Plant Invasions in Forest Ecosystems: Understanding Arrival, Expansion 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: 14 September 2024 | Viewed by 962
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biogeochemical cycle; stable isotope ecology; big data analysis
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Invasions of alien plant species present formidable challenges to the delicate equilibrium of forest ecosystems, affecting biodiversity, ecological functions, and human interactions. This special issue concentrates on unraveling the intricate dynamics of plant invasions within forest ecosystems, with the goal of deepening our understanding of the involved processes and exploring effective management strategies. By delving into the mechanisms of arrival and expansion and refining management insights, this collection of articles aims to contribute valuable knowledge to alleviate the adverse effects of plant invasions. Additionally, it seeks to foster the sustainable coexistence of native and invasive alien species in forest environments. Further expansion of research will delve into the impacts of plant invasions on the soil ecological-chemical processes in forest ecosystems, as well as their roles in forest carbon and hydrological cycles. Simultaneously, attention will be directed towards the interplay between plant invasions and climate change, exploring their adaptability and influence on forest ecosystems under changing climatic conditions. This special issue serves as a platform for the scientific community and managers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of plant invasions, driving us towards a more holistic approach to confront and address the challenges they pose to forest ecosystems.
Dr. Jun Liu
Dr. Zacchaeus Compson
Guest Editors
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
- plant invasions
- plant expansion
- forest ecosystems
- ecosystem resilience
- biodiversity
- management strategies
- ecological restoration
Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
Title: Drivers of Plant Invasion in Stream Restoration
Authors: Douglas A. DeBerry; Dakota M. Hunter
Affiliation: William & Mary
Abstract: This study characterized important environmental factors that contribute to plant invasion in the forested riparian zones surrounding stream restoration sites. We sampled vegetation and environmental variables (light availability, soil physiochemistry, site age) across invasion gradients at multiple sites in Virginia, USA. Data analysis involved a multimetric statistical approach combining correlation and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) to arrive at a plausible model for invasion risk by species. We targeted three of the most problematic invaders in these systems: Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza), Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle), and Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass). Our analysis revealed species-specific environmental drivers of invasion with certain factors consistently important across all targeted invaders – notably, canopy cover, nitrogen availability, soil texture, and bioavailable phosphorus as indicated by the importance of certain proxies (e.g., metal cations). The results of this research have been used to develop a suite of best practices that can be implemented at the outset of a stream restoration project to reduce the risk of invasion in the riparian forests surrounding these sites.
Title: Chaotic Behavior and Long Transients in the Invasion of a Tree Species of a Native Forest
Authors: Donald L. DeAngelis; Yuanming Lu
Affiliation: U. S. Geological Survey, Davie, Florida;
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Abstract: The invasion of a non-native tree species, Melaleuca quinquenervia, in a native forest in Florida, and their subsequent competition, is simulated using agent-based modeling. A level of biocontrol is applied to the invasive species. It is shown that slight changes in the initial spatial distributions of the trees can lead to large differences in the outcome; that is, in whether the invasive species is successful in replacing the native forest or is excluded. Long transient behavior, in which stable coexistence seems to occur, can suddenly switch to rapid extinction of either the invader or the native species.
