Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) presence and proliferation on former surface coal mines in Eastern USA

Wynne, Randolph H.; Zipper, Carl E.; Ford, W. Mark; Donovan, Patricia F.; Li, Jing

doi:10.1007/s10530-016-1271-6

Cited by 31 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although market forces have reduced the use of coal for electricity generation in the US, surface coal mining will continue in Appalachia for the near future and cause further loss of topographically driven forest communities. In the short term, reclaimed sites are woefully poor replacements in terms of soil conditions (Haering et al 2004), vegetation re-establishment (Simmons et al 2008), and the frequency of invasive species (Oliphant et al 2017). Indeed, our landcover transition analyses revealed that only a small proportion of reclaimed minelands returned to forest or forest-like conditions between 1992 and 2011, some of which is accounted for by University of Kentucky experimental tree plots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Persistent geophysical effects of mining threaten ridgetop biota of Appalachian forests

Maigret

Cox

Yang

2019

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Surface coal mining can permanently alter the rugged topography of Appalachia, which plays an important role in creating and maintaining the structure, composition, and diversity of this North American region's ecological communities. We used remote‐sensing datasets to characterize the past and future topographic impacts of surface coal mining on the mixed‐mesophytic forests of eastern Kentucky. To provide context, we examined the consequences of widespread topographic rearrangement for an imperiled ridgetop‐associated predator, the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). We found that surface mining disproportionately impacts ridgetop habitats, causing large reductions in suitable habitat for C horridus, and most likely other ridgetop‐dependent biota as well. Land permitted for surface mining is also concentrated in high topographic positions, and patterns of habitat loss are therefore likely to remain concentrated within these ecosystems. These permanent topographic shifts complicate restoration of pre‐existing microhabitats, create homogenized landscapes, threaten long‐term ecosystem health, and reduce the diversity of ecological communities.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…), and the frequency of invasive species (Oliphant et al . ). Indeed, our land‐cover transition analyses revealed that only a small proportion of reclaimed minelands returned to forest or forest‐like conditions between 1992 and 2011, some of which is accounted for by University of Kentucky experimental tree plots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Persistent geophysical effects of mining threaten ridgetop biota of Appalachian forests

Maigret

Cox

Yang

2019

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…G. Don), and multi-flora rose (Rosa multiflora Thunb.)) that rapidly colonize disturbed areas and outcompete native pioneer species [8][9][10]. Additionally, intensive vegetation control in popular agricultural post-mining land-uses, such as hayland pasture and crop production, can preclude forest succession and reforestation efforts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First-Year Vitality of Reforestation Plantings in Response to Herbivore Exclusion on Reclaimed Appalachian Surface-Mined Land

Hackworth

Lhotka

Cox

et al. 2018

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conventional Appalachian surface-mine reclamation techniques repress natural forest regeneration, and tree plantings are often necessary for reforestation. Reclaimed Appalachian surface mines harbor a suite of mammal herbivores that forage on recently planted seedlings. Anecdotal reports across Appalachia have implicated herbivory in the hindrance and failure of reforestation efforts, yet empirical evaluation of herbivory impacts on planted seedling vitality in this region remains relatively uninitiated. First growing-season survival, height growth, and mammal herbivory damage of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.), and white oak (Quercus alba L.) are presented in response to varying intensities of herbivore exclusion. Seedling survival was generally high, and height growth was positive for all species. The highest herbivory incidence of all tree species was observed in treatments offering no herbivore exclusion. While seedling protectors lowered herbivory incidence compared with no exclusion, full exclusion treatments resulted in the greatest reduction of herbivore damage. Although herbivory from rabbits, small mammals, and domestic animals was observed, cervids (deer and elk) were responsible for 95.8% of all damaged seedlings. This study indicates that cervids forage heavily on planted seedlings during the first growing-season, but exclusion is effective at reducing herbivory.

show abstract

“…Historically, fast‐growing exotic species were often planted when reclaiming Appalachian mine sites (e.g. Oliphant et al ). Thus, many invasive species occur on older coal mines as a legacy of past reclamation practices, and often become established on more recent reclaimed coal mines as a result (Zipper et al ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive autumn olive performance varies in different reclamation conditions: implications for restoration

Franke

Zipper

Barney

2018

Restoration Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Surface mining has caused significant disturbance globally, and is responsible for the loss of more than 600,000 ha of the world's largest temperate deciduous forest in the Appalachian region of the United States alone. Due to the heavy disturbance on mine lands, invasive plants have become dominant on many former coalfields, some of which were intentionally planted with exotic species. The establishment of invasive plants on these disturbed lands has often led to reductions in establishment of desirable native species. Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), an exotic nitrogen-fixing shrub, is a problematic invasive species on reclaimed sites in Appalachia. To better understand how reclamation conditions affect autumn olive, we assessed the effects of the mine-soil substrate and vegetation seeding on autumn olive establishment and growth. In each experiment, we also manipulated the herbaceous plant community to further examine effects on autumn olive establishment and growth. In spring 2015, we transplanted 480 1-year-old autumn olive seedlings across both experiments. After 2 years of growth, autumn olive performed better in weathered-rock than in unweathered-rock substrates; in bare-ground plots than in vegetated plots; and in tree-compatible (low-competition) seeding than in more-competitive conventional seeding. No treatment precluded autumn olive establishment. However, our results show that strategic use of beginning substrates and planting mixes can have strong inhibitory effects on invasive plants, but also that substrate and herbaceous-plant community conditions favorable to establishment of native trees are also favorable to autumn olive. Implications for Practice• Invasive plants can impede development of desirable vegetation during reclamation of disturbed lands, particularly on heavily disturbed sites (e.g. coalfields). • We found that reclamation conditions and initial vegetation mix can be used to disfavor invasive plants while achieving reclamation goals.

show abstract

Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) presence and proliferation on former surface coal mines in Eastern USA

Cited by 31 publications

References 61 publications

Persistent geophysical effects of mining threaten ridgetop biota of Appalachian forests

Persistent geophysical effects of mining threaten ridgetop biota of Appalachian forests

First-Year Vitality of Reforestation Plantings in Response to Herbivore Exclusion on Reclaimed Appalachian Surface-Mined Land

Invasive autumn olive performance varies in different reclamation conditions: implications for restoration

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About