Do mature forests present barriers to nonnative plant invasion? Lonicera Maackii invasion in deciduous forests of central Kentucky

Abstract

Nonnative invasive plants can negatively affect the abundance and survival of native plant species and alter ecosystem function. Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is an invasive shrub that is an increasingly onerous problem for forest management in eastern North America. While much is known about the effects of Amur honeysuckle on native plant communities, less is known about the invasion process and the factors that influence the encroachment of Amur honeysuckle into forested sites. Factors that have been implicated in the spread of invasive shrubs include canopy openness, proximity to urban/suburban areas and roads, and historical disturbance. We examined site-specific characteristics that correlated with the establishment of Amur honeysuckle and other nonnative invasive plants in mature forests in central Kentucky.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings, 17th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

Wilson, Heather N.; Arthur, Mary A.; McEwan, Ryan W.; Lee, Brian D.; Paratley, Robert D. 2011. Do mature forests present barriers to nonnative plant invasion Lonicera Maackii invasion in deciduous forests of central Kentucky. In: Fei, Songlin; Lhotka, John M.; Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Miller, Gary W., eds. Proceedings, 17th central hardwood forest conference; 2010 April 5-7; Lexington, KY; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-78. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 652-653.