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Are boreal ecosystems susceptible to alien plant invasion? Evidence from protected areas

  • Conservation Ecology
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Abstract

Although biological invasion by alien species is a major contributor to loss of indigenous biological diversity, few studies have examined the susceptibility of the boreal biome to invasion. Based on studies of other ecosystems, we hypothesized that alien plants will be restricted to disturbed areas near human activity and will not be found in natural areas of boreal ecosystems in Gros Morne National Park (Canada), a protected area experiencing a wide range of disturbance regimes. The distribution of alien plants in the region was evaluated using surveys, and study sites were established in naturally and anthropogenically disturbed habitats that had been invaded. Within study sites, randomization tests evaluated the importance of disturbance to alien plant invasion by examining changes in environmental conditions and species abundance within various disturbance regimes, while the importance of site characteristics limiting the distribution of alien plants were examined using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. Consistent with studies in a variety of biomes, areas of high disturbance and human activity had the greatest abundance of resources and the highest percentage of alien species. However, contrary to our hypothesis, natural areas of boreal ecosystems were found susceptible to alien plant invasion. Vegetation types vulnerable to invasion include forests, riparian areas, fens, and alpine meadows. Natural disturbance occurring in these vegetation types caused increases in bare ground and/or light availability facilitating alien plant invasion. Although high soil pH was associated with alien plants in these areas, disturbance was not found to cause changes in soil pH, suggesting susceptibility to invasion is pre-determined by bedrock geology or other factors influencing soil pH. Moose (Alces alces), a non-native herbivore, acts as the primary conduit for alien plant invasion in GMNP by dispersing propagules and creating or prolonging disturbance by trampling and browsing vegetation. The recurrent nature of disturbance within the boreal biome and its interaction with site conditions and herbivores enables alien plants to persist away from areas of high human activity. Managers of natural lands should monitor such interactions to decrease the invasion potential of alien plants.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Parks Canada Agency. We thank Marilyn Anions, Trevor Bell, Michael Burzynski, Karyn Butler, Tom Fagner, Stephen Flemming, John Maunder and Scott Taylor for their advice and assistance, and Joe Coffey and Shantelle Mercer for assistance in the field. We thank Sean Blaney, Katinka Ruthrof, David Innes and two anonymous reviewers for comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, A1B 3X9 , Canada

    Michael Rose & Luise Hermanutz

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  1. Michael Rose
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  2. Luise Hermanutz
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Correspondence to Luise Hermanutz.

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Rose, M., Hermanutz, L. Are boreal ecosystems susceptible to alien plant invasion? Evidence from protected areas. Oecologia 139, 467–477 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1527-1

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