TITLE:   The   Impact   of   Invasive   Plant   Species   on   Central   Hardwood   Forest   Ecosystems
LOCATION:   Northwestern   portion   of   the   Central   Hardwood   Region
DURATION :   3   years
PROJECT   LEADER :
W.
Keith   Moser   (Principal   Investigator)
Research   Forester
Northern   Research   Station.
USDA   Forest   Service
1992   Folwell   Avenue
St.
Paul,   MN   55108
651 ‐ 649 ‐ 5155   wkmoser@fs.fed.us
FUNDING
CO ‐ PROJECT   LEADER:
Songlin   Fei   (Co ‐ principal   Investigator)
Assistant   Professor
Department   of   Forestry
University   of   Kentucky
Lexington,   KY
859 ‐ 257 ‐ 9760 songlin.fei@uky.edu
SOURCE:   Evaluation   Monitoring
PROJECT   OBJECTIVES:
1) Determine   the   spatial   distribution   pattern   of   invasive   plant   species   in   the   northwestern   portion   of   the   central   hardwood   forest   ecosystems
2) Evaluate   the   resilience   of   different   forest   types   to   exotic   plant   invasion
3) Evaluate   the   impact   of   invasive   plants   on   the   recruitment   of   native   tree   species.
4) Develop   a   model   to   predict   how   the   expansion   of   invasive   species   will   change   the   composition   of   the   central   hardwood   forest   ecosystems
JUSTIFICATION :
Linkage   to   FHM   Detection   Monitoring   –   Forest   ecosystems   have   essential   ecological,   economic,   and   social   values,   yet   the   future   health   and   longevity   of   many   forest   ecosystems   are   at   risk   due   to   significant   invasion   by   exotic   plants   resulting   in   suppression   and   loss   of   native   species,   deterioration   of   ecosystem   processes,   and   degradation   of   ecosystem   services.
Results   from   the   FHM   and   FIA   data   indicate   that   invasive   plant   species   are   prevalent   in   the   forest   ecosystems   across   the   United   States.
Many   studies   have   been   conducted   on   how   invasive   insects   and   pathogens   influence   the   dynamic   of   forest   ecosystems.
However,   limited   research   is   available   to   understand   how   invasive   plant   species   influence   the   recruitment,   survival,   and   growth   of   native   tree   species   at   a   regional   scale.
Analyzing   the   existing   FIA   survey   data   will   enhance   our   understanding   of   the   impact   of   invasive   plants   on   the   dynamic   of   forest   ecosystems.
Significance   in   terms   of   the   geographic   scale   –   This   project   will   cover   the   northwestern   portion   of   the   Central
Hardwood   Region,   a   total   of   five   states   (Ohio,   Michigan,   Indiana,   Illinois,   and   Missouri).
Forest   ecosystem   in   this   region   provides   important   provisional,   supporting,   regulatory,   and   cultural   services.
Findings   from   this   study   will   assist   to   develop   appropriate   management   plans   to   maintain   and   restore   the   health   of   many   forest   ecosystems   in   the   study   area,   and   should   be   readily   adapted   to   the   rest   of   the   Central   Hardwood   Region   and   beyond.
Biological   impact   and   political   importance   of   the   issue   –   The   Central   Hardwood   Forest   is   one   of   the   most   important   forest   ecosystems   in   the   eastern   U.S.,   harboring   high   diversity   of   native   species   and   providing   valuable   economic   and   recreational   opportunities   to   the   citizens   of   the   region.
Historically,   disturbances   such   as   harvesting   and   fires   maintained   these   oak ‐ hickory   forests.
With   the   ongoing   fragmentation,   reduced   timber   harvesting,   and   fire   suppression,   invasive   exotic   plants   are   moving   into   these   disturbance ‐ dependant   forest   ecosystems,   in   some   places   reaching   epidemic   proportions.
The   health   and   longevity   of   many   of   these   forest   ecosystems   are   at   risk.
The   invasion   of   exotic   plants   may   alter   the   composition   and   reduce   the   diversity   of   these   ecosystems,   especially   those   mast ‐ bearing,   fire ‐ mediated   oak   and   hickory   species.
Such   a   compositional   change   could   result   in   dramatic   declines   in   the   wildlife   population   and   diminished   economic   opportunities   for   the   human   inhabitants   of   these   largely   rural   regions.
Likelihood   that   the   project   will   be   successfully   completed   –   The   team   leaders   brings   considerable   expertise   to   this   project.
Dr.
Moser   has   extensive   experience   on   analyzing   and   extrapolating   FIA   data   at   a   large   spatial   scale   and   is   the   product   line   coordinator   for   ground   flora   and   invasive   plants   for   Northern   Research   Station   Forest
Inventory   and   Analysis   Program.
Dr.
Fei   has   extensive   training   and   experience   in   spatial   analysis   and   invasive
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species   research.
The   PIs   have   already   successfully   completed   several   USDA ‐ funded   projects   on   invasive   modeling,   mapping,   and   policy   and   management.
In   addition,   extensive   FIA   Phase   III   data   are   available   for   the   proposed   study   area,   which   will   ensure   the   completion   of   the   project   within   the   proposed   time   period.
In   separate   work,   considerable   time   and   resources   from   both   PIs   have   also   been   invested   in   collecting,   testing,   and   analyzing   invasive   plant   data   at   smaller   spatial   scales   in   the   proposed   study   region.
DESCRIPTION:   a.
Background :
Invasion   of   exotic   species   is   considered   the   second   most   serious   threat   to   forest   ecosystems,   after   habitat   fragmentation   and   loss   (Randall   1996).
Invasive   species   pose   a   major,   yet   poorly   addressed   threat   to   sustainable   forest   ecosystems.
A   decrease   in   habitat   complexity   and   heterogeneity   associated   with   the   proliferation   of   introduced   species   often   leads   to   a   decline   in   native   species   richness   and   the   deterioration   of   ecosystem   processes   and   functions   (Lodge   1993,   Hanowski   et   al.
1997,   Decker   et   al.
2005).
Invasive   plant   species   are   well ‐ established   throughout   the   United   States   (Moser   et   al.
2009)   as   well   as   in   the   Upper   Midwest   (Moser   et   al.
2008).
The   health   and   longevity   of   many   of   our   forest   ecosystems   are   at   risk   due   to   significant   invasion   by   exotic   plants.
Moreover,   the   effects   of   invasion   by   exotic   species   have   proved   to   be   long   lasting   and   cumulative   (Chornesky   et   al.
2005).
Forest   ecosystems   in   the   Central   Hardwood   Region   are   highly   fragmented   and   constantly   challenged   by   invasive   species.
The   invasion   of   an   exotic   pathogen   –   chestnut   blight,   has   wiped   out   American   chestnut   in   these   systems   in   the   last   century.
The   invasion   of   an   exotic   insect   –   gypsy   moth,   has   caused   high   mortality   of   the   fire   resistant   and   dependant   oak   and   hickory   species,   resulting   in   a   more   mesophytic   forest   ecosystem   (Nowacki   and
Abrams   2008).
Extensive   treatment,   including   harvesting   and   prescribed   fire,   has   been   used   successfully   to   reduce   the   competitive   ability   of   a   vigorous   native   competitor   (Moser   et   al.
1996),   and   may   be   a   successful   treatment   for   invasive   plants.
The   impact   of   invasive   plant   species   on   forest   ecosystems   in   this   region   is   poorly   understood   because   they   often   cause   less   prominent   impact   comparing   to   invasive   exotic   insects   and   pathogens.
Invasion   of   exotic   plants   often   do   not   result   the   elimination   of   a   tree   species.
However,   exotic   plants   can   cause   profound,   devastating   negative   impact   on   forest   ecosystems   by   smothering   entire   ecosystem   or   converting   it   to   a   different   ecosystem.
Existing   research   on   invasive   native   species   such   as   the   hayscented   fern   indicated   that   it   hinders   the   recruitment   of   fire   adapted   species   while   has   a   lesser   effect   on   shade   tolerant   fire   sensitive   species   (Fei   et   al.
2008).
In   general,   we   know   invasive   exotic   plants   put   extreme   pressure   on   native   species   via   competition.
Yet,   the   specific   impact   of   how   invasive   exotic   plants   influence   the   composition   and   dynamic   of   forest   ecosystems   in   this   region   is   not   well   studied.
How   vulnerable   are   these   forest   ecosystems?
Is   there   any   resilience   in   certain   type   of   forest   ecosystems?
Understanding   these   questions   is   critical   in   order   to   develop   ecologically   sound   management   practices   to   maintain   the   health   and   longevity   of   forest   ecosystems   in   the   Central   Hardwood   Region.
b.
Methods:
In   this   study,   we   will   use   the   FIA   Phase   3   survey   data   to   conduct   the   following   analysis   in   the   northwestern   portion   of   the   Central   Hardwood   Region.
Invasive   plants   spatial   distribution   pattern.
First,   a   county   level   absence/presence   map   will   be   developed   for   each   invasive   plant   species.
Second,   spatial   invasive   plant   hot ‐ spots   will   be   further   analyzed   based   on   the   overall   invasive   species   abundance   using   spatial   statistics,   evaluating   species   clustering   and   relationships   with   site   and   stand   factors.
Impact   on   tree   recruitment .
Invasive   plant   species   might   have   different   levels   of   impact   on   different   tree   species   at   different   invasion   stage.
We   will   study   the   impact   by   individual   invasive   species   and   as   a   group.
Based   on   invasive   species   distribution   maps,   all   FIA   plots   will   be   grouped   into   three   zones:   heavily   infested,   transition,   and   frontier.
By   comparing   regeneration   on   plots   within   the   same   zone   and   across   different   zones   with   similar   physiographic   conditions,   we   will   be   able   to   quantify   the   impact   of   invasive   plants   on   tree   recruitment   by   species.
Comparisons   among   different   tree   species   will   be   further   conducted   to   understand   the   different   levels   of   impact.
Forest   ecosystem   invasive   resilience.
Resilience   is   most   often   observed   in   the   frontier   zone   of   exotic   invasion.
To   capture   this,   we   will   use   maps   developed   above   and   identify   invasion   frontier   zones   for   each   major   invasive   species.
FIA   plots   in   these   zones   will   be   used   to   analyze   the   resilience   of   different   forest   type(s)   to   a   given   invasive   species.
And   a   general   resilience   level   will   be   assessed   based   on   the   overall   score   of   resilience   to   all   the   major   invasive   species   included   in   this   study.
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Develop   a   predictive   model .
With   the   information   of   current   invasive   distribution,   ecosystem   resilience   level,   and   potential   impact   on   tree   recruitment,   we   will   develop   a   model   to   predict   the   potential   tree   species   composition   change   in   fire   adapted   forest   ecosystems.
c.
Products:
1) Distribution   maps   of   major   invasive   species   at   two   spatial   scales   with   invasive   plant   hot ‐ spots   identified.
The   maps   will   be   available   online   to   the   public;   and
2) A   predictive   model   of   invasion ‐ related   forest   composition   change   that   will   be   assist   managers   in   devising   prophylactic   (pre ‐ infestation)   and   prioritizing   and   mitigating   (post ‐ infestation)   management   strategies.
d.
Schedule   of   Activities:
The   proposed   project   is   for   three   years   starting   in   FY   2010   and   ending   FY   2012.
Objectives 2010 2011 2012
Ecosystem resilience
e.
Budget:
Item
YEAR    2010
Administration   Salary   and   Benefits   (Fei, 1   mo.)
Master’s   student
Travel
Procurements   Supplies
TOTAL   YEAR   2010
YEAR   2011
Administration   Salary   and   Benefits   (Fei,   1   mo.)
Master’s   student
Travel
Procurements   Supplies
TOTAL   YEAR   2011
YEAR   2012
Administration   Salary   and   Benefits   (Fei,   1   mo.)
Master’s   student
Travel
Procurements   Supplies
TOTAL   YEAR   2012
TOTAL   PROJECT
Requested   Funding
7,726 Contributed   salary
17,384
1,000
500
$26,610
18,149
2,000
500
$28,729
Other ‐ Source
(Moser)    $7,500
Funding
(in
(Moser)    $5,000
(in
‐
‐ kind)
8,080 Contributed   salary    kind)
8,453 Contributed   salary
18,953
2,000
500
$29,906
$85,245
(Moser)    $5,000
(in
(in
‐
‐ kind) kind)
Source
NRS
$7,500
NRS
$7,500
NRS
$7,500
$22,500
LITERATURE   CITED:
Chornesky,   E.A.,   A.M.
Bartuska,   G.H.
Aplet,   K.O.
Britton,   J.
Cummings ‐ Carlson,   F.W.
Davis,   J.
Eskow,   D.R.
Gordon,
K.W.
Gottschalk,   R.A.
Haack,   A.J.
Hansen,   R.N.
Mack,   F.J.
Rahel,   M.A.
Shannon,   L.A.
Wainger,   and   T.B.
Wigley.
2005.
Science   priorities   for   reducing   the   threat   of   invasive   species   to   sustainable   forestry.
Bioscience   55:   335 ‐
348.
Deckers,   B.,   K.
Verheyen,   M.
Hermy,   and   B.
Muys.
2005.
Effects   of   landscape   structure   on   the   invasive   spread   of   black   cherry   in   an   agricultural   landscape   in   Flanders,   Belgium.
Ecography   28:   99 ‐ 109.
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Fei,   S.,   N.
Kong,   J.
Stringer,   and   D.
Bowker.
2008.
Invasive   pattern   of   exotic   plants   in   forest   ecosystems.
Book   chapter   in:   Kohli,   R.K.,   S.
Jose,   D.R.
Batish,   and   H.P.
Singh,   eds.
Invasive   Plants   and   Forest   Ecosystems.
Boca
Raton:   CRC   Press/Taylor   and   Francis.
p.
59 ‐ 70.
Hanowski,   J.M.,   G.J.
Niemi,   and   D.C.
Christian.
1997.
Influence   of   within ‐ plantation   heterogeneity   and   surrounding   landscape   composition   on   avian   communities   in   hybrid   poplar   populations.
Conservation   Biology   11:   936 ‐ 944.
Lodge,   D.M.
1993.
Biological   invasions:   lessons   from   ecology.
Trends   of   Ecology   and   Evolution   13:   195 ‐ 198.
Moser,   W.K.,   E.L.
Barnard,   R.F.
Billings,   S.J.
Crocker,   M.E.
Dix,   A.N.
Gray,   G.C.
Ice,   M.S.
Kim,   R.
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Rodman,   and
W.H.
McWilliams.
2009.
Non ‐ native   invasive   species   affecting   forests   in   the   United   States:   Assessment   and   recommendations.
Journal   of   Forestry   107(6):   320 ‐ 327.
Moser,   W.K.,   M.J.
Ducey,   and   P.M.S.
Ashton.
1996.
Effects   of   fire   intensity   on   competitive   dynamics   between   red   and   black   oaks   and   mountain   laurel.
Northern   Journal   of   Applied   Forestry   13(3):   119 ‐ 123.
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Hansen,   M.D.
Nelson,   W.H.
McWilliams.
2008.
The   relationship   of   invasive   groundcover   plant   presence   to   evidence   of   disturbance   in   the   forests   of   the   Upper   Midwest   of   the   United   States.
Book   chapter   in:
Kohli,   R.K.,   S.
Jose,   D.R.
Batish,   and   H.P.
Singh,   eds.
Invasive   Plants   and   Forest   Ecosystems.
Boca   Raton:   CRC
Press/Taylor   and   Francis.
p.
29 ‐ 58.
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and   M.D.
Abrams    2008.
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States.
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1996.
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