Invasion of Exotic Plant Species in Tallgrass Prairie Fragments

Cully, Anne C.; Cully, Jack F.; Hiebert, Ronald D.

doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.2003.02107.x

Cited by 103 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Exotic (non-native, alien) species have become common and even dominant in grassland ecosystems throughout North America (Christian and Wilson 1999;Callaway and Aschehoug 2000;Cully et al 2002;Seabloom et al 2003;Corbin and D'Antonio 2004;Gendron and Wilson 2007). Native grasslands have been converted to exotic-dominated ecosystems either by intentional plantings of exotics or by exotics displacing natives (Wilsey et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simple plant traits explain functional group diversity decline in novel grassland communities of Texas

2012

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Previous research has found that plant diversity declines more quickly in exotic than native grassland plots, which offers a model system for testing whether diversity decline is associated with specific plant traits. In a common garden experiment in the Southern Great Plains in central Texas, USA, we studied monocultures and 9-species mixtures of either all exotic or all native grassland species. A total of 36 native and exotic species were paired by phylogeny and functional group. We used community-level measures (relative abundance in mixture) and whole-plant (height, aboveground biomass, and light capture) and leaf-level traits (area, specific leaf area, and C:N ratio) to determine whether trait differences explained native-exotic differences in functional group diversity. Increases in species' relative abundance in mixture were correlated with high biomass, height, and light capture in both native and exotic communities. However, increasing exotic species were all C4 grasses, whereas, increasing native species included forb, C3 grass and C4 grass species. Exotic C4 grasses had traits associated with relatively high resource capture: greater leaf area, specific leaf area, height, biomass, and light capture, but similar leaf C:N ratios compared to native C4grasses. Leaf C:N was consistently higher for native than exotic C3 species, implying that resource use efficiency was greater in natives than exotics. Our results suggest that functional diversity will differ between grasslands restored to native assemblages and those dominated by novel collections of exotic species, and that simple plant traits can help to explain diversity decline. Abstract Previous research has found that plant diversity declines more quickly in exotic than native grassland plots, which offers a model system for testing whether diversity decline is associated with specific plant traits. In a common garden experiment in the Southern Great Plains in central Texas, USA, we studied monocultures and 9-species mixtures of either all exotic or all native grassland species. A total of 36 native and exotic species were paired by phylogeny and functional group. We used community-level measures (relative abundance in mixture) and wholeplant (height, aboveground biomass, and light capture) and leaf-level traits (area, specific leaf area, and C:N ratio) to determine whether trait differences explained native-exotic differences in functional group diversity. Increases in species' relative abundance in mixture were correlated with high biomass, height, and light capture in both native and exotic communities.However, increasing exotic species were all C 4 grasses, whereas, increasing native species included forb, C 3 grass and C 4 grass species. Exotic C 4 grasses had traits associated with relatively high resource capture: greater leaf area, specific leaf area, height, biomass, and light capture, but similar leaf C:N ratios compared to native C 4 grasses. Leaf C:N was consistently higher for native than exotic C 3 species, implying that resour...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simple plant traits explain functional group diversity decline in novel grassland communities of Texas

2012

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“…Great Plains grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in North America (Cully et al, 2003;Samson et al, 2004). Historically, conversion of grasslands to row-crop agriculture was the major cause of grassland loss (White et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age‐Specific Survival and Probable Causes of Mortality in Female Lesser Prairie‐Chickens

et al. 2007

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Long‐term population declines and habitat reductions have increased concern over the status of the lesser prairie‐chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus). Robust estimates of demographic parameters are essential for identifying population declines and planning effective management. We evaluated the effects of age and season on the survival of female lesser prairie‐chickens at 2 sites in southwestern Kansas, USA. Using telemetry data from a 7‐year field study (from 1997 to 2003), we estimated seasonal (Apr—Sep) and annual (Apr—Mar) survival. We also examined daily survival rates of females attending nests during the 26‐day incubation period and young during the 14‐day early brood‐rearing period. We evaluated the probable mortality causes of radiomarked birds by examining evidence at recovery sites. We captured 227 female lesser prairie‐chickens (87 yearlings, 117 ad, and 23 age undetermined) and fitted them with radiotransmitters. Estimates of 12‐month survival were lower among yearlings (Ŝ12 = 0.429, SE = 0.117) and adults at site I (Ŝ12 > = 0.302, SE = 0.080) than among yearlings (Ŝ12 = 0.588, SE = 0.100) and adults at site II (Ŝ12 > = 0.438, SE = 0.083). The patterns in timing of mortality and age‐specific 6‐month survival were consistent with those of 12‐month estimates at site I from 1998 to 2002, with a peak in mortality during May and June. Females tending to nests or to prefledged chicks had lower daily survival (DŜRtend = 0.993, SE = 0.001) than females not involved in these activities (DŜRfailedbreeder = 0.997, SE = 0.002). We recorded 92 mortalities from April 1997 to March 2003, and 59% and 11% were attributed to predation by mammals and raptors, respectively. Our research suggests that predation during the nesting season can have a major impact on lesser prairie‐chicken demography, and conservation efforts should focus on enhancing female survival during the nesting and brood‐rearing seasons.

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“…For example, the grasses Bromus inermis and Agropyron cristatum are dominant grasses in much of the Northern Plains region (e.g., [3,4]), species of the genus Centaurea dominate some Rocky Mountain grasslands [5,6], exotic annuals dominate California (e.g., [7]), Agropyron desertorum dominates much of the inter-mountain west (e.g., [8][9][10]), and the grass Bothriochloa ischaemum dominates most central Texas grasslands [11]. The spread of these species has occurred within a very short time span.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of species replication in understanding plant invasions into North American grasslands

Wilsey

Invasive Plants: Ecological and Agricultural Aspects

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The global homogenization of the Earth's biota is expected to increase due to the increase in movement of people and goods between regions, and many introduced species are having a negative economic impact. The increase of introduced species can be thought of as a major global change, because ecosystems throughout the world are now impacted by exotics [1,2]. Grasslands, which cover roughly 25% of the globe, contain perhaps the most disrupted and homogenized communities in the world. Native grasslands have been lost because of land conversion, and native species have been replaced or displaced with introduced grasses and legumes. Many species were intentionally introduced during the early 20th century to prevent erosion or to improve grazing, and many have undoubtedly done so. However, as management objectives for grasslands have expanded to include wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and C sequestration, it has become critical to understand how introduced species are affecting these new objectives as well. For example, Christian and Wilson [3] found that areas in Saskatchewan, Canada, dominated by the introduced forage grass Agropyron cristatum are sequestering less C into their soils compared to developing native prairie stands with similar land use histories. Disciplines Biodiversity | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology CommentsThis chapter is from Invasive Plants: Ecological and Agricultural Aspects (2005): 61. Posted with permission.

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Invasion of Exotic Plant Species in Tallgrass Prairie Fragments

Cited by 103 publications

References 38 publications

Simple plant traits explain functional group diversity decline in novel grassland communities of Texas

Simple plant traits explain functional group diversity decline in novel grassland communities of Texas

Age‐Specific Survival and Probable Causes of Mortality in Female Lesser Prairie‐Chickens

Importance of species replication in understanding plant invasions into North American grasslands

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