A scientist working with the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center developed methods for stratified-random surveys of exotic, invasive plant species able to spread into forest interiors of Southern Appalachians. Many exotic plant species (20-30+) are introduced, become established, and spread along roads, trails, etc., in the Southern Appalachians, but only a few of these species are able to move into forest interiors, especially without the encouragement of severe disturbances (e.g., landslides, very hot fires, land clearance). A few species (e.g., Tree of Heaven, Japanese Stilt Grass) are found in forest interiors.  

Researchers developed intensive data collection procedures for interior sites to identify any patterns in biotic, abiotic, and/or other environmental factors that might be linked to success (based on biomass) of exotic plants across numerous interior sites where these species were found. All data from multiple sites will be analyzed using multivariate and other analytical approaches to determine if significant relationships exist that can be used to construct risk models and maps for Southern Appalachian forests.

Contact: Ken Stolte, research ecologist, (919) 549-4022, kstolte@fs.fed.us

Partners: Equinox and U.S. Forest Service (Southern Appalachian National Forests)

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Top photo by James Miller, USDA Forest Service, www.bugwood.org; Bottom photo by Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, www.bugwood.org