in western North America

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biological Invasions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.), a Eurasian tree now abundant along rivers in western North America, has an apparent southern distribution limit running through southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. We used field observations to precisely define this limit in relation to temperature variables. We then investigated whether lack of cold temperatures south of the limit may prevent the accumulation of sufficient chilling, inhibiting dormancy loss of seeds and buds. We found that Russian olive occurrence was more strongly associated with low winter temperatures than with high summer temperatures, and results of controlled seed germination and vegetative bud-break experiments suggest that the chilling requirements for germination and bud-break are partly responsible for the southern range limit. Both seed germination proportion and germination time decreased under conditions simulating those south of the range limit. Similarly, percentage bud break decreased when chilling dropped below values typical of the range limit. In 17–65% of the years from 1980 to 2000, the chilling accumulated at a site near the range limit (El Paso, TX) would lead to a 10% or more decrease in bud-break. The potential decline in growth could have large fitness consequences for Russian olive. If climate change exhibits a warming trend, our results suggest the chilling requirement for bud-break of Russian olive trees will not be met in some years and its southern range limit may retreat northward.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Association of Official Seed Analysis (AOSA) (2000) Tetrazolium testing handbook. In: Contribution No. 29. Handbook on seed testing. AOSA, Lincoln, p 302

  • Augspurger CK (2004) Developmental versus environmental control of early leaf phenology in juvenile Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra). Can J Bot 82:31–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Augspurger CK, Barlett EA (2003) Differences in leaf phenology between juvenile and adult trees in a temperate deciduous forest. Tree Physiol 23:517–525

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Augspurger CK, Cheeseman JM, Salk CF (2005) Light gains and physiological capacity of understory woody plants during phenological avoidance of canopy shade. Funct Ecol 19:537–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker KS, Steadman KJ, Plummer JA, Merritt DJ, Dixon KW (2005) The changing window of conditions that promote germination of two fire ephemerals, Actinotus leucocephalus (Apiaceae) and Tersonia cyathiflora (Gyrostemonaceae). Ann Bot 96:1225–1236

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baldocchi D, Wong S (2008) Accumulated winter chill is decreasing in the fruit growing regions of California. Clim Change 87:S153–S166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baskin JM, Baskin CC (2004) A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed Sci Res 14:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Batlla D, Benech-Arnold RL (2004) A predictive model for dormancy loss in Polygonum aviculare L. seeds based on changes in population hydrotime parameters. Seed Sci Res 14:277–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batlla D, Grundy A, Dent KC, Clay HA, Finch-Savage WE (2009) A quantitative analysis of temperature-dependent dormancy changes in Polygonum aviculare seeds. Weed Res 49:428–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonner FT (2008) Seed biology In: Bonner FT, Karrfalt RP (eds) The woody plant seed manual agricultural handbook, vol 727, pp 4–32

  • Bradford JB, Laurenroth WK (2006) Controls over invasion of Bromus tectorum: the importance of climate, soil, disturbance and seed availability. J Veg Sci 17:693–704

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley BA, Wilcove DS (2009) When invasive plants disappear: transformative restoration possibilities in the western United States resulting from climate change. Restor Ecol 17:715–721

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley BA, Oppenheimer M, Wilcove DS (2009) Climate change and plant invasions: restoration opportunities ahead? Glob Change Biol 15:1511–1521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buswell JM, Moles AT, Hartley S (2011) Is rapid evolution common in introduced plant species? J Ecol 99:214–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron AD, Sani H (1994) Growth and branching habit of rooted cuttings collected from epicormic shoots of Betula pendula Roth. Tree Physiol 14:427–436

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell CJ, Dick-Peddie WA (1964) Comparison of phreatophyte communities on the Rio Grande in New Mexico. Ecology 45:492–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cannell MGR, Smith RI (1983) Thermal time, chill days and prediction of budburst in Picea-Sitchensis. J Appl Ecol 20:951–963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cesaraccio C, Spano D, Snyder RL, Duce P (2004) Chilling and forcing model to predict bud-burst of crop and forest species. Agr For Meteorol 126:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chien CT, Chen SY, Chang SH, Chung JD (2006) Dormancy and germination in seeds of the medicinal Asian tree species Phellodendron amurense var. wilsonii (Rutaceae). Seed Sci Technol 34:561–571

    Google Scholar 

  • Chuine I, Beaubien EG (2001) Phenology is a major determinant of tree species range. Ecol Lett 4:500–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darwin CR (1859) On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favored races in the struggle for life. John Murray, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dogramaci M, Horvath DP, Chao WS, Foley ME, Christoffers MJ, Anderson JV (2010) Low temperatures impact dormancy status, flowering competence, and transcript profiles in crown buds of leafy spurge. Plant Mol Biol 73:207–226

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlen J (2003) Fitness components versus total demographic effects: evaluation herbivore impacts on a perennial herb. Am Nat 162:796–810

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erez A, Lavee S (1971) Effect of climatic conditions on dormancy development of peach buds. 1. Temperature. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 96:711–714

    Google Scholar 

  • Erez A, Couvillon GA, Hendershott CH (1979) Quantitative chilling enhancement and negation in peach buds by high temperatures in a daily cycle. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 108:536–540

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang J, Lechowicz MJ (2006) Climatic limits for the present distribution of beech (Fagus L.) species in the world. J Biogeogr 33:1804–1819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farmer RE Jr, Barnett PE, Hall GC (1975) Effects of chilling and pruning in forcing dormant black cherry. Can J For Res 5:160–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flannigan MD, Woodward FI (1994) Red pine abundance: current climatic control and responses to future warming. Can J For Res 24:1166–1175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler LJ, Fowler DK (1987) Stratification and temperature requirements for germination of autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) seed. Tree Planters’ Notes 38:14–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman JM, Auble GT, Scott ML, Merigliano MF, Freehling MD, Griffin ER (2005) Dominance of non-native riparian trees in western USA. Biol Invas 7:747–751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman JM, Roelle JM, Gaskin JF, Pepper AE, Manhart JR (2008) Latitudinal variation in cold hardiness in introduced Tamarix and native Populus. Evol Appl 1:598–607

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuchigami LH, Wisniewsky M (1997) Quantifying bud dormancy: physiological approaches. HortScience 32:618–623

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaston KJ (2003) The structure and dynamics of geographic ranges. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Guilbault KG (2010) The influence of chilling requirement on the southern distribution limit of exotic Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) in western North America. Master’s thesis, Colorado State University

  • Hamilton DF, Carpenter PL (1976) Regulation of seed dormancy in Elaeagnus angustifolia by endogenous growth substances. Can J Bot 54:1068–1073

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Handley RJ, Davy AJ (2005) Temperature effects on seed maturity and dormancy cycles in an aquatic annual, Najas marina, at the edge of its range. J Ecol 93:1185–1193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris JA, Hobbs RJ, Higgs E, Aronson J (2006) Ecological restoration and global climate change. Restor Ecol 14:170–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heit CE (1967) Propagation from seed: 6. Hard-seededness—a critical factor. Am Nurserym 125:10–12, 88–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Hochwender CG, Sork VL, Marquis RJ (2003) Fitness consequences of herbivory on Quercus alba. Am Midl Nat 150:246–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoehler FK (1995) Logistic equations in the analysis of s-shaped curves. Comput Biol Med 25:367–371

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hogue EJ, LaCroix LJ (1970) Seed dormancy of Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.). J Am Soc Hortic Sci 95:449–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Contribution of working group I to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarnevich CS, Reynolds LV (2011) Challenges of predicting the potential distribution of a slow-spreading invader: a habitat suitability map for an invasive riparian tree. Biol Invas 13:153–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarnevich CS, Stohlgren TJ (2009) Near term climate projections for invasive species distributions. Biol Invas 11:1373–1379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz GL, Shafroth PB (2003) Biology, ecology and management of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. (Russian olive) in western North America. Wetlands 23:763–777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kriticos DJ, Sutherst RW, Brown JR, Adkins SW, Maywald GF (2003) Climate change and the potential distribution of an invasive alien plant: Acacia nilotica ssp. indica in Australia. J Appl Ecol 40:111–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linvill DE (1990) Calculating chilling hours and chill units from daily maximum and minimum temperature observations. HortScience 25:14–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez G, Scott JR, Dejong TM (2007) High spring temperatures decrease peach fruit size. Calif Agric 61:31–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luedeling E, Zhang M, Girvetz EH (2009) Climatic changes lead to declining winter chill for fruit and nut trees in California during 1950–2099. PLoS ONE 4:e6166. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006166

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacArthur RH (1972) Geographical ecology. Harper and Row, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall JK (1968) Factors limiting the survival of Corynephorus canescens L. Beauv. in Great Britain at the northern edge of its distribution. Oikos 19:206–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morin X, Augspurger C, Chuine I (2007) Process-based modeling of species’ distributions: what limits temperate tree species’ range boundaries? Ecology 88:2280–2291

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morin X, Viner D, Chuine I (2008) Tree species range shifts at a continental scale: new predictive insights from a process-based model. J Ecol 96:784–794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morin X, Lechowicz MJ, Augspurger C, O’Keefe JO, Viner D, Chuine I (2009) Leaf phenology in 22 North American tree species during the 21st century. Glob Change Biol 15:961–975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mothershead K, Marquis RJ (2000) Fitness impacts of herbivory through indirect effects on plant-pollinator interactions in Oenothera Macrocarpa. Ecol 81:30–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray MB, Cannell MGR, Smith RI (1989) Date of budburst of fifteen tree species in Britain following climatic warming. J Appl Ecol 26:693–700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myking T, Heide OM (1995) Dormancy release and chilling requirement of buds of latitudinal ecotypes of Betula pendula and B. pubescens. Tree Physiol 15:697–704

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Myneni RB, Keeling CD, Tucker CJ, Asrar G, Nemani RR (1997) Increasing plant growth in the northern high latitude from 1981 to 1991. Nature 386:698–702

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olson DF Jr (1974) Elaeagnus L. elaeagnus. In: Schopmeyer CS (ed) Seeds of woody plants in the United States. Agricutural Handbook 450. Washington, DC, USA

  • Parmesan C, Yohe G (2003) A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems. Nature 421:37–42

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson RG, Dawson TP (2003) Predicting the impacts of climate change on the distribution of species: are bioclimate envelope models useful? Glob Ecol Biogeogr 12:361–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry TO (1971) Dormancy of trees in winter. Science 171:29–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson AT, Papes M, Kluza DA (2003) Predicting the potential invasive distributions of four alien plant species in North America. Weed Sci 51:863–868

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phivnil K, Beppu K, Mochioka R, Fukuda T, Kataoka I (2004) Low-chill trait for endodormancy completion in Actinidia arguta Planch. (Sarunashi) and A. rufa Planch. (Shima-saunashi), Indigenous Actinidia species in Japan and their interspecific hybrids. J Jpn Soc Hortic Sci 73:244–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prentice IC, Helmisaari H (1991) Silvics of north European trees: compilation, comparisons and implications for forest succession modeling. For Ecol Manag 42:79–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard HW, Tompsett PB, Manger KR (1996) Development of a thermal time model for the quantification of dormancy loss in Aesculus hippocastanum seeds. Seed Sci Res 6:127–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Rakngan J, Gemma H, Iwahori S (1996) Phenology and carbohydrate metabolism of Japanese pear trees grown under continuously high temperatures. J Jpn Soc Hortic Sci 65:55–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rattigan K, Hill SJ (1986) Relationship between temperature and flowering in almond. Aust J Exp Agric 26:399–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds LV, Cooper DJ (2010) Environmental tolerance of an invasive riparian tree and its potential for continued spread in the Southwestern US. J Veg Sci. doi:10.1111/j.1654-1103.2010.01179.x

  • Richardson EA, Seeley SD, Walker DR (1974) A model for estimating the completion of rest for ‘Redhaven’ and ‘Alberta’ peach trees. HortScience 9:331–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholten M, Donahue J, Shaw NL, Serpe MD (2009) Environmental regulation of dormacy loss in seeds of Lomatium dissectum (Apiaceae). Ann Bot 103:1091–1101

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seiwa K (1999) Changes in leaf phenology are dependent on tree height in Acer mono, a deciduous broad-leaved tree. Ann Bot 83:355–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sexton JP, McIntyre PJ, Angert AL, Rice KJ (2009) Evolution and ecology of species range limits. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 40:415–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shafer SL, Bartlein PJ, Thompson RS (2001) Potential changes in the distributions of western North America tree and shrub taxa under future climate scenarios. Ecosystems 4:200–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shafroth PB, Auble GT, Scott ML (1995) Germination and establishment of the native plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides Marshall subsp. monilifera) and the exotic Russian-Olive (Elaeagnus angustilfolia L.). Soc Conserv Biol 9:1169–1175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shafroth PB, Brown CA, Merritt DM (2010) Saltcedar and Russian olive control demonstration act science assessment. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5247. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, p 143

  • Stokes P (1965) Temperature and seed dormancy. In: Ruhland W (ed) Encyclopedia of plant physiology. Springer, Berlin, pp 746–796

    Google Scholar 

  • Thuiller W (2004) Patterns and uncertainties of species’ range shifts under climate change. Glob Change Biol 10:2020–2027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Dantonio CM, Looper LL, Westbrooks R (1996) Biological invasions as global environmental change. Am Sci 84:468–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams AL, Wills KE, Janes JK, Schoor JKV, Newton PCD, Hovenden MJ (2007) Warming and free-air CO2 enrichment alter demographics in four co-occurring grassland species. New Phytol 176:365–374

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wooton EO, Standley PC (1915) Flora of New Mexico. Contr US Nat Herb 19, US Govt Printing Office, Washington, DC, p 794

Download references

Acknowledgments

Russian olive distribution data were collected by Tom Bates and analyzed by Joanne Saher. Hannah Wilbur, Cynthia Pritekel, James Bromberg, Chrissy Alba-Lynn, Kristen Kascinski, Jess Salo and Patty York provided field and greenhouse help. Amy Angert, Gabrielle Katz and two anonymous reviewers provided valuable feedback on previous versions of the manuscript. Funding for this work was generously provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, Invasive Species and Global Change Programs. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    K. R. Guilbault, C. S. Brown, J. M. Friedman & P. B. Shafroth

  2. Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    K. R. Guilbault & C. S. Brown

  3. U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    J. M. Friedman & P. B. Shafroth

Authors
  1. K. R. Guilbault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. S. Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. M. Friedman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. B. Shafroth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. R. Guilbault.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (PDF 56 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guilbault, K.R., Brown, C.S., Friedman, J.M. et al. The influence of chilling requirement on the southern distribution limit of exotic Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) in western North America. Biol Invasions 14, 1711–1724 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0182-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0182-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation