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Causes and consequences of Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense lour.) invasion in hydrologically altered forested wetlands

<p> What drives invasive species success? My research consists of four studies aiming to answer this question for <i>Ligustrum sinense</i>. The four projects are: (1) Synthesis of invasion literature within passenger-driver-backseat driver frameworks; (2) hydrochory investigation of water as a dispersal mechanism for invasion; (3) ecohydrology investigation of inundation effects on seed viability of <i>L. sinense</i>; (4) dendrochronology study of the effects of stream channelization and <i>L. sinense</i> invasion on bottomland oak tree growth. Results suggest that <i>L. sinense</i> initially invaded habitats that were hydrologically altered, resulting in drier conditions and a "novel niche." Dispersal <i>via</i> hydrochory allowed <i>L. sinense</i> to quickly colonize the novel niches. Once established, <i>L. sinense</i> competed with native oak species contributing to reduced growth rates, an "invasion meltdown." Control strategies should aim to remove <i>L. sinense</i> and return natural hydrologic regimes, or should consist of human-assisted re-establishment of native species that can thrive in altered conditions.</p>

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:1563273
Date07 October 2014
CreatorsFoard, Meghan
PublisherArkansas State University
Source SetsProQuest.com
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typethesis

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