Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Competitive effects of the invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder (Caprifoliaceae), on the growth and survival of native tree seedlings

  • Published:
Plant Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Invasive plants are often associated with reduced cover of native plants, but rarely has competition between invasives and natives been assessed experimentally. The shrub Lonicera maackii, native to northeastern Asia, has invaded forests and old fields in numerous parts of eastern North America, and is associated with reduced tree seedling density in Ohio forests. A field experiment was conducted to test the effects of established L. maackii on the survival and growth of transplanted native tree species. The experiment examined above-ground competition (by removing L. maackii shoots) and below-ground competition (by trenching around transplanted seedlings). The effects of above-ground competition with L. maackii were generally more important than below-ground competition, though both were detected. Shoot treatment was the key determinant for the survival of all species except P. serotina, whereas trenching only enhanced survival for A. saccharum caged and P. serotina, and only in the shoot removal treatment. For the surviving seedlings, L. maackii shoot removal increased growth of A. saccharum seedlings protected with cages, but actually reduced the growth of unprotected Q. rubra and A. saccharum seedlings, indicating that L. maackii shoots confer some protection from deer browsing. Significant interactions between root and shoot treatment on Q. rubra growth parameters, specifically greatest growth in the shoot present & trenched treatment, is attributed to protection from deer browsing combined with release from below-ground competition. Despite this protective function of L. maackii shoots, the overall effect of this invasive shrub is increased mortality of native tree seedlings, suggesting it impacts the natural regeneration of secondary forests.

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

  • Barnes W.J. 1972. The autecology of the Lonicera X bella complex. PhD Dissertation, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

  • Braun E.L. 1961. The woody plants of Ohio. Ohio State University Press, Columbus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brothers T.S. and Spingarn A. 1992. Forest fragmentation and alien plant invasion of central Indiana old-growth forests. Conservation Biology 6: 91–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coates K.D., Emmingham W.H. and Radosevich S.R. 1991. Conifer-seedling success and microclimate at different levels of herb and shrub cover in a Rhododendron-Vaccinium-Menziesia community of south central British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Forestry Research 21: 858–866.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier M.H., Vankat J.L. and Hughes M.R. 2002. Diminished plant richness and abundance below Lonicera maackii, an invasive shrub. American Midland Naturalist 147: 60–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis M.A. and Thompson K. 2000. Eight ways to be a colonizer; two ways to be an invader: a proposed nomenclature scheme for invasion ecology. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 81: 226–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillenburg L.R., Whigham D.F., Teramura A.H. and Forseth I.N. 1993. Effects of below-and above-ground competition from the vines Lonicera japonica and Parthenocissus quinquefolia on the growth of the tree host Liquidambar styraciflua. Oecologia 93: 48–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewel J.J., O'Dowd D.J., Bergelson J., Daehler C.C., D'Antonio C.M., Diego Gomez L. et al. 1999. Deliberate introductions of species: research needs. Bioscience 49: 619–630.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fikes J. and Niering W.A. 1999. Four decades of old field vegetation development and the role of Celastrus orbiculatus in the northeastern United States. Journal of Vegetation Science 10: 483–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleason H.A. and Cronquist A. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 2nd edn. New York Botanical Gardens, Bronx.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould A.M.A. and Gorchov D.L. 2000. Effects of the exotic invasive shrub Lonicera maackii on the survival and fecundity of three species of native annuals. American Midland Naturalist 144: 36–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington R.A., Brown B.J. and Reich P.B. 1989. Ecophysiology of exotic and native shrubs in Southern Wisconsin: 1. Relationship of leaf characteristics, resource availability, and phenology to seasonal patterns of carbon gain. Oecologia 80: 356–367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harty F.M. 1993. How Illinois kicked the exotic habit. In: McKnight B.N. (ed.), Biological pollution: The control and impact of invasive exotic species. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis, pp. 195–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs R.J. and Huenneke L.F. 1992. Disturbance, diversity, and invasion: Implications for conservation. Conservation Biology 3: 324–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huenneke L.F. and Thomson J.K. 1995. Potential interference between a threatened endemic thistle and an invasive nonnative plant. Conservation Biology 9: 416–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson T.L. and Vankat J.L. 1997. Invasibility and effects of Amur honeysuckle in southwestern Ohio forests. Conservation Biology 11: 1117–1124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingold J.L. and Craycraft M.J. 1983. Avian frugivory on honeysuckle (Lonicera) in southwestern Ohio. Ohio Journal of Science 83: 256–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kareiva P. 1996. Developing a predictive ecology for non-indigenous species and ecological invasions. Ecology 77: 1651–1652.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobe R.K., Pacala S.W., Silander J.A. and Canham C.D. 1995. Juvenile tree survivorship as a component of shade tolerance. Ecological Applications 5: 517–532.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemmon P.E. 1956. A spherical densiometer for estimating forest overstory density. Forest Science 2: 314–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lodge D.M. 1993. Biological invasions: Lessons for ecology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 8: 133–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovell P.H. and Lovell P.J. 1985. The importance of plant form as a determining factor in competition and habitat exploitation. In: White J. (ed.), Studies on plant demography: a Festschrift for John L. Harper. Academic Press, London, pp. 209–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luken J.O. 1988. Population structure and biomass allocation of the naturalized shrub Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Maxim. in forest and open habitats. American Midland Naturalist 199: 258– 267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luken J.O. and Goessling N. 1995. Seedling distribution and potential persistence of the exotic shrub Lonicera maackii in fragmented forests. American Midland Naturalist 133: 124–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luken J.O., Kuddes L.M. and Tholemeier T.C. 1997. Response of understory species to gap formation and soil disturbance in Lonicera maackii thickets. Restoration Ecology 5: 229–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luken J.O. and Thieret J.W. 1995. Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii; Caprifoliaceae): Its ascent, decline, and fall. Sida 16: 479–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luken J.O. and Thieret J.W. 1996. Amur honeysuckle, its fall from grace. BioScience 46: 18–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luken J.O., Tholemeier T.C., Kunkel B.A. and Kuddes L.M. 1995. Branch architecture plasticity of Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder): initial response in extreme light environments. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 122: 190–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mack R.N. 1996. Predicting the identity and fate of plant invaders: emergent and emerging approaches. Biological Conservation 78: 107–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Medley K.E. 1997. Distribution of the non-native shrub Lonicera maackii in Kramer Woods, Ohio. Physical Geography 18: 18– 36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meekins J.F. and McCarthy B.C. 1999. Competitive ability of Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard, Brassicaceae), an invasive, nonindigenous forest herb. International Journal of Plant Science 160: 743–752.

    Google Scholar 

  • Midgley G.F., Rutherford M.C., Davis G.W. and de W. Bosenberg J. 1992. Photosynthetic responses of heliophilous Rhus species to environmental modification by invasive shrubs. Functional Ecology 6: 334–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller K.E. 2001. Effects of the invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii (Amur Honeysuckle), on survival, growth, and fecundity of native understory perennial herbs in southwestern Ohio forests. MS thesis, Miami University, Oxford, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of Technology Assessment 1993. Harmful non-indigenous species in the United States. US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Washington, DC, USA.

  • Pringle J.S. 1973. Lonicera maackii (Caprifoliaceae) adventive in Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 87: 54–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichard S.H. and Hamilton C.W. 1997. Predicting invasions of woody plants introduced into North America. Conservation Biology 11: 193–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rejmánek M. 1996. A theory of seed plant invasiveness: The first sketch. Biological Conservation 78: 171–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rejmánek M. and Richardson D.M. 1996. What attributes make some plant species more invasive? Ecology 77: 1655–1661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal R.R. and Rohlf F.J. 1995. Biometry: The principles and practice of statistics in biological research. 3rd edn. W.H. Freeman, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stohlgren T.J., Binkley D., Chong G.W., Kalkhan M.A., Schell L.D., Bull K.A. et al. 1999. Exotic plant species invade hot spots of native plant diversity. Ecological Monographs 69: 25– 46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trisel D.E. 1997. The invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder (Caprifoliaceae): Factors contributing to its success and its effect on native species. PhD Dissertation, Miami University, Oxford, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trisel D.E. and Gorchov D.L. 1994. Regional distribution, leaf phenology, and herbivory of the invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 75: 231–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Usher M.B. 1988. Biological invasions of nature reserves: A search for generalisations. Biological Conservation 44: 119–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vankat J.L., Blackwell H.W. and Hopkins W.E. 1975. The dynamics of Hueston Woods and a review of the question of the successional status of the southern beech-maple forest. Castanea 40: 290–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek P.M., D'Antonio C.M., Loope L.L. and Westbrooks R. 1996. Biological invasions as global environmental change. American Scientist 84: 468–478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker L.R. and Vitousek P.M. 1991. An invader alters germination and growth of a native dominant tree in Hawaii. Ecology 72: 1449–1455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weidenhamer J.D., Hartnett D.C. and Romeo J.T. 1989. Densitydependent phytotoxicity: distinguishing resource competition and allelopathic interference in plants. Journal of Applied Ecology 26: 613–624.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson M.H. and Fitter A. 1996. The characters of successful invaders. Biological Conservation 78: 163–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkowski E.T.F. 1991. Growth and competition between seedlings of Protea repens (L) L and the alien invasive, Acacia saligna (Labill) Wendl in relation to nutrient availability. Functional Ecology 5: 101–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods K.D. 1993. Effects of invasion by Lonicera tatarica L. on herbs and tree seedlings in four New England forests. American Midland Naturalist 130: 62–74.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Donald E. Trisel

    Present address: School of Science & Math, Fairmont State College, Fairmont, 26554, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Miami University, Oxford, 45056, USA

    David L. Gorchov & Donald E. Trisel

Authors
  1. David L. Gorchov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Donald E. Trisel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David L. Gorchov.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gorchov, D.L., Trisel, D.E. Competitive effects of the invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder (Caprifoliaceae), on the growth and survival of native tree seedlings. Plant Ecology 166, 13–24 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023208215796

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023208215796

Search

Navigation