Ecological Consequences of Exotic Invaders: Interactions Involving European Earthworms and Native Plant Communities in Hardwood Forests

外来入侵者的生态后果：欧洲蚯蚓和阔叶林本土植物群落的相互作用

• 批准号: 0075236
• 负责人: Lee Frelich
• 金额: $ 31.82万
• 依托单位: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-09-01 至 2004-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0075236&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Ecological; Consequences; Exotic; Invaders; Interactions

0075236FrelichEuropean earthworm species have recently begun to invade hardwood forest ecosystems in the northern United States. Many of these forests have thick forest floor layers that serve as the rooting medium for forest herbs and tree seedlings. Exotic earthworms consume the "duff" layer, sometimes leaving exposed mineral soil. Although there is significant concern about the potential loss of native forest plant species and ecosystem stability, little is known about how plant communities and ecosystems respond to invasion by detritivores (detritus-feeders). The overarching hypothesis of the study is that earthworm invasion will have cascading effects on soil characteristics and forest-floor vegetation, and that resilience of the community will depend on site productivity and interaction with deer grazing. This study will employ deer exclosures, field studies, and experimental manipulations to determine rates and patterns of change in earthworm populations, assess effects of earthworm species on forest floor and understory vegetation, identify factors affecting vegetation recovery following establishment of earthworm populations, and examine earthworm impacts across a site productivity gradient. This study will lead to increased understanding of the process of invasion by exotic animal species and will have significant implications for forest management and restoration.

0075236 Frelicheurepean earth物种最近开始入侵美国北部的硬木森林生态系统。 这些森林中的许多都有厚实的森林地板层，可作为森林草药和树幼苗的生根介质。 外来的earth消耗“达夫”层，有时会留下裸露的矿物土壤。 尽管人们对本地森林植物物种和生态系统稳定的潜在丧失有很大的关注，但人们对植物群落和生态系统如何应对碎屑剂（碎屑饲养者）的入侵知之甚少。 这项研究的总体假设是，earth侵袭将对土壤特征和森林植被产生级联影响，并且社区的弹性将取决于现场生产力和与鹿放牧的相互作用。 这项研究将采用鹿的排他性，现场研究和实验操作来确定earth虫种群变化的速率和模式，评估worm物种对森林地板和林木植被的影响，确定earth虫种群建立后影响植被恢复的因素，并检查earth虫的影响。 这项研究将提高对异国动物物种入侵过程的了解，并将对森林管理和恢复产生重大影响。