| Abstract Detail
Conservation Biology Sweetser, Suzanne [1], Major, C. Smoot [1], Allison, David [2], Major, Kelly [1]. The abundance and distribution of the top 10 invasive plants in southern Alabama: development of a model for predicting potential invasion. THE ultimate goal of this project is to develop a predictive model that will be of use to conservation biologists and land managers. Habitat, distributional, geospatial and historical data are being used to identify native and protected habitats likely to be impacted by biological invasion and subsequent losses in biodiversity. Transect, block and route sampling techniques are being employed to gather information regarding plant community structure, habitat type, pathways of transport, as well as, the presence/absence and distribution of exotic and/or invasive plants across the coastal counties of Alabama. Geospatial data (e.g., elevation, proximity to water, slope, and aspect) are being gathered for each point for each route for addition indicators. At present, we have collected preliminary floristic data that suggest several exotic species have established potentially viable populations along tributaries of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, the Gulf of Mexico coastline and on islands in Mobile Bay. The focus of this discussion will be on the top ten invasive non-indigenous plants identified as the worst invaders by the Alabama Invasive Plant Council: Alternathera philoxeroides, Rosa spp., Hydrilla verticillata, Triadica sebifera, Imperata cylindrica, Lygodium japonicum, Ligustrum sinense, Solanum viarum, Pueraria montana var. lobata, and Myriophyllum spicata. Preliminary analysis indicates a relationship between several of these species and certain physical parameters (e.g., longitude, latitude, elevation, proximity to population centers, etc.). Additional analyses indicate a significant relationship between occurrences of these species in conjuncture with landscape features.
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1 - University of South Alabama, Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Bldg. #124, 307 University Blvd. North, Mobile, Alabama, 36688, USA
2 - University of South Alabama, Geological Sciences, Lsb 124, Mobile, Alabama, 36688, USA
Keywords:
invasive
exotic.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 43-4
Location: 108/Tehama
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 11:00 AM
Abstract ID:710 |
