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Environmental factors associated with the foliage cover of invasive fairy grass (Lachnagrostis filiformis) in Victoria, Australia

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Abstract

Fairy grass (Lachnagrostis filiformis) is an Australian native grass that has recently become a major concern for rural communities. Its dried inflorescences are blown by the wind and build up against fences and buildings, becoming a severe fire hazard. Understanding the ecology of fairy grass and its impacts on rural communities is relevant to its management. Four dry lake beds in Western Victoria were selected to determine if environmental factors, such as lake, location, direction, altitude and road type and the covariates of pH, soil salinity, soil moisture and distance to nearest road, are related to the presence of fairy grass. The ‘lake’ factor was the only environmental parameter that was significantly associated with the presence of this weed.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Philippe Garrigues, Editor-in-Chief, Environmental and Pollution Science Research and two anonymous referees who provided constructive comments. Authors also would like to thank Cameron Hurst (Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Biostatistics Center of Excellence, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, for providing statistical advice.

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  1. Center for Environmental Management Faculty of Science and Information Technology, Federation University Australia, PO Box 663, Ballarat, VIC, 3353, Australia

    Kate Gosney & Singarayer K. Florentine

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  1. Kate Gosney
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  2. Singarayer K. Florentine
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Correspondence to Singarayer K. Florentine.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Gosney, K., Florentine, S.K. Environmental factors associated with the foliage cover of invasive fairy grass (Lachnagrostis filiformis) in Victoria, Australia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 1350–1358 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0490-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0490-4

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