Non-native plant invasions of United States National Parks |
| |
Authors: | Julia A Allen Cynthia S Brown Thomas J Stohlgren |
| |
Institution: | (1) Carbon County Weed and Pest, Box 179, Elk Mountain, WY 82324, USA;(2) Biological Science and Pest Management, Colorado State University, 1177 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;(3) US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2050 Centre Ave. Bldg. C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA |
| |
Abstract: | The United States National Park Service was created to protect and make accessible to the public the nation’s most precious
natural resources and cultural features for present and future generations. However, this heritage is threatened by the invasion
of non-native plants, animals, and pathogens. To evaluate the scope of invasions, the USNPS has inventoried non-native plant
species in the 216 parks that have significant natural resources, documenting the identity of non-native species. We investigated
relationships among non-native plant species richness, the number of threatened and endangered plant species, native species
richness, latitude, elevation, park area and park corridors and vectors. Parks with many threatened and endangered plants
and high native plant species richness also had high non-native plant species richness. Non-native plant species richness
was correlated with number of visitors and kilometers of backcountry trails and rivers. In addition, this work reveals patterns
that can be further explored empirically to understand the underlying mechanisms. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|