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Forests
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Forest Invasive Species: Spread, Impact and Management
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Forest Invasive Species: Spread, Impact and Management

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2019) | Viewed by 23136

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ari M. Hietala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Dept. of Forest Health, Pb. 115, NO-1431 Ås/Vinnaveien 38, 7512 Stjørdal, Norway
Interests: biodiversity; ecology and genetics of fungi associated with forest trees; invasive species; tree-microbe interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Globalization is facilitating the movement of species around the world. An invasive species is a plant, animal, or microbe species that is not native to a specific location, and that has a tendency to spread to a degree that causes socio-cultural, economic, or environmental harm. In the absence of natural predators, competitors, and parasites, invasive species can prosper in new environments and spread at the expense of native species, affecting entire ecosystems and landscapes. The longevity and generally high maturity age of trees slow down the adaptation of forest ecosystems to new threats, such as invasive species. Once established in an area, introduced species have proven to be very difficult to eliminate. In addition to unintentionally-introduced organisms, such as harmful insects and pathogenic microbes, invasive species include also organisms deliberately introduced to gain economic, environmental, or social benefits; there are, for example, striking examples of planting of alien forest tree species that are effectively dispersing in the landscape and causing a potential threat to several ecosystems.

The goal of this Special Issue is to provide an up-to-date compilation of representative case studies that address the spread, ecological and economic impact, and strategies of control of invasive plant, animal and microbe species associated with forests.  

Dr. Ari M. Hietala
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Best practice management
  • Biological invasions
  • Ecological and economic impacts
  • International trade

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 14773 KiB  
Article
At a Microsite Scale, Native Vegetation Determines Spatial Patterns and Survival of Pinus contorta Invasion in Patagonia
by Bárbara Langdon, Lohengrin A. Cavieres and Aníbal Pauchard
Forests 2019, 10(8), 654; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10080654 - 02 Aug 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2459
Abstract
Research Highlights: The invasive species Pinus contorta, has become a new component of the vegetation in the Patagonian Steppe, invading the complex matrix of bare ground, tussock grasses and cushion plants. At a microsite scale, the type of native vegetation is one [...] Read more.
Research Highlights: The invasive species Pinus contorta, has become a new component of the vegetation in the Patagonian Steppe, invading the complex matrix of bare ground, tussock grasses and cushion plants. At a microsite scale, the type of native vegetation is one of the multiple factors determining the establishment of P. contorta and in some cases, increasing its survival, and as a result, the invasion of the species. Background and Objectives: The presence of trees, particularly pines, where they are naturally absent, represents a clear threat to Patagonian steppe ecosystems. Thus, understanding the interaction between pines and native plant species may be the key to understanding the invasion and applying management actions. Pinus contorta is considered one of the most aggressive among the pines species, with recognized impacts on regions in the southern hemisphere and Europe, and it is one of the main invaders in the Patagonian steppe. Our aim in this study is to determine the influence of surrounding vegetation on P. contorta spatial distribution, its establishment and future development in the Chilean Patagonia. Materials and Methods: We used point pattern analysis to determine the existence of spatial associations between P. contorta and the resident vegetation of the Patagonian steppe. Further, a seeding experiment was carried out to assess the influence of the surrounding vegetation during P. contorta establishment and first growing season. Results: We found that young P. contorta individuals are positively associated with the native cushion plant B. magellanica and also to tussock grasses. Seeding experiments showed that P. contorta is influenced by resident plant species during establishment and is able to establish on any ground cover type in the Patagonian steppe, but some resident plant species increase P. contorta survival chances. Conclusions: Pinus contorta is interacting with native vegetation and becoming an active component of the Patagonian steppe mosaic. Although pines can establish in any type of vegetation in the Patagonian steppe mosaics, native cushion and tussock grasses may be facilitating the process and promoting pine survival, allowing it to survive and thrive in this stressful environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Invasive Species: Spread, Impact and Management)
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15 pages, 1635 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Soils from Different Forest Types on the Growth of the Invasive Plant Phytolacca americana
by Peng-Dong Chen, Yu-Ping Hou, Yan-Hui Zhuge, Wei Wei and Qiao-Qiao Huang
Forests 2019, 10(6), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10060492 - 07 Jun 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3368
Abstract
Due to increasing globalization and human disturbance, plant invasion has become a worldwide concern. Soil characteristics associated with the vegetation of recipient communities affect plant invasion success to a great extent. However, the relative importance of soil biotic and abiotic factors of different [...] Read more.
Due to increasing globalization and human disturbance, plant invasion has become a worldwide concern. Soil characteristics associated with the vegetation of recipient communities affect plant invasion success to a great extent. However, the relative importance of soil biotic and abiotic factors of different recipient communities in resisting plant invasion is not fully understood. We hypothesized that natural forest soils can better resist plant invasion than can plantation soils, that the allelopathic legacy of resident trees in soil plays a role in resisting invasive plants, and that late-successional soils have a strong effect. We examined the effects of soil and litter collected from four natural forests at successional stages and one Robinia pseudoacacia Linn. plantation in eastern China on the growth of Phytolacca americana L., which is a highly invasive species across China, and explored the individual effects of soil nutrients, allelochemicals, and soil microbes. We found that allelopathic activity of natural forest soils can effectively resist P. americana invasion, and that low level of nutrients, especially of phosphorus, in the soils might be potential limiting factors for the plant growth. The profound conditioning of soil resources by exotic R. pseudoacacia based on tree traits (including allelopathy) facilitated further P. americana invasion. Allelochemicals from forest litter inhibited the germination of P. americana seeds, but pH played a major role in P. americana growth when these substances entered the soil. However, we have no evidence that late-successional forest soils exhibit strong allelopathy toward P. americana. The present study will help to further our understanding of the mechanism of community resistance to invasion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Invasive Species: Spread, Impact and Management)
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16 pages, 2511 KiB  
Article
Cryptic Risks to Forest Biosecurity Associated with the Global Movement of Commercial Seed
by Michelle Cleary, Funda Oskay, Hatice Tugba Doğmuş, Asko Lehtijärvi, Stephen Woodward and Anna Maria Vettraino
Forests 2019, 10(5), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10050459 - 27 May 2019
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 7031
Abstract
The import and export of tree seed carries with it risks of inadvertent introduction of pests and pathogens to hitherto unaffected regions. Although trade in seed of specified trees is regulated, phytosanitary requirements for most tree species are minimal, even those related to [...] Read more.
The import and export of tree seed carries with it risks of inadvertent introduction of pests and pathogens to hitherto unaffected regions. Although trade in seed of specified trees is regulated, phytosanitary requirements for most tree species are minimal, even those related to the most important forest tree species in a given region. A better understanding of the microbiome associated with seed intended for commercial production or ornamental use, and their potential risk with the transport from the source origin of distributors, will help regulatory agencies implement measures to safeguard seed health and avoid trade-related spread of potentially harmful pathogens. In this study we used high-throughput sequencing to show that highly diverse fungal communities were associated with seed of 14 different Pinus species obtained from seed banks (seed orchards) and retail sources (online distributors) in North America and Europe. Fungal diversity differed among the 23 seedlots tested. Community composition did not relate to the species of Pinus nor the country of origin. Assigned potential functions based on sequence identity using FUNGuild provided an overall understanding of the likely life strategies of fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Of those sequences classified to a trophic level, 453 were plant pathogens, with the Dothideomycetes having the highest prevalence. The most common plant pathogens included Sydowia polyspora, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Diplodia intermedia and Diplodia sapinea that were detected from the majority of Pinus species. The evidence presented here illustrates an urgent need for plant protection authorities, practitioners and the general public to recognize the potential risk of introducing harmful pathogens through innocent transport of seed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Invasive Species: Spread, Impact and Management)
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10 pages, 2639 KiB  
Article
Transformation of Multi-Antibiotic Resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia with GFP Gene to Enable Tracking its Survival on Pine Trees
by Yu-Long Li, Cui-Yun Zheng, Kan-Cheng Liu, Yang Wu, Ben Fan and Zheng-Min Han
Forests 2019, 10(3), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10030231 - 05 Mar 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2840
Abstract
Pinus massoniana Lamb., commonly known as Masson Pine, is one of the most important tree species for planted forests in China. This species is, however, threatened by pine wilt disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Palleroni & Bradbury 1993) Smal-007, a [...] Read more.
Pinus massoniana Lamb., commonly known as Masson Pine, is one of the most important tree species for planted forests in China. This species is, however, threatened by pine wilt disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Palleroni & Bradbury 1993) Smal-007, a bacterium isolated from the body surface of native B. xylophilus, was evidenced to possess the ability to prevent and control this disease. In this study, we focus on exploring effective transformation and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeling of Smal-007, in order to facilitate its later investigation. The results indicated that the recombination of antibiotic Tp (trimethoprim), and the uncoupling reagent, CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazine), was effective for the transformation of the multidrug-resistant bacterium. An optimal transformation procedure, including electroporation, was established. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report where such a method was used for S. maltophilia transformation. Furthermore, Smal-007 was labeled by GFP, allowing the monitoring of its survival ability in pine trees. The labeling was robust and recognizable in isolates recovered from pine needles and bark. In summary, our study indicated that combining uncoupling reagents could be a useful approach to finding operative antibiotic markers for the transformation of multidrug-resistant bacteria. In addition, our successful labeling of Smal-007 with GFP could improve the understanding of its ecological impact, when used as a biocontrol agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Invasive Species: Spread, Impact and Management)
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10 pages, 1868 KiB  
Article
Genetic Analyses of the Laurel Wilt Pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, in Asia Provide Clues on the Source of the Clone that is Responsible for the Current USA Epidemic
by Tyler J. Dreaden, Marc A. Hughes, Randy C. Ploetz, Adam Black and Jason A. Smith
Forests 2019, 10(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10010037 - 08 Jan 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3271
Abstract
Laurel wilt is caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Fraedrich and Aghayeva, a nutritional symbiont of its vector the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff. Both are native to Asia but appeared in Georgia in the early 2000s. Laurel wilt has [...] Read more.
Laurel wilt is caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Fraedrich and Aghayeva, a nutritional symbiont of its vector the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff. Both are native to Asia but appeared in Georgia in the early 2000s. Laurel wilt has since spread to much of the southeastern United States killing >300 million host trees in the Lauraceae plant family. The aims of this research were to elucidate the genetic structure of populations of R. lauricola, to examine its reproductive strategy, and determine how often the pathogen had been introduced to the USA. A panel of 12 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers identified 15 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) in a collection of 59 isolates from the USA (34 isolates), Myanmar (18), Taiwan (6) and Japan (1). Limited diversity in the USA isolates and the presence of one MAT idiotype (mating type locus) indicated that R. lauricola was probably introduced into the country a single time. MLG diversity was far greater in Asia than the USA. Only three closely related MLGs were detected in the USA, the most prevalent of which (30 of 34 isolates) was also found in Taiwan. Although more work is needed, the present results suggest that a Taiwanese origin is possible for the population of R. lauricola in the USA. Isolates of R. lauricola from Myanmar were distinct from those from Japan, Taiwan and the USA. Although both MAT idiotypes were present in Myanmar and Taiwan, only the population from Taiwan had the genetic structure of a sexually reproducing population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Invasive Species: Spread, Impact and Management)
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20 pages, 1492 KiB  
Article
Context-Dependence of Urban Forest Vegetation Invasion Level and Alien Species’ Ecological Success
by Marcin K. Dyderski and Andrzej M. Jagodziński
Forests 2019, 10(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10010026 - 03 Jan 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3781
Abstract
Research Highlights: Urban ecosystems are claimed to be more invaded than natural vegetation. Despite numerous studies, the patterns of alien species occurrence in urban forests are rarely linked to invasion ecology hypotheses. Background and Objectives: We assumed that patterns of invasion [...] Read more.
Research Highlights: Urban ecosystems are claimed to be more invaded than natural vegetation. Despite numerous studies, the patterns of alien species occurrence in urban forests are rarely linked to invasion ecology hypotheses. Background and Objectives: We assumed that patterns of invasion level (i.e., neophyte richness) and neophyte ecological success (cover) are context-dependent, i.e., depend on the type of vegetation, and that hypotheses connected with empty niche and biotic acceptance will have the strongest support in urban forests. We also tested biotic resistance, habitat filtering, disturbance, resource availability, and environmental heterogeneity hypotheses. Materials and Methods: Using a random forest algorithm, we tested the importance of factors related to invasion ecology hypotheses in a dataset of urban forest vegetation plots (n = 120). We studied seven types of forest plant communities occurring in Poznań (W Poland) and we assessed the vegetation’s taxonomic and functional composition. Results: We found that models of alien species richness and cover explained 28.5% and 35.0% of variance, respectively. Vegetation type was of the highest importance in both cases, suggesting that the occurrence of alien plant species is context-dependent. Resource availability and disturbance ecological indicator values were also of high importance. Conclusions: Our study supported resource availability and habitat filtering hypotheses as explanations of the level of invasion and ecological success of alien species in an urban forest, with partial support for the disturbance hypothesis. Our study revealed that predictors of invasion level are context-dependent, as patterns of alien species richness and cover differed among vegetation types. We highlight context-dependence of alien species invasion patterns in different vegetation types due to the habitat-forming role of dominant tree species and different availability of resources and disturbance levels, as well as different pools of native species. Thus, prevention and management of biological invasions in urban forests should account for forest vegetation type. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Invasive Species: Spread, Impact and Management)
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