The effect of disturbance history on hawkweed invasion (Montana)

Abstract

Orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) is listed as a noxious weed in five states (USDA 2007), including Montana, where it is still in the early - and possibly controllable - stages of invasion. The species forms dense clonal mats that exclude natives from the area; moreover, the wind-borne seeds are viable in the soil for seven years and have a high germination rate. Here, we document current densities and habitat associations of this potential invasive species in northwest Montana as a basis for future monitoring and management. Studies of other Hieracium species found that land management history and propagule pressure significantly influence hawkweed invasion (e.g., Rose and Frampton 1999). Although it is believed that orange hawkweed grows in open, disturbed areas such as roadsides and meadows, there are no studies of the specific factors that influence its distribution.

Citation

Jones, Alexis; Crone, Elizabeth. 2009. The effect of disturbance history on hawkweed invasion (Montana). Ecological Restoration. 27:2: 139-141.