Invasive species are significant drivers of global environmental change, altering the stability and functioning of numerous ecosystems. The exotic shrub Lonicera maackii is an aggressive invader throughout much of the eastern United States. While much is known about its population and community impacts, little is known about effects on ecosystem processes. This dissertation documents changes in ecosystem processes associated with L. maackii growing beneath three native tree species (Fraxinus quadrangulata, Quercus muehlenbergii, Carya ovata) in a savanna in Kentucky. Like many invasive plants, L. maackii litter decomposed and lost nitrogen (N) rapidly, especially in comparison with native tree litter. In comparison to the soils beneath the trees where the exotic shrub was absent, soils beneath L. maackii had a lower bulk density, elevated soil organic matter, C:N, and total soil N and a modified soil microbial community. Inorganic N deposition from spring throughfall was also altered by L. maackii, with higher NO3-N deposition beneath shrubs located beneath the tree canopy relative to canopy locations without L. maackii. While many exotic plant species have been shown to alter ecosystem processes, their impact is often not uniform. This variability is attributed to among-site differences (soil, climate, plant community): within site variability is often ignored. While many of L. maackii’s alterations to ecosystem processes were uniform across the site, several were dependent upon interactions between the exotic and the native tree species. Litter from L. maackii decomposed and lost N more rapidly under C. ovata than under the other native tree species. Soils beneath L. maackii shrubs located under C. ovata also had a greater fungal:bacterial ratio and a greater abundance of the saprophytic fungal lipid biomarker 18:1ω9c. These results demonstrate that L. maackii’s impact extends to ecosystem processes and suggests that invasive plants may have variable effects within a given environment depending on their interactions with the dominant native species. Identifying native species or communities that are more vulnerable to alterations of ecosystem function upon invasion may prove useful to land managers and foster a better understanding of the role that community dynamics play in moderating or enhancing invasive species impacts.

The aim of the thesis was to conduct a literature search on cultivation and especially pollination of honeysuckle, by attempting to compare the effect of free pollination with manual self-pollination and manual cross-pollination on fruit yield and study pollinators of Lonicera cearulea L. Therefore, in 2018, pollination and bee diversity were assessed from April to May by 'Sinnaja ptica', 'Gerda' and 'Viola' varieties. The results confirmed honeysuckle insect infestation. Self-pollination and non-pollination did not reach harvest parameters as in the case of free pollination. However, there is an unspecified influence of pollinators on the efficacy of blue honeysuckle pollination since manual foreign pollination has failed to maximize yield. Blooming haskaps prefer long-tongued bees, especially bumblebees and honeybees.

The submitted thesis on the topic of Evaluation of Growth and Harvest Data of Kamchatka blueberries is focused on the description of possibilities of cultivation and using of individual varieties of edible honeysuckle. The evaluation and monitoring of planting took place on the property school agricultural enterprise in Žabčice, the laboratory pat and the evaluation of results took place in the laboratory of Mendel University in Brno. This thesis includes characteristic of genus Lonicera L., botanical description of genus Lonicera kamtschatica L., growing demands, multiplication possibilities, description of the most famous variety and results of observation of 27 varieties of edible honeysuckle. The height of the bush, cubic capacity of bush, annual increment and phenological phases were evaluated. To harvest parameters were monitored a height, fruit width, fruit weight, fruit shape shrub yield, content of refractometric dry matter,content of ascorbic acid and the total dry matter content of the fruit. The annex of this thesis comprise graphs and tables of recording of results. During the observation, a continuous documentation was taken, and it is used in the thesis.

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Invasive exotic plant species have been recognized as serious threats to ecosystems. Extensive research on invasive exotic plant species has primarily focused on the impacts, characteristics, and potential treatments. Decision tools and management models that incorporate these findings often lack input from managers and have limited use in differing invasion scenarios. Therefore, in this study, I created a scientifically-driven framework that incorporates expert input to prioritize watersheds for management within the Inner Bluegrass region of Kentucky. The widely distributed invasive exotic plant Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) was used as an example species. The framework is built around the Analytic Hierarchy Process and highlights areas in most need of invasive exotic plant management by incorporating weighted landscape variables associated with the invasion process. Results of the prioritization provide useful information for natural resource managers by aiding in the development of control strategies while also creating a valuable framework that can be adapted to various invasive exotic plant species.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Miami University, Dept. of Botany, 2004. / Title from second page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p.70-79).