2009 Research Highlights
U.S. invasive plants identified in comprehensive database
Over 4,000 plants have been introduced in the U.S. through accidental and intentional releases. Some of these species have become invasive by out-competing native biota for resources, thus threatening native communities and reducing species diversity. Developing a method to identify potentially invasive species from this pool of introduced plants will enable the prediction and prevention of future invasions; however, while some invasive plant species share certain biological traits, no one trait can be used as a convenient predictor of invasiveness.
In order to examine parameters of plant invasion success in the United States, scientists with the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center are developing a database that compiles several key life history and genetic traits for all currently known introduced plant species, including morphological traits, pollination and dispersal mechanisms, chromosome number, habitat preferences, and geographical distribution. Currently, researchers and collaborators have developed the database structure and have begun populating the database using a variety of sources, such as relevant existing databases, scientific literature, Internet Web sites, and herbarium specimens.
These data will allow for continental scale analyses of biological traits that influence species invasiveness and distribution and will aid in developing early warning systems, predictive models, risk assessments, and management plans for invasive plant species. The database will be made available on the Internet for the public, land managers, scientists, and policymakers to use as a comprehensive resource of introduced plants in the U.S.
Contact: Qinfeng Guo, research ecologist, (828) 257-4246, qinfeng.guo@usda.gov
Partners: University of North Carolina Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center; Illinois State Museum; University of Missouri; U.S. Geological Survey; South Florida Water Management District; Chinese Academy of Science; University of California-Berkeley; USGS-EROS Data Center; Nanjing University; Taiwan National University; University of Georgia; other USDA Forest Service units
