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Hocking S, Toop T, Jones D, Graham I, Eastwood D. Assessing the relative impacts and economic costs of Japanese knotweed management methods. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3872. [PMID: 36932085 PMCID: PMC10023688 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30366-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustainable land management encompasses a range of activity that balance land use requirements with wider conservation and ecosystem impact considerations. Perennial invasive alien plants (IAPs), such as Japanese knotweed, cause severe ecological and socio-economic impacts, and methods to control their spread also come at a cost. Synthetic herbicides are generally viewed as less sustainable and more ecologically damaging than alternative approaches. Here we used a comparative Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate the sustainability of herbicide-based management approaches and physical alternatives, using a large-scale Japanese knotweed field study as a model IAP system. Glyphosate-based methods elicited the lowest environmental impacts and economic costs during production. Geomembrane covering and integrated physiochemical methods were the costliest and imposed the greatest impacts. We discuss the costs and benefits of chemical and physical approaches for the sustainable management of invaded land and question how sustainable environmental stewardship is defined for the control of IAPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Hocking
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
| | - Trisha Toop
- Agri-EPI Centre, Poultry Lane, Edgmond, Newport, TF10 8JZ, England, UK
- Harper Adams University, Poultry Lane, Edgmond, Newport, TF10 8NB, England, UK
| | - Daniel Jones
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
- Advanced Invasives Ltd., Sophia House, 28 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ, UK
| | - Ian Graham
- Complete Weed Control Ltd., Unit 16, Hurworth Road, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 6UD, UK
| | - Daniel Eastwood
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
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Margalef-Marrase J, Molowny-Horas R, Jaime L, Lloret F. Modelling the dynamics of Pinus sylvestris forests after a die-off event under climate change scenarios. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159063. [PMID: 36202357 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, die-off events in Pinus sylvestris populations have increased. The causes of these phenomena, which are usually related to local and regional extreme hot droughts, have been extensively investigated from a physiological viewpoint. However, the consequences of die-off process in terms of demography and vegetation dynamics have been less thoroughly addressed. Here, we projected P. sylvestris plot dynamics after a die-off event, under climate change scenarios, considering also their early demographic stages (i.e., seedlings, saplings and ingrowth from the sapling to adult class), to assess the resilience of P. sylvestris populations after such events. We used Integral Projection Models (IPMs) to project future plot structure under current climate, and under RCP4.5 and RCP8.0 climate scenarios, using climatic suitability - extracted from Species Distribution Models - as a covariable in the estimations of vital rates over time. Field data feeding IPMs were obtained from two successive surveys, at the end of the die-off event (2013) and four years later (2017), undertaken on populations situated across the P. sylvestris range of distribution in Catalonia (NE Spain). Plots affected by die-off experienced a loss of large trees, which causes that basal area, tree diameter and tree density will remain lower for decades relative to unaffected plots. After the event, this situation is partially counterbalanced in affected plots by a greater increase in basal area and seedling recruitment into tree stage, thus promoting resilience. However, resilience is delayed under the climate-change scenarios with warmer and drier conditions involving additional physiological stress, due to a reduced abundance of seedlings and a smaller plot basal area. The study shows lagged effect of drought-induced die-off events on forest structure, also revealing stabilizing mechanisms, such as recruitment and tree growth release, which enhance resilience. However, these mechanisms would be jeopardized by oncoming regional warming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Molowny-Horas
- Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Luciana Jaime
- Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Francisco Lloret
- Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Bellaterra 08193, Spain; Unitat d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
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Woch MW, Kapusta P, Stanek M, Zubek S, Stefanowicz AM. Functional traits predict resident plant response to Reynoutria japonica invasion in riparian and fallow communities in southern Poland. AOB PLANTS 2021; 13:plab035. [PMID: 34249308 PMCID: PMC8266581 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Reynoutria japonica is one of the most harmful invasive species in the world, dramatically reducing the diversity of resident vegetation. To mitigate the impact of R. japonica on ecosystems and properly manage affected areas, understanding the mechanisms behind this plant's invasive success is imperative. This study aimed to comprehensively analyse plant communities invaded by R. japonica, taking into account species traits, habitat conditions and seasonal variability, and to determine the ecological profile of species that withstand the invader's pressure. The study was performed in fallow and riparian areas in southern Poland. Pairs of adjacent plots were established at 25 sites with no obvious signs of recent human disturbance. One plot contained R. japonica, and the other contained only resident vegetation. For each plot, botanical data were collected and soil physicochemical properties were determined. Twelve sites were surveyed four times, in two springs and two summers, to capture seasonal variability. The presence of R. japonica was strongly associated with reduced resident plant species diversity and/or abundance. In addition to the ability to quickly grow and form a dense canopy that shades the ground, the success of the invader likely resulted from the production of large amounts of hard-to-decompose litter. The indirect impact of R. japonica by controlling the availability of nutrients in the soil might also play a role. A few species coexisted with R. japonica. They can be classified into three groups: (i) spring ephemerals - geophytic forbs with a mixed life history strategy, (ii) lianas with a competitive strategy and (iii) hemicryptophytic forbs with a competitive strategy. Species from the first two groups likely avoided competition for light by temporal or spatial niche separation (they grew earlier than or above the invasive plant), whereas the high competitive abilities of species from the third group likely enabled them to survive in R. japonica patches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin W Woch
- Institute of Biology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, PL- 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Paweł Kapusta
- Władysław Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, PL-31-512 Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Stanek
- Władysław Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, PL-31-512 Kraków, Poland
| | - Szymon Zubek
- Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, PL-30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna M Stefanowicz
- Władysław Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, PL-31-512 Kraków, Poland
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Erickson KD, Pratt PD, Rayamajhi MB, Horvitz CC. Seedling maturation drives spatial variability in demographic dynamics of an invader with multiple introductions: insights from an LTRE analysis. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02249-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Martin FM, Dommanget F, Lavallée F, Evette A. Clonal growth strategies of Reynoutria japonica in response to light, shade, and mowing, and perspectives for management. NEOBIOTA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.56.47511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Many of the most invasive plant species in the world can propagate clonally, suggesting clonality offers advantages that facilitate invasion. Gaining insights into the clonal growth dynamics of invasive plants should thus improve understanding of the mechanisms of their dominance, resilience and expansion. Belonging to the shortlist of the most problematic terrestrial invaders, Reynoutria japonica var. japonica Houtt. (Japanese knotweed) has colonized all five continents, likely facilitated by its impressive ability to propagate vegetatively. However, its clonal growth patterns are surprisingly understudied; we still do not know how individuals respond to key environmental conditions, including light availability and disturbance. To contribute to filling this knowledge gap, we designed a mesocosm experiment to observe the morphological variation in R. japonica growth in homogeneous or heterogeneous conditions of light stress (shade) and disturbance (mowing). Rhizome fragments were planted in the middle of large pots between two habitat patches that consisted of either one or a combination of the following three environmental conditions: full light without mowing, full light with frequent mowing, or shade without mowing. At the end of the experiment, biomass and traits related to clonal growth (spacer and rhizome lengths, number of rhizome branches, and number of ramets) were measured. After 14 months, all individuals had survived, even those frequently mowed or growing under heavy shade. We showed that R. japonica adopts a ‘phalanx’ growth form when growing in full light and a ‘guerrilla’ form when entirely shaded. The former is characteristic of a space-occupancy strategy while the latter is more associated with a foraging strategy. In heterogeneous conditions, we also showed that clones seemed to invest preferentially more in favorable habitat patches rather than in unfavorable ones (mowed or shaded), possibly exhibiting an escape strategy. These observations could improve the management of this species, specifically by illustrating how aggressive early control measures must be, by highlighting the importance of repeated mowing of entire stands, as this plant appears to compensate readily to partial mowing, and by informing on its potential responses towards the restoration of a cover of competitive native plants.
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Lavallée F, Smadi C, Alvarez I, Reineking B, Martin FM, Dommanget F, Martin S. A stochastic individual-based model for the growth of a stand of Japanese knotweed including mowing as a management technique. Ecol Modell 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Simmonds EG, Coulson T. Analysis of phenotypic change in relation to climatic drivers in a population of Soay sheepOvis aries. OIKOS 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.01727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily G. Simmonds
- Imperial College London, Division of Biology; Faculty of Life Sciences, Imperial College at Silwood Park; Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY UK
| | - Tim Coulson
- Imperial College London, Division of Biology; Faculty of Life Sciences, Imperial College at Silwood Park; Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY UK
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