Dissertations / Theses: 'Plant invasions'

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Reichard, Sarah H. "Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced to North America /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/5534.

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Dawson, Wayne. "Explaining alien plant invasions using Amani Botanical Garden in NE Tanzania." Thesis, Available from the University of Aberdeen Library and Historic Collections Digital Resources. Restricted: no access until June 8, 2010, 2009. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?application=DIGITOOL-3&owner=resourcediscovery&custom_att_2=simple_viewer&pid=26082.

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Hutchison, Melissa Alice Sarah. "Interactions between habitat fragmentation and invasions: factors driving exotic plant invasions in native forest remnants, West Coast, New Zealand." Thesis, University of Canterbury. School of Biological Sciences, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/3218.

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Habitat fragmentation and biological invasions are widely considered to be the most significant threats to global biodiversity, and synergistic interactions between these processes have the potential to cause even greater biodiversity loss than either acting alone. The objective of my study was to investigate the effects of fragmentation on plant communities in native forest fragments, and to examine potential interactions between these effects and invasions by exotic plants at multiple spatial scales. I examined edge, area and landscape effects on plant invasions using empirical data from fragmented landscapes on the West Coast of New Zealand. My research revealed significant interactions between the amount of native forest cover in the landscape and the strength of edge and area effects on plant communities in forest fragments. The dominance of exotic plants in the community was highest at forest edges and decreased towards fragment interiors, however the interiors of very small fragments were relatively more invaded by exotic plants than those in larger fragments, reflecting a significant interaction between edge and area effects. Similarly, exotic dominance increased in more heavily deforested landscapes, but this effect was only apparent in very small fragments (<2 ha). The combined effects of small fragment size and low forest cover in the landscape appear to have promoted invasions of exotic plants in very small remnants. I explored the mechanisms underlying edge-mediated invasions in forest fragments and examined whether propagule availability and/or habitat suitability may be limiting invasions into fragments. Experimental addition of exotic plant propagules revealed that landscape forest cover interacted with edge effects on germination, growth and flowering rates of two short-lived, herbaceous species, and this appeared to be driven by elevated light and soil phosphorus levels at edges in heavily deforested landscapes. I also examined the role of traits in influencing plant responses to forest fragmentation. Different traits were associated with exotic invasiveness in edge and interior habitats of forest fragments, indicating that the traits promoting invasiveness were context dependent. Traits also had a major influence on responses of native plants to forest fragmentation, with generalist species appearing to benefit from fragmentation, as they can utilise both forest and open habitats, whereas native forest specialists have been negatively impacted by fragmentation.

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Bishop, Tara Boyce. "Of Fire, Mammals, and Rain: Mechanisms of Plant Invasions." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2019. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/8572.

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Biological invasions are driving environmental state changes on a global scale. Exotic plant species must be successful at passing several abiotic and biotic filters to establish and disrupt the native plant community assembly. Understanding where exotic plants are on a regional scale and being able to characterize how exotic plants are generally interacting with their environment is crucial information for exotic species management (chapter 1). In the western United States human-related activities are augmenting the spread of exotic plant species by increasing the ignitions of wildfire. Wildfire can lead to nutrient pulses through the removal of intact native communities and returning some mineral content into the soil. Exotic plant species that have traits that efficiently acquire nutrients accompanied by rapid growth rates may outcompete native plants. In chapters 2, 3, and 4 experimental fires demonstrated that the direct effect of fire may not be as critical as the potential indirect effects of fire such as altering the behavior of consumers (chapter 2) and reducing competition (chapters 3 and 4). In the Mojave desert, rodent consumers can have strong top-down effects on plant community assembly through foraging selection preferences. Life history traits such as seedling and seed size can lead to differential herbivory and positively benefit some plant species while inhibiting others (chapter 1) which could indirectly alter plant-plant interactions. Plant competition is a biotic filter than can determine establishment success or failure. Species that with rapid growth rates and plastic growth responses are likely to be able to capitalize on fluctuations in available resources. In the Great Basin, forecasts in climate change models predict that precipitation timing will lead to heavier fall rains and more rain than snow in the winter. Water availability is one of the main limiting factors in semi-arid and arid ecosystems where native plants have adaptive traits to maximize resource use. The interaction of wildfire and changes in climate, specifically timing of precipitation is critical to understand to be able to predict and protect against increasing wildfire frequency and severity. In chapter three, the responses by a key exotic annual grass, Bromus tectorum, and keystone native perennial shrub Artemisia tridentata subsp. wyomingensis, were positive for increased early fall precipitation but much more pronounced for B. tectorum. Exotic annual plants are able to respond to changes in timing of fall precipitation and have extreme growth which leads to superior competitive abilities through interference and priority effects (chapter 4). Native plants can compete with exotics but the magnitude of the effects are diminished compared to the negative interaction from exotics. Together these findings demonstrate that across several regions exotic annual grasses are capable of passing through abiotic filters and disrupting biotic interactions of the native plant community. This is likely to lead to increased spread of exotic annual species and may indicate potential and availability of fine fuel production supporting increases in size and frequency of wildfires in the western United States.

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Harris, Kyle Robert. "Arthropod assemblages in a savanna invaded by Opuntia stricta (Cactaceae) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2009. http://upetd.up.ac/thesis/available/etd-11292009-211107.

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Parker, John. "Plant-herbivore interactions consequences for the structure of freshwater communities and exotic plant invasions /." Available online, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005, 2005. http://etd.gatech.edu/theses/available/etd-11182005-131013/.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006.
Mark E. Hay, Committee Chair ; Julia Kubanek, Committee Member ; Joseph Montoya, Committee Member ; J. Todd Streelman, Committee Member ; David M. Lodge, Committee Member. Includes bibliographical references.

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Scharfy, Deborah. "Exotic plant invasions : importance of functional traits for soil characteristics and plant-soil feedback /." [S.l.] : [s.n.], 2009. http://e-collection.ethbib.ethz.ch/show?type=diss&nr=18308.

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Parker, John D. "Plant-herbivore interactions : consequences for the structure of freshwater communities and exotic plant invasions." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/9460.

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Invasive exotic species threaten native biodiversity, alter ecosystem structure and function, and annually cost over $100 billion in the US alone. Determining the ecological traits and interactions that affect invasion success are thus critical for predicting, preventing, and mitigating the negative effects of biological invasions. Native herbivores are widely assumed to facilitate exotic plant invasions by preferentially consuming native plants and avoiding exotic plants. Here, I use freshwater plant communities scattered broadly across the Southeastern U.S. to show that herbivory is an important force driving the ecology and evolution of freshwater systems. However, native consumers often preferentially consume rather than avoid exotic over native plants. Analyses of 3 terrestrial datasets showed similar patterns, with native herbivores generally preferring exotic plants. Thus, exotic plants appear defensively nave against these evolutionarily novel consumers, and exotic plants may escape their coevolved, specialist herbivores only to be preferentially consumed by the native generalist herbivores in their new ranges. In further support of this hypothesis, a meta-analysis of 71 manipulative field studies including over 100 exotic plant species and 400 native plant species from terrestrial, aquatic, and marine systems revealed that native herbivores strongly suppressed exotic plants, while exotic herbivores enhanced the abundance and species richness of exotic plants by suppressing native plants. Both outcomes are consistent with the hypothesis that prey are susceptible to evolutionarily novel consumers. Thus, native herbivores provide biotic resistance to plant invasions, but the widespread replacement of native with exotic herbivores eliminates this ecosystem service, facilitates plant invasions, and triggers an invasional meltdown. Consequently, rather than thriving because they escape their co-evolved specialist herbivores, exotic plants may thrive because their co-evolved generalist herbivores have stronger negative effects on evolutionarily nave, native plants.

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Chandler, Brad James. "The effects of disturbance and deer herbivory on plant invasions." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Biological Sciences, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/3852.

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Despite the negative impacts invasive plants can impose on forest communities and the potential for these impacts to increase with global change, little has been done in New Zealand to examine what facilitates the establishment and spread of these species within native beech (Nothofagus solandri) forest. This study examines the role which forest canopy gaps and deer herbivory have on the dispersal, germination, establishment and spread of invasive plant species within the Nothofagus forests of the Hopkins and Huxley valleys, near Twizel, New Zealand. Propagule dispersal was enhanced by the presence of a gap in the above canopy, resulting in an increased number of seeds being caught on the sticky traps in these plots (159 compared to only 2 in the control plots). Seed bank samples were assessed by germination in a glasshouse for one year. The invasive seed bank was larger in the fenced plots and conversely to the other results of this study, the presence of a canopy gap had no effect on the size of the seed bank. Aboveground cover of these invasive plants was primarily driven by the existence of a canopy gap, suggesting that canopy gaps are the main cause of plant invasions into Nothofagus forest (9% mean cover in the gap plots compared to 0% in the control and fence plots). However, there was a further increase in the aboveground cover of these invasive plants where a deer exclusion fence was situated around the perimeter of an open canopy plot (27.5% mean cover in the gap fence plots compared to 9% in the gap plots). Thus, suggesting that deer herbivory could be decreasing the abundance of invasive plants in areas of forest where gaps have been created. The canopy gaps allowed invasive plants to spread back into the forest away from the openings but only for a short distance, as in all cases invasive plants were absent by 6-7m from the plot edge. This localised establishment and spread of invasive plants where canopy gaps have been created could pose a threat to New Zealand’s native Nothofagus forests, as many small populations spread out across a landscape can cause more ecosystem adversity than larger single populations. If not kept in check these invaders could increase further with global change however, if herbivory is assisting in the control of plant invasions management strategies for both invasive plants and introduced deer may need to be revised.

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Moodley, Desika. "Determinants of introduction and invasion success for Proteaceae." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/79851.

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Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Successful biological invasions take place when species introduced to regions outside their natural dispersal range overcome several barriers and establish, persist, proliferate and spread potentially resulting in major threats to biodiversity. The success of invasive alien plants depends on species-specific traits and characteristics of the introduced environment. In this thesis I explore which species traits are important and which environmental barriers need to be overcome for an invasion to occur using Proteaceae as a test case. Firstly, I assessed the global introduction history and invasion ecology of Proteaceae - a large plant family with many taxa that have been widely disseminated by humans, but with few known invaders. This revealed that at least 402 species (i.e. 24% of 1674 species in this family) are known to have been moved by humans out of their native ranges, 58 species (14%) have become naturalized and 8 species (2%) are invasive. The probability of naturalization was greatest for species with large native range sizes, low susceptibility to Phytophthora root-rot disease, larger seeds, mammal-dispersed seeds and those with the capacity to resprout after fire or other disturbances. The probability of naturalized species becoming invasive was greater for species with larger range sizes, species used as barrier plants, taller species, species with smaller seeds, serotinous species, and those that regenerated mainly through re-seeding. Secondly, I looked at mechanisms underlying naturalization on a regional scale, using species which are not already classified as major invaders. At least 26 non-native Proteaceae species have been introduced to, and are cultivated in, South Africa. Propagule pressure facilitated the naturalization of Hakea salicifolia populations in climatically suitable areas, but in suboptimal climates human-mediated land disturbance and land management activities are important for naturalization. Similar drivers are important for naturalization of other alien Proteaceae: a long residence time, fire regimes, poor land management, and propagule pressure were important mechanisms for naturalization. Thirdly, I determined whether reproduction, which in part drives propagule pressure, serves as a barrier for naturalization. I examined several Australian Proteaceae species introduced to South Africa and observed that all species were heavily utilized by native nectar-feeding birds and insects. The five Banksia species that were assessed are self-compatible but four species have a significantly higher reproductive output when pollinators visit inflorescences. Fruit production in H. salicifolia does not differ between naturally-pollinated and autonomously-fertilized flowers. Moreover, no significant difference in fruit production was observed between the five pollination treatments (i.e. natural, pollen-supplementation, autonomous, hand-selfed and hand-crossed treatments) and naturalized and non-naturalized populations. However, pollen limitation was detected in non-naturalized populations which received fewer pollinator visits than naturalized populations. Thus, reproduction limits but is not a fundamental barrier to invasion for H. salicifolia. I conclude that reproductive success of the studied Proteaceae, which is a key barrier determining invasiveness, is not limited by autonomous seed set or mutualisms in the introduced range. In this thesis I highlight biogeographical characteristics, a set of life-history traits and ecological traits as important determinants of invasiveness. These traits are in turn dependent on the stage of invasion. Characteristics of the recipient environment are also important drivers of invasions. This study provides a better understanding of plant invasions in general, but the patterns and processes of invasions highlighted in this thesis will be particularly useful for the current and future management of alien Proteaceae in South Africa and elsewhere, as well as, other species that are adapted to Mediterranean and nutrient poor ecosystems. For example, combining traits of invasiveness and susceptible environments will help to identify which non-native species pose a high risk of becoming invasive (e.g. species with large home ranges and barrier plants) and which conditions in the target area are likely to facilitate or exacerbate invasions (e.g. strong climate match and high propagule pressure).
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suksesvolle biologiese indringing vind plaas wanneer ŉ spesie geïntroduseer word in ŉ area buite sy natuurlike verspreidings area, sekere versperrings oorkom, vestig, bly voortbestaan, vermenigvuldig en versprei en potensieel ŉ groot bedreiging inhou vir biodiversiteit. Die sukses van uitheemse indringer plante hang af van spesifieke kenmerke van die spesie en kenmerke van die omgewing waarin dit geïntroduseer word. In hierdie tesis maak ek gebruik van Proteaceae om te ondersoek watter kenmerke is belangrik en watter omgewing versperrings moet oorkom word vir indringing om plaas te vind. Ten eerste assesseer ek die wêreldwye introduksie geskiedenis en indringers ekologie van Proteaceae – ŉ groot plant familie wat wyd gebruik word deur mense, maar met min indringer spesies. Dit het gewys dat mense ten minste 402 spesies (dus 24% van die 1674 spesies in die familie) uit die inheemse areas verskuif het, 58 spesies (14%) genaturaliseer het en 8 spesies (2%) indringers geword het. Die moontlikheid van naturalisasie was die grootste vir spesies met ŉ groot inheemse streek, lae vatbaarheid vir Phytophthora wortelvrot, groter sade, dier verspreide sade en die met ŉ vermoë om weer uit te spruit na ŉ vuur of ander versteuring. Die moontlikheid van genaturaliseerde spesies om indringers te word, was groter vir spesies met groter streek grootte, spesies wat as versperring plante gebruik word, hoër spesies, spesies met kleiner sade, serotiniese spesies, en die wat hoofsaaklik voortbestaan as saadspruiters. Tweedens, het ek gekyk na onderliggende meganismes op ŉ regionale skaal, deur gebruik te maak van spesies wat nie alreeds as belangrike indringers geklassifiseer is nie. Ten minste 26 nie-inheemse Proteaceae spesies is alreeds geïntroduseer en word gekultiveer in Suid Afrika. Propaguul druk fasiliteer die naturalisering van Hakea salicifolia populasies in areas met geskikte klimaat, terwyl in areas met ŉ sub optimale klimaat, versteurings deur mense en grond bestuurs aktiwiteite belangrik is vir naturalisering. Die selfde drywers is belangrik vir die naturalisering van ander uitheemse Proteaceae: lang verblyftyd, vuur bestel, swak land bestuur en propaguul druk. Derdens het ek bepaal of reproduksie, wat gedeeltelik propaguul druk dryf, ŉ versperring is vir naturalisasie. Ek het gekyk na verskeie Australiese Proteaceae spesies wat geïntroduseer is in Suid Afrika, en het gevind dat al die spesies besoek word deur inheemse nektar etende voëls en insekte. Die vyf Banksia spesies wat geassesseer is, kan self bestuif, maar vier van die spesies het ŉ betekenisvolle hoër reproduksie wanneer bloeiwyses deur bestuiwers besoek word. Vrug produksie verskil nie tussen natuurlik bestuifde en self bestuifde blomme in H. salicifolia nie. Verder was daar geen verskil tussen vrug produksie van die vyf bestuiwings behandelinge (naamlik: natuurlik, stuifmeel bygevoeg, self, hand self en hand kruis) en tussen genaturaliseerde en nie genaturaliseerde populasies. Ewenwel, stuifmeel beperking is gevind in nie-genaturaliseerde populasies wat egter ook minder besoeke ontvang het dan die genaturaliseerde populasies. Dus, reproduksie kan die verspreiding beperk maar is nie ŉ fundamentele versperring vir indringing van H. salicifolia nie. My konklusies is dat die reproduktiewe sukses, wat andersins ŉ sleutel versperring is vir indringing, in die bestudeerde Proteaceae nie beperk word deur outonomiese saad produksie of mutualismes in die geïntroduseerde gebied nie. In hierdie tesis beklemtoon ek die biogeografiese karakters, lewens geskiedenis kenmerke en ekologiese kenmerke as belangrike bepalers van indringing. Hierdie kenmerke is op hulle beurt weer afhanklik van die stadium van indringing. Karakters van die ontvangende omgewing is ook belangrike dryfvere van indringing. Hierdie studie verbeter hoe ons plant indringing in die algemeen verstaan, maar die patrone en prosesse van indringing wat beklemtoon word in hierdie tesis sal besonder bruikbaar wees vir huidige en toekomstige bestuur van uitheemse Proteaceae in Suid Afrika en op ander plekke, asook vir ander spesies wat aangepas is tot Mediterreense en nutriënt arm ekosisteme. Byvoorbeeld, die kombinasie van kenmerke van indringing en vatbare omgewings sal help om te identifiseer watter uitheemse spesies ŉ hoë risiko inhou om ŉ indringer te word (byvoorbeeld spesies met ŉ groot streek grootte en versperring spesies) en watter kondisies in die teiken area die waarskynlikste indringing fasiliteer of vererger (byvoorbeeld sterk klimaat ooreenstemming en hoë propaguul druk).

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Mealor, Brian A. "Native plant population resilience to exotic invasion." Laramie, Wyo. : University of Wyoming, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1221731861&sid=7&Fmt=2&clientId=18949&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

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Ndwayana, Hamilton Ncedo. "A sustainable development approach in the control of alien invasion vegetation." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020803.

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Invasive alien tree species have negative environmental and economic impacts throughout the world. For example, black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) threatens native habitats by competing with and so repressing or excluding indigenous vegetation: in this way it replaces grass communities, reduces biodiversity, and increases water loss from riparian zones, thereby fundamentally damaging the ecosystem. The Acacia mearnsii threat requires urgent attention: effective control and management is urgently required if these deleterious impacts are to be reversed or prevented. The present study was conducted in the Elliot and Ugie communities situated in the Sakhisizwe and Elundini Local Municipalities. The objective of this study was to design integrated, efficient and cost-effective methods to help farmers and members of these communities with control and management of alien plant invasions. Further the study aimed to evaluate the implementation and efficacy of Working for Water (WfW) initiatives in poverty alleviation, and skills development: in addition the study attempted to assess WfW inputs as regards relevant legislation aimed at combating major wattle invasions. Mixed methodological approaches were employed, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Questionnaire surveys, semi-structured interviews, use of photos, content analyses of local documents and experimental field work were all employed in order to collect and interpret data for the study. The study reveals that mechanical control and rehabilitation in combating should provide efficient and cost-effective methods for proper management of rangelands. Moreover the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) should be urged to devise and enforce legislation that will help to ensure sustainable control and management of black wattle through conservation of the natural environment. Furthermore funds should be made available for wattle eradication programmes so as alleviate poverty by creating more job opportunities for members of poor communities.

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Flory, S. Luke. "Causes and consequences of exotic plant invasions in eastern deciduous forests." [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2008. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3324535.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Biology, 2008.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on May 14, 2009). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-08, Section: B, page: 4526. Adviser: Keith Clay.

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Stanaway, Mark Andrew. "Hierarchical Bayesian models for estimating the extent of plant pest invasions." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2011. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/40852/1/Mark_Stanaway_Thesis.pdf.

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Plant biosecurity requires statistical tools to interpret field surveillance data in order to manage pest incursions that threaten crop production and trade. Ultimately, management decisions need to be based on the probability that an area is infested or free of a pest. Current informal approaches to delimiting pest extent rely upon expert ecological interpretation of presence / absence data over space and time. Hierarchical Bayesian models provide a cohesive statistical framework that can formally integrate the available information on both pest ecology and data. The overarching method involves constructing an observation model for the surveillance data, conditional on the hidden extent of the pest and uncertain detection sensitivity. The extent of the pest is then modelled as a dynamic invasion process that includes uncertainty in ecological parameters. Modelling approaches to assimilate this information are explored through case studies on spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus and red banded mango caterpillar, Deanolis sublimbalis. Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation is used to estimate the probable extent of pests, given the observation and process model conditioned by surveillance data. Statistical methods, based on time-to-event models, are developed to apply hierarchical Bayesian models to early detection programs and to demonstrate area freedom from pests. The value of early detection surveillance programs is demonstrated through an application to interpret surveillance data for exotic plant pests with uncertain spread rates. The model suggests that typical early detection programs provide a moderate reduction in the probability of an area being infested but a dramatic reduction in the expected area of incursions at a given time. Estimates of spiralling whitefly extent are examined at local, district and state-wide scales. The local model estimates the rate of natural spread and the influence of host architecture, host suitability and inspector efficiency. These parameter estimates can support the development of robust surveillance programs. Hierarchical Bayesian models for the human-mediated spread of spiralling whitefly are developed for the colonisation of discrete cells connected by a modified gravity model. By estimating dispersal parameters, the model can be used to predict the extent of the pest over time. An extended model predicts the climate restricted distribution of the pest in Queensland. These novel human-mediated movement models are well suited to demonstrating area freedom at coarse spatio-temporal scales. At finer scales, and in the presence of ecological complexity, exploratory models are developed to investigate the capacity for surveillance information to estimate the extent of red banded mango caterpillar. It is apparent that excessive uncertainty about observation and ecological parameters can impose limits on inference at the scales required for effective management of response programs. The thesis contributes novel statistical approaches to estimating the extent of pests and develops applications to assist decision-making across a range of plant biosecurity surveillance activities. Hierarchical Bayesian modelling is demonstrated as both a useful analytical tool for estimating pest extent and a natural investigative paradigm for developing and focussing biosecurity programs.

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Lindon, Heather Lynn. "Genetic variation in Bromus tectorum (L.) (Poaceae) in the Eastern Mediterranean region." Online access for everyone, 2007. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/Spring2007/H_Lindon_042707.pdf.

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Sagerman, Josefin. "Marine seaweed invasions : Impacts and biotic resistance in native ecosystems." Doctoral thesis, Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och botanik, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-116788.

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Marine seaweeds constitute one of the most productive plant systems known on Earth and a rich fauna including juvenile fish and crustaceans is dependent on the habitats they form. Human influence on marine costal ecosystems has resulted in large scale changes to the abundance and distribution of species, where species introductions constitute an obvious part. The aims of this thesis were to 1) explore how non-native seaweeds impact on ecosystem functions (primary production and decomposition), and 2) study how interactions between non-native seaweeds and native communities affect invasion success. I used a combination of laboratory assays, outdoor mesocosms and field experiments. Paper I and II revealed that the impact on ecosystem functions were substantially different depending on the identity of the invader. The highly successful non-native red alga Heterosiphonia japonica had a large effect on community productivity. Due to the rapid growth of the invader, the primary production increased by more than four times in mixed species communities with the invader compared to communities with only native species. In contrast, the morphologically similar and equally successful non-native red alga Bonnemaisonia hamifera grew slowly and had no effect on community production. But B. hamifera produces a potent defense compound that deters native herbivores and reduces the growth of micro-organisms. As a direct or indirect effect of this chemical defense, the litter from B. hamifera decomposed considerably slower compared to native seaweed litter. Rapid growth and defense against predation are likely important in explaining how the two invaders have become successful in the invaded range. These results show that traits related to invasion success may determine impacts on native communities. Paper III shows that the rapidly growing invader H. japonica is avoided as food by native herbivores, which likely enables the invader to survive during colder seasons with sub-optimal growth conditions. In paper IV I found that competition from the native brown alga Fucus vesiculosus decreased growth of the non-native congener Fucus evanescens. Native herbivores caused more damage to the native competitor but it did not relieve F. evanescens from competitive pressure. Several native brown algae grow in the niche of F. evanescens, which may explain why the species only is growing sparingly in the invaded range. The results indicate that competition with native seaweeds have potential to reduce the success of non-native seaweeds in the new range. In summary, this thesis shows that non-native seaweeds differ strongly in their effect on ecosystem functions. Knowledge of which traits are present among abundant non-native species and how these traits relates to different effects may enable us to gain a better understanding of invasion impacts on native communities. The thesis also highlights that competitive interactions can be of importance for invasion success in seaweed communities.

At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.

Alien-native trophic interactions: consequences for invasion success and ecosystem effects of invasions

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Crider, Kimberly Kay. "BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: EFFECTS OF TYRIA JACOBAEAE ON THE POPULATION DYNAMICS OF SENECIO JACOBAEA IN NORTHWEST MONTANA." The University of Montana, 2010. http://etd.lib.umt.edu/theses/available/etd-03092010-140634/.

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Biological control, using introduced, specialist insects is a common strategy for controlling plant invasions. However, the efficacy of biological control agents in controlling their host plants is rarely quantified population level. I quantified the impact of a specialist biological control agent, the cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) on its host plant, tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) in northwest Montana. Cinnabar moth damage and its effects on important plant vital rates were tested with and without specialist herbivores. The presence of moth larvae corresponded to a reduction in population growth rates to less than one, compared to herbivore-free controls, indicating the potential for successful biological control by this insect. However, delayed effects of cinnabar moth herbivory on tansy ragwort vital rates were realized during the year following moth herbivory, after the moths had disappeared from the system. Individual damage to flowering plants in 2005 led to increased survival of these plants in the following year compared to controls, by reverting back to a vegetative state. In addition, seed set was reduced in plants that were damaged as juvenile rosettes in 2005 that went on to flower in 2006. When these delayed effects were combined in matrix models, gains in adult survival did not outweigh the decreases in fecundity or transition rates in terms of population growth and our initial conclusions remained unchanged. However, further study revealed that moth larvae were more likely to be depredated by carpenter ants in xeric sites suggesting that moth populations may not be sustained in these areas. Cinnabar moth larvae can be effective in this system provided they consume a large number of seeds (>90%) in consecutive years, but requires that moth populations are established and sustained from year to year. While herbivores do show the ability to control an invasive plant species, this relationship is strongly contextual in this system. This work emphasizes the importance of recognizing the influence of habitat context on the outcome plant-herbivore interactions, specifically in invaded ecosystems.

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Sun, Wei. "Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) encroachment and ecosystem CO₂ exchange in semiarid grassland insights from stable isotope measurements /." Laramie, Wyo. : University of Wyoming, 2009. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1960208391&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=18949&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

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Qongqo, Axola. "Introduction pathways of phytopathogenic fungi and their potential role in limiting plant invasions: the case of Banksia spp. (Proteaceae) in the Cape Floristic Region." Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2859.

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Thesis (Master of Conservation Science)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.
Introduction pathways of fungal pathogens in South Africa are far less quantified in the literature than those for plants, animals and human infectious diseases. Phytopathogens continue to be introduced to South Africa via several pathways at an unprecedented rate. A number of these species pose a significant threat to South African ecosystems and biodiversity. Despite this, fungal pathogens could also be beneficial when they are used as bio-control agents to control alien invasive plant species. Nevertheless, recent studies revealed pathogens are most likely to be studied after they have caused a detrimental impact on the environment. Invasive fungal pathogens, such as Phytophthora cinnamomi (Oomycota) do not only pose a threat to native species of the family Proteaceae but could also potentially be bio-control agents for emerging alien plant invaders. In this thesis, firstly, I review current knowledge of phytopathogenic fungi introduction pathways in South Africa; secondly, I aim to understand the importance of fungi in limiting plant invasions using Banksia as a case study in the Cape Floristic Region. In chapter two I investigate introduction pathways and dispersal vectors that facilitate the spread of fungal pathogens. I compiled comprehensive list of fungal pathogens in South Africa, and evaluated the dispersal vectors and introduction pathways for each species. I found fifty five casual species, three naturalised species, six invasive species and thirty six pathogens for which invasion status was not classified due to insufficient data. Agriculture is responsible for the introduction of most fungal pathogens in South Africa. Wind was identified to be the prominent dispersal vector facilitating the spread of pathogens. I conclude that knowing introduction pathways of pathogens and their dispersal vectors will assist in developing quarantine protocols that could improve bio-security. Lastly, I provide recommendations for the national invasive microbe species list. In chapter three the study investigates the variability in mortality rate of Banksia species in the Cape Floristic. Species abundance was calculated across known Banksia populations in the Cape Floristic Region to determine survival and mortality rates. Soil and leave samples were taken from Banksia plants to evaluate potential microbial pests that were present. Also, acetone leaf extracts of twelve Banksia species were screened for antimicrobial activity against P. cinnamomi (Oomycota). Lastly, a post-border risk assessment was conducted for 14 Banksia species− present in South Africa − using the Australian Weed Risk Assessment protocol, to evaluate potentially invasive species. The results indicated that survival and mortality rate varied across species; I found the two invasive species, B. integrifolia and B. ericifolia to have the highest survival rate. Phytophthora cinnamomi was the most prominent isolated fungal pathogen sampled from Banksia species roots. The detection of antifungal activities in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) bioassay provided evidence that some Banksia species (B. ericifolia, B. integrifolia, B. hookeriana and B. formosa) have antimicrobial chemical constituents that could possibly inhibit infection and colonisation by P. cinnamomi. The weed risk assessments conducted on Banksia species showed five species pose a high risk of invasion while seven species required further evaluation. I conclude that P. cinnamomi could potentially regulate invasive Banksia species such as B. speciosa with minimal antimicrobial activity against the pathogen. I recommend an in-situ and ex-situ inoculation trials of Banksia species against P. cinnamomi to be conducted to evaluate pathogenicity, under different watering regimes since the pathogens proliferation is favoured by soils that are high in moisture. I present the main conclusions from this thesis in chapter four and provide recommendations for management and invasive species legislation.

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Janse, van Vuuren Adriaan. "Niche occupation in biological species competition /." Link to the online version, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/753.

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Reeves, Brian. "A resource allocation system for invasive alien plant control on the St. Francis Conservancy." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1073.

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Alien invasive species pose a great threat to ecosystems and human communities (Richardson & van Wilgen 2004; Hobbs & Humphries 1995). On private lands, there is a need to find institutional, administrative and scientific responses to the alien plant problem that operate beyond the scale imposed by property boundaries (Slocombe 1998; Grumbine 1994). One such response is the development and support of institutions, such as the St Francis Conservancy, that foster cross-boundary management of landscapes (Hurley et al. 2002). This study seeks to promote collective decision-making and collaborative management by private landowners through the development of a resource allocation system for the control of alien invasive plants on the St Francis Conservancy. The conservancy is located in the south-eastern lowlands of the Cape Floristic Region, between the villages of Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay, and is comprised of the properties of multiple landowners. Mutliple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques were integrated to provide a spatially explicit resource allocation system that considered environmental, social and economic concerns. The MCDA technique selected for use was the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). This technique has a record of providing robust, defensible decisions and enabled the resource allocation decision-problem to be decomposed into a hierarchy of objectives, criteria and indicators. Stakeholders participated in the development of the resource allocation system, especially through providing input into the determination of the relative importance of criteria and indicators through the assignment of weights. Various weighting scenarios were presented and these were interpreted into an ii implementation plan. The costs and effort required to clear alien plants were estimated, and obstacles facing the implementation of the plan were identified.

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Keane, Ryan Matthew. "Predicting exotic plant invasions : a comparative approach using the genus Bromus (Poaceae)." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.402136.

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23

Golivets, Marina. "Uncovering the Drivers of Non-Native Plant Invasions Using Ecological Data Synthesis." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2019. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/1025.

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Understanding what promotes invasiveness of species outside their native range and predicting which ecosystems and under which conditions will be invaded is an ultimate goal of the field of invasion ecology. Obtaining general answers to these questions requires synthesis of extensive yet heterogeneous empirical evidence, coupled with a solid theoretical background. In this dissertation, I sought to provide insight into the drivers of non-native plant invasions through combining and synthesizing ecological data from various sources using advanced statistical techniques. The results of this work are presented as three independent research studies. In the first study, I aimed to understand what determines competitive advantage of non-native over native plants: the ability to suppress other plants, tolerate them, or both. For this, I collected data from 192 studies on plant competition and analyzed them within a Bayesian multilevel meta-analytic framework. I showed that non-native plants outperform their native counterparts due to the high tolerance of competition, as opposed to strong suppressive ability. Competitive tolerance ability of non-native plants was driven by neighbor’s origin and was expressed in response to native species and not to other non-native species. This synthesis demonstrates that non-native plants are competitively distinct from native plants and challenges the common notion that neighbor suppression is the primary strategy for plant invasion success. In the second study, I quantified the extent to which regional, landscape and local environmental factors individually and jointly affect understory non-native invasive plants across northern US forests. I used boosted regression trees and Bayesian nonlinear regressions to analyze forest inventory data spanning 14 northern US states in combination with data on climate, land use, and disturbance. Regionally, the highest level of plant invasion was observed in hotter regions with lower annual precipitation and climate seasonality and higher summer precipitation. Locally, young forests with moist to wet soils and relatively flat topography in open, human-altered landscapes at low elevation were most susceptible to invasion. Climate and land use strongly interacted in their effect on plant invasions. This study refines the understanding of the non-native plant invasion process in northern US forests and the obtained models can be used to generate predictions under current and future environmental regimes to inform management. In the third study, I tested the relationship between the long-term history of recurrent canopy disturbance by a non-native invasive defoliator, the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), and the level of non-native plant invasion in northeastern US forests. I reconstructed 46 years (1970–2015) of gypsy-moth defoliation history and quantified the cumulative effect of defoliation on understory non-native invasive plant species using multivariate techniques and Bayesian nonlinear regressions. Contrary to what is commonly expected, the cumulative severity of gypsy moth defoliation tended to be negatively associated with the presence and richness of invasive plant species, although this association was weak. This study suggests that the effect of biotic disturbance on forest plant invasions may vary in both the magnitude and direction depending on characteristics of disturbance regime and its effect on resident biota, and this needs to be explicitly taken into account when predicting future plant invasions.

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Blaisdell, Gretchen Kai 1974. "Introduced plant species, herbivores and pathogens, and the host-enemy relationships that accompany invasions." Thesis, University of Oregon, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/11227.

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xvi, 109 p. : ill.
Invasions by introduced plant species cost billions of dollars each year in the United States and threaten native habitat. The primary goal of my dissertation research was to examine the role that natural enemies (pathogens and herbivores) play in these invasions in both unmanaged and restored plant communities. In two related studies in seasonal wetland prairies in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA, I surveyed natural enemy attack on common native and introduced plant species in a restoration experiment designed to test the effects of site preparation techniques on plant community composition. Restoration treatments had little influence on enemy attack rates. Attack rates depended on idiosyncratic differences in the relationships between host species and plant community characteristics, suggesting that existing theories concerning these relationships have limited predictive power. Another field experiment tested the potential for enemy spillover from introduced to native species and dilution of natural enemy attack on introduced species by native species. I examined natural enemy attack on three native and three perennial grasses that commonly co-occur in the Willamette Valley. The native species are commonly used in restoration. The introduced species are common throughout North America and potentially harbor enemies that could affect both crops and natural communities. There was no compelling evidence of enemy spillover from the introduced to the native species, but dilution of enemies on the introduced species by the native species was evident in year 2 and even stronger in year 3 for two of the three introduced species. Using the same three introduced species from the spillover/dilution study, I tested the enemy release hypothesis, which proposes that introduced species lose natural enemies upon introduction and are thus "released" from population control. I surveyed populations of the three grass species across a wide geographic area in their native and naturalized ranges in Europe and the United States, respectively. I also compared my results to those of a previously published literature survey. My field survey supported release from herbivores but not from fungal pathogens. In contrast, the literature survey found evidence of release from fungal pathogens. This dissertation includes unpublished co-authored material.
Committee in charge: Brendan Bohannan, Chairperson; Bitty Roy, Co-Advisor; Scott Bridgham, Co-Advisor; Eric Seabloom, Member; Robert Mauro, Outside Member

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Curland, Rebecca D. "The effects of plant invasion on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi : a review of how these community dynamics are studied /." Connect to online version, 2009. http://minds.wisconsin.edu/handle/1793/45114.

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Oppermann, Alison. "Introduced plant invasion in small remnants of native vegetation /." Title page, contents and abstract only, 1992. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envo62.pdf.

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Gassó, Perez-Portabella Núria. "Plant invasion success in Spain: A macroecological approach." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/3699.

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Les invasions biològiques no són noves, però l'acceleració i la intensificació d'activitats humanes com el comerç global, el turisme i les migracions han estat acompanyades del transport intencionat o involuntari d'espè cies a regions llunyanes a les seves àrees de distribució naturals. Algunes d'aquestes espècies transportades poden esdevenir invasores, i algunes d'aquestes invasores poden ocasionar tant impactes ecològics com socioeconòmics. A causa de l'acceleració i la intensificació de les invasions biològiques, i de les seves conseqüències adverses, aquest fenomen és considerat actualment un dels majors components del canvi global. Aquesta tesi tracta els factors que expliquen els patrons de distribució d'espècies de plantes exòtiques a escala regional. Aquesta escala és una de les menys explorades en la biologia de les invasions biològiques possiblement perquè depèn de la qualitat de la base de dades de partida. S'ha explorat la distribució de les plantes invasores a Espanya segons el Atlas de las plantas alóctonas invasoras de España i s'ha trobat que les àrees més envaïdes estan prop de la costa en zones molt antropitzades i que les plantes més amplament distribuïdes són dispersades pel vent. La dispersió pel vent i la reproducció clonal també expliquen diferències en la velocitat d'expansió de cada espècie. L'amplitud del nínxol ecològic de les plantes invasores també depèn d'aquestes i d'altres característiques vitals com la longevitat. Hi ha un gran solapament de nínxols entre espècies, fet que explica que les espècies, tant les més amplament distribuïdes com les més rares es trobin concentrades en certes àrees del territori. A escala de Catalunya també s'ha trobat que la riquesa d'espècies de plantes exòtiques a escala local ve explicada per variables de paisatge i climàtiques diferents de les que expliquen la riquesa d'espècies natives. Tots aquests resultats centren les bases per poder predir tant el risc del grau d'invasió per espècies exòtiques sota diferents condicions ambientals, per exemple de canvi climàtic, com quines espècies que encara no han estat introduïdes poden ser les més invasores.
Invasions are not novel but the acceleration and intensification of human activities such as global trade, tourism and people migration has been accompanied by the intentional or unintentional transport of species to regions far from their natural ranges. Some of these transported species might become invasive, and some can cause ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Due to the acceleration and intensification of the biological invasions phenomena, and their adverse consequences, they are considered as a major component of global change. This thesis accounts for the factors that can explain species distribution patterns at regional scale. This scale-level is one of the less explored in the biological invasions biology because it depends on the quality of the databases. We have explored the distribution of the invasive plants in Spain according to the Atlas of Alien Plant Species in Spain and we have found that coastal and highly humanized areas are the most invaded, and that the species dispersed by wind are those with wider distribution range size. Wind dispersal and clonal reproduction also explain differences in the rate of spread of each species. Ecological niche breadth also depends on these and other traits such as longevity. There is a high niche overlapping among species, what explain that both broadly distributed species and restricted species are concentrated in certain areas (hot-spots). At Catalonia's level, we have also found that the alien species richness at local scale can be explained by landscape and climatic factors, different from the factors that explain native species richness. All this results are the basis for a future invasion risk prediction from the point of view of the regional level of invasion under different environmental conditions, for example climate change, and from the point of view of the species under the pressure of new species introductions.

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Ens, Emilie-Jane. "Indigenous plant recruitment limitation by bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera spp. rotundata) effect on life history stages and allelopathic mechanisms /." Access electronically, 2007. http://www.library.uow.edu.au/adt-NWU/public/adt-NWU20080910.142510/index.html.

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Resco, de Dios Víctor. "Patterns of savanna formation in former semiarid grasslands the interactive role of climate change, soil texture and neighbor identity /." Laramie, Wyo. : University of Wyoming, 2008. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1800189201&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=18949&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

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Richardson, David Mark. "The ecology of invasions by Pinus (pinaceae) and Hakea (proteaceae) species, with special emphasis on patterns, processes and consequences of invasion in mountain fynbos of the southwestern Cape Province, South Africa." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18803.

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The fire-prone mountain fynbos of the southwestern Cape Province of South Africa has been severely invaded by introduced trees and shrubs. These invasions have transformed fynbos shrublands to dense thickets of trees and shrubs in many parts of the region, thus disrupting various natural ecosystem processes. The ecology of invasions by species of Pinus and Hakea (the most successful genera) was studied using a series of natural experiments in conjunction with autecological studies. The study was divided into main four parts: (i) case studies to elucidate major patterns and processes of invasion; (ii) studies of the life history and population ecology of selected invaders; (iii) studies of the determinants of invasibility; and (iv) assessments of the consequences of invasion and of control programmes. Bibliography: pages 235-272.

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Soria, Carvajal Monica Cecilia. "Avian seed dispersers of the invasive Rubus niveus (Rosaceae) in Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador." Diss., St. Louis, Mo. : University of Missouri--St. Louis, 2006. http://etd.umsl.edu/r1761.

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Graß, Ingo [Verfasser], and Nina [Akademischer Betreuer] Farwig. "Habitat loss and exotic plant invasions disrupt plant-animal mutualisms in a heterogeneous South African landscape / Ingo Graß. Betreuer: Nina Farwig." Marburg : Philipps-Universität Marburg, 2014. http://d-nb.info/105193494X/34.

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Mastalerz, Allison. "The role of ornamental gardening in forest plant invasions across an urban-rural gradient in Southwestern Ohio." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1377866412.

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Datta, Arunava [Verfasser]. "Analysing plant invasions across multiple scales using Ageratina adenophora as a case study / Arunava Datta." Halle, 2018. http://d-nb.info/116213433X/34.

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Ebeling, Susan. "Does local adaptation facilitate the success of plant invasions? : a case study on Buddleja davidii /." Leipzig : UFZ, 2008. http://www.ufz.de/data/ufzdiss_12_2008_9662.pdf.

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Hendrickson, Cheryl. "The biogeography of coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara L.) invasion in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape8/PQDD_0017/MQ55509.pdf.

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Lindsay, Elizabeth A. "The impact of Chrysanthemoides monilifera spp. rotundata (bitou bush) on coastal ecosystem processes." Access electronically, 2004. http://www.library.uow.edu.au/adt-NWU/public/adt-NWU20041222.143610/index.html.

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38

Sanchez, Flores Erick. "Multidimensional Spatial Characterization of Plant Invasions in 'El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar' Biosphere Reserve." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194610.

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Invasive species are considered an agent of ecological change with more significant effects than global warming. Exotic plant invasions threaten biodiversity and ecosystem viability worldwide. Their effects in the Sonoran Desert ecosystems are a growing concern among ecologists and land managers. We hypothesized that highly dynamic desert environments are unstable, therefore more vulnerable to invasion by exotic plant species. To test this hypothesis we used a multidimensional approach to assess the spatial distribution of two exotic species: Brassica tournefortii (Saharan mustard) and Schismus arabicus (Arabian grass), in a portion of 'El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar' Biosphere Reserve (PBR) in northwestern Sonora, Mexico. This approach combined genetic algorithms, geographic information systems, field methods, statistical analysis, and remote sensing modeling at multiple spatial and temporal scales to predict and test the current and potential distribution of the invasives over dynamic landscapes.Predicted probability of invasion was influenced strongly by human factors: Road networks were the strongest predictors of presence, revealing the potential importance of humans as vectors of invasiveness. Dynamic landscapes, associated mostly with vegetation losses, were detected spectrally in the eastern portion of the study area, very likely associated with past agricultural and current grazing activity. Combined models of high probability for invasion by B. tournefortii and S. arabicus over dynamic landscapes were tested against confirmed locations of the invasives and land cover types associated with invasion. Results confirmed the hypothesis of the study and suggest that more dynamic landscapes are more prone to invasion by these two exotic plants in the PBR. B. tournefortii was found associated mostly with landscapes occupied by microphyllous desert scrub and grassland, as well as sarcocaulescent desert scrub. S. arabicus was found more abundantly in the flat low lands occupied by microphyllous and crassicaulescent desert scrub. These relationships cannot, however, be conclusive and require further investigation due to the complex ecology of these invasives.

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Fernandez-Conradi, Pilar. "Diversité des arbres et résistance des forêts aux invasions biologiques : application au chataignier et son complexe de bioagresseurs exotiques, chancre (Cryphonectria parasitica) et cynips (Dryocosmus Kuriphilus)." Thesis, Bordeaux, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017BORD0940/document.

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Les plantes sont au centre d’une grande diversité d’interactions biotiques entre organismes plus ou moins proches qui les exploitent en tant que ressources. L’objectif de cette thèse a été de comprendre comment les infections fongiques de la plante et la diversité des arbres en forêt modifient les interactions arbres-insectes. Nous avons tout d’abord effectué une méta-analyse pour poser le cadre théorique des effets indirects des infections fongiques sur les insectes herbivores associés aux mêmes plantes hôtes. L'effet de l’infection préalable des plantes par les champignons sur les préférences et performances des insectes s’avère généralement négatif. Cependant, la magnitude de cet effet délétère varie selon le mode de vie du champignon, la guilde trophique de l’insecte et la spatialité des interactions (interactions locales vs distantes). Nous avons ensuite analysé de façon empirique les interactions tripartites entre le châtaignier européen (Castanea sativa) et deux de ses bioagresseurs exotiques: le cynips (Dryocosmus kuriphilus), insecte galligène, et Cryphonectria parasitica, champignon pathogène responsable de la maladie du chancre. L'effet sur les taux d’infestation par le cynips de la composition spécifique en essences forestières des forêts de châtaigniers atteintes de chancre a été également étudié. Afin d'identifier les mécanismes sous-jacents aux effets de la diversité des forêts sur cet insecte invasif, les communautés d'insectes parasitoïdes et de champignons endophytes présents dans les galles ont été décrites. Les taux d’infection par le cynips étaient plus faibles dans les mélanges de châtaignier avec du chêne et du frêne que dans des parcelles de châtaignier monospécifiques ou dans les mélanges avec du pin. La composition des forêts influence aussi la composition des communautés de parasitoïdes associés aux galles du cynips mais pas leur abondance, richesse ou diversité. Les communautés de champignons endophytes des galles, étudiées par des méthodes de séquençage de nouvelle génération, sont indépendantes de la composition forestière. Par contre, celles présentes dans les galles différent fortement de celles des tissus foliaires adjacents. Nous avons ainsi apporté de nouvelles preuves que la diversité des plantes et les champignons pathogènes sont des facteurs clés déterminant les interactions plantes-insectes. Etudier comment les plantes interagissent avec leurs insectes et champignons associés, et les mécanismes sous-jacents à l’effet de la diversité des plantes sur ces interactions, doit permettre de mieux comprendre les relations entre diversité et fonctionnement des écosystèmes et de proposer des applications pour la gestion des bio-agresseurs forestiers natifs et exotiques
Plants are the playground of a large diversity of biotic interactions between related and unrelated organisms exploiting them as common resources. The aim of this thesis was to understand how plant-insect interactions vary with fungal infection of their host plant and plant diversity. I first performed a meta-analysis to provide a theoretical background for plant-mediated effects of fungal infection on herbivorous insects. Overall, I found a negative plant-mediated effect of fungi on both insect preference and performance. However, this effect varied according to fungus lifestyle, insect feeding guild and spatial location of the interactions (local vs distant). Then I experimentally tested plant-fungus-insect tripartite interactions in the particular case of exotic bio-aggressors of the European chestnut (Castanea sativa): the Asian chestnut Gall Wasp (ACGW, Dryocosmus kuriphilus), and the fungal pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica, the causal agent of chestnut blight. I performed an observational study, in natural chestnut forest stands in Italy, where I tested how ACGW infestation rates vary with the tree species composition. I also investigated the mechanisms underlying plant diversity effects on the invasive pest, with a particular focus on its natural enemies such as insect parasitoids and endophytic fungi. ACGW infestation rates was lower in oak and ash chestnut mixtures compared to monocultures or pine-chestnut mixtures. Plot composition also influenced ACGW parasitoid community composition but not their abundances, diversity or richness. Endophytic communities of galls, described by using next generation sequencing methods, did not vary with plot composition. However, they strongly differed from surrounding leaf tissues. We thus provided evidence that plant diversity and fungal pathogens are key drivers of plant-insect interactions. Understanding how plants interact with associated insects and fungi, and mechanisms underlying plant diversity effect on these interactions, will improve our knowledge on diversity-ecosystem functioning relationships and will have practical applications for the management of native and exotic forest pests

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Showalter, David N. "The Nature and Role of Host Defenses in Forest Pest Invasions: A Case Study Using Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)." The Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1481727081503819.

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Menzel, Andreas [Verfasser], Ingolf [Akademischer Betreuer] Kühn, Isabell [Akademischer Betreuer] Hensen, and Maarja [Akademischer Betreuer] Öpik. "Effects of the mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant distributions and alien plant invasions at a large spatial scale / Andreas Menzel ; Ingolf Kühn, Isabell Hensen, Maarja Öpik." Halle, 2016. http://d-nb.info/1116954842/34.

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Brown, Carly. "Applications of DNA-barcoding in the identification and understanding of grass invasions in Southern Africa." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/4650.

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Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
The spread of invasive species is one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Alien plant invasions also have serious economic impact in terms of the delivery of ecosystem goods and services. Studies of biological invasions in southern Africa have tended to overlook grasses (family Poaceae), although there are many naturalised species in the region. Only a few of these, all perennials, have been officially categorised as invasive in South Africa, but in the winter rainfall region of the Western Cape, grass invasion especially by Mediterranean European annuals have also been noted. These grasses can be difficult to identify. DNA barcoding has been suggested as an alternative method of identifying grasses in the hope of facilitating identification of existing invaders and preventing future invasions. In this study a list of all known naturalised grasses in South Africa was compiled, and a DNA barcoding reference database was assembled for these naturalised grass species as well as for native southern African grass species. The two official markers for plant DNA barcoding (rbcLa + matK) were used in barcoding and phylogenetic analyses, both individually and in combination. The barcoding data was assessed for identification efficacy using three distance-based metrics and one tree-based metric in the R package SPIDER, both including and excluding singleton data. This study lists 128 naturalised grass species and subspecies found in South Africa. In the DNA barcoding analyses, matK was found to perform better as a single barcode than rbcLa, with identification success rates of up to 84% for matK and 76% for rbcLa, using the most successful metric which was the Nearest Neighbour criterion for both of these markers in the data sets without singletons. The combined rbcLa + matK data set performed better than either of the two individual markers, with identification success rates of up to 91% in the data without singletons, with the most successful metric again being the Nearest Neighbour criterion. The combined rbcLa + matK data would therefore be the recommended DNA barcode for southern African grasses of the three data sets tested, based on the results of this study. Phylogenetic trees were constructed with the DNA barcoding data using Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Parsimony (MP) to assess the usefulness of the data in phylogenetic studies and to confirm the efficacy of this grass DNA barcoding data when using tree-based methods of identification. Both the matK and combined datasets resolved all of the grass tribes represented in this study as monophyletic, but the rbcLa data did not.

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Erfmeier, Alexandra [Verfasser], Helge [Akademischer Betreuer] Bruelheide, Mark van [Akademischer Betreuer] Kleunen, and Petr [Akademischer Betreuer] Pysek. "The role of evolutionary processes in plant invasions / Alexandra Erfmeier. Betreuer: Helge Bruelheide ; Mark van Kleunen ; Petr Pyšek." Halle, Saale : Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Sachsen-Anhalt, 2012. http://d-nb.info/1025352149/34.

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44

Mahmood, Ako. "Investigations into the ecology and management of the invasive plant Galenia pubescens within the native temperate grasslands of Victoria, Australia." Thesis, Federation University Australia, 2016. http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/154244.

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Plant invasions of natural ecosystems are one of the major threats to the conservation of biological diversity across nearly all biogeographical regions in the world. This thesis focuses on Galenia pubescens (Carpet weed) as a case study of possible approaches to the potential management of environmental weed species. G. pubescens is a woody prostrate perennial plant that is becoming a serious threat to Australian temperate grasslands, surrounding agricultural areas and conservation reserves. It is indigenous to South Africa and was first recorded in Australia in the early 1900s, and it is an aggressive competitor against native species. It is difficult to control, and little information exists about its effects on natural ecosystems, and aspects of its biology and ecology. This study has investigated some important ecological characteristics of G. pubescens’ seeds and has experimented with different management strategies in combination with chemical control. It has also considered the potential for the expansion of the distribution of this species across suitable habitat in Australia under predicted elevated CO2 and drought conditions. Seeds of G. pubescens are shown to be able to germinate over a broad range of temperatures, but short bursts (5 minutes) of high temperatures (80oC to 120oC replicating possible exposures to a fire) reduced seed germination. Seed germination was positively favored by light and declined rapidly in darkness, decreasing by > 80% at a depth of only 0.5 cm in soil. This suggests that fire regimes might be useful in removing mature plants and controlling seed numbers on the surface, and that subsequent native seeding of undisturbed areas may assist in the long-term management of this noxious weed. A trial was conducted to determine the effect of treatment with a plant essential oil (pine oil) to limit the seed germination and seedling emergence of G. pubescens. This trial showed that the effects of pine oil application were significant (P<0.05). Germination was completely inhibited by application of pine oil at 5% or higher concentrations directly to seeds, and seedling emergence was reduced by between 90 and 100% in pot trials. These outcomes demonstrate the potential viability of pine oil as a long-term control option for this species. In field-based experiments, control strategies including herbicide control with glyphosate, organic herbicide control with pine oil, the application of mulch, and the addition of native seeds to the available seedbank (and all possible combinations of these techniques), were tested. The study showed that one single treatment of a G. pubescens infestation without undertaking a secondary treatment is insufficient to control the G. pubescens infestation or to encourage native regeneration, but that a combined strategy, employing all the aforementioned techniques, is more effective. It is however suggested that full regeneration of the area may not be possible unless further restoration programs are instituted after the cycle of G. pubescens’ treatment has been completed. The thesis also assessed the control effects of chemical control combined with a prescribed spring burning. Assessment of the resulting aboveground vegetation of G. pubescens has shown that a combination of chemical control and late-spring burning can reduce the cover of non-native species such as G. pubescens, suggesting that this could be a useful tool in their management. Finally, this study has supported the view that the growth of G. pubescens will be significantly enhanced in a future climate with an enriched atmospheric CO2 concentration. These climatic changes will have important implications for management of this noxious weed in the future.
Doctor of Philosophy

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Gatehouse, Hazel A. W. "Ecology of the naturalisation and geographic distribution of the non-indigenous seed plant species of New Zealand." Diss., Lincoln University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10182/1009.

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The naturalisation and subsequent spread of non-indigenous plant species (NIPS) is a major problem for most regions of the world. Managing plant invasions requires greater understanding of factors that determine initial naturalisation and distribution of wild NIPS. By the year 2000, 2252 NIPS were recorded as wild (1773 fully naturalised and 479 casual) in New Zealand. From published literature and electronic herbaria records, I recorded year of discovery of wild populations, and regional distribution of these wild NIPS. I also recorded species related attributes hypothesised to affect naturalisation and/or distribution, including global trade, human activities, native range and biological data; and regional attributes hypothesised to affect distribution, including human population densities, land use/cover, and environmental data. I used interval-censored time-to-event analyses to estimate year of naturalisation from discovery records, then analysed the importance of historical, human activity, biogeographical and biological attributes in determining patterns of naturalisation. Typically, NIPS that naturalised earlier were herbaceous, utilitarian species that were also accidentally introduced and/or distributed, with a wide native range that included Eurasia, naturalised elsewhere, with a native congener in New Zealand. In the year 2000, 28% of wild NIPS occupied only one region, 18% occupied two regions, decreasing incrementally to 2.5 % for nine regions, but with 13.5% occupying all ten regions. I used generalised linear models (GLMs) with binomial distribution to determine predictors of whether a wild NIPS occupied ten regions or not, and GLMs with Poisson distribution for wild NIPS occupying 0 – 9 regions. As expected, the dominant effect was that species discovered earlier occupied more regions. Utilitarian wild NIPS that were also accidentally introduced and/or distributed, and wild NIPS with a native congener tended to be more widely distributed, but results for other attributes varied between datasets. Although numbers of wild NIPS recorded in regions of New Zealand were sometimes similar, composition of wild NIPS was often very different. I used nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to determine dissimilarity in composition between regions. Then, after reducing correlation between predictor variables using principal components analyses (PCAs), I tested the importance of regional variables in determining the regional composition of wild NIPS using metaMDS. The density of human populations best explained the dissimilarity in composition, but temperature gradients and water availability gradients were also important. In the year 2000 more than 1100 (60%) of the 1773 fully naturalised NIPS in mainland New Zealand had each been recorded in Northland/Auckland and Canterbury, and at the other end of the scale, Southland and Westland each had fewer than 500 (30%). I used GLMs to analyse the importance of people and environment in determining the numbers of wild NIPS in each region. Because I conducted multiple tests on the same dataset I used sequential Bonferroni procedures to adjust the critical P-value. Only human population density was important in explaining the numbers of NIPS in the regions. Overall, humans were the dominant drivers in determining the patterns of naturalisation and spread, although environment helps determine the composition of NIPS in regions. Incorporating human associated factors into studies of wild NIPS helps improve the understanding of the stages in the naturalisation and spread process.

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Diaz-Starokozheva, Ludmila. "Effects of Foliar Microorganisms in Native and Exotic Plant Species in Old-Field Communities." Youngstown State University / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1504081276247107.

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McIntosh, Christopher R. "Essays on incentives and behavior under risk." Laramie, Wyo. : University of Wyoming, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1232409941&sid=8&Fmt=2&clientId=18949&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

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Kinney, Jonathan P. "Controlling Phalaris arundinacea through the use of shade while promoting native species recruitment in a wet meadow." Youngstown State University / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1313685720.

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Herpigny, Basile. "Comparative approach of population biology and functional ecology of Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis and F. xbohemica in Belgium." Doctoral thesis, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/209627.

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Abstract:

L'objectif général de la thèse est d'examiner la variation et l'évolution des traits fonctionnels

susceptibles de sous-tendre des variations de capacité d'invasion, au sein du complexe de plantes envahissantes F. japonica, F. xbohemica et F. sachalinensis en Belgique. Ces trois taxons d'origine asiatique présentent un intérêt majeur en écologie des invasions car ils possèdent une aptitude à l'invasion contrastée bien qu'ils fassent partie du même complexe hybride, aient la même forme de vie, et la même distribution géographique.

En particulier, la thèse examine si Fallopia sachalinensis présente une combinaison particulière de traits fonctionnels liés à la capture et à l'utilisation des ressources susceptible d'expliquer sa capacité d'invasion plus faible. La thèse tâche également de déterminer si les hybrides sont intermédiaires entre les parents pour ces traits ou manifestent des propriétés originales susceptibles

d'entraîner un comportement plus invasif. Les traits fonctionnels pris en considération comprennent notamment l'architecture des parties aériennes, le SLA (surface foliaire spécifique), les teneurs foliaires en nutriments, la vitesse de décomposition des litières et la plasticité phénotypique de ces caractères. La stratégie scientifique repose sur trois approches complémentaires:

- des comparaisons in situ entre les taxons dans des sites ou ils coexistent;

- des cultures en conditions semi-contrôlées au jardin expérimental;

- une expérience de décomposition des litières.

Les résultats mettent en lumière la stratégie unique de capture et d'utilisation des ressources

de F. sachalinensis, ainsi que ses réponses plastiques moins adaptées (moins d'accroissement de la hauteur et de la surface foliaire totale en réponse a l'ombre, et de la biomasse et du nombre de tiges en réponse a une augmentation de la fertilité du sol). Cette stratégie contribue a sa capacité d'invasion plus faible en réduisant son efficacité d'utilisation et de capture de la lumière et des nutriments. D'autre part, l'hybride ne présente pas de valeurs transgressives pour les traits étudiés et est similaire à F. japonica en termes de traits et de plasticité. Toutefois, le nombre limité de

populations hybrides étudiées ne nous permet pas d'en conclure que l'hybride ne présente pas de

variation transgressive a l'échelle européenne. De plus, la variabilité génétique de l'hybride pourrait permettre une évolution future de sa capacité d'invasion, ce qui en fait une priorité pour la prévention et la gestion a l'échelle mondiale. / The objective of the thesis is to examine variation and evolution of functional traits that are susceptible to underlie variation of invasiveness in the invasive complex of Fallopia japonica, F. xbohemica and F. sachalinensis in Belgium. These three taxa originate from Asia and present a major interest in invasion ecology since they display contrasting invasiveness although they are part of the same hybrid complex, have the same life form and distribution area.

In particular, we ask if F. sachalinensis displays a specific combination of functional traits related to resource capture and use that is susceptible to explain its lower invasiveness. We also try to determine if the hybrids have intermediary trait values or if they show specific properties susceptible to increase their invasiveness. Functional traits measured include architecture, SLA (specific leaf area), nutrient foliar concentrations, litter decomposition rate and phenotypic plasticity of the same traits. Scientific strategy uses three different methods:

- in situ comparisons between the taxa in sites where they coexist;

- common gardens with semi controlled conditions;

- litter decomposition experiment.

Results show the unique strategy of F. sachalinensis concerning resource capture and use, as well as its less adaptive plastic responses (smaller increase of height and total leaf area in response to shade, and of biomass and shoot number in response to soil fertility). This strategy contributes to its lower invasiveness through a reduction in light and nutrient capture and use efficiency. The hybrid does not display transgressive variation for the studied traits and is similar to F. japonica concerning its traits and its plasticity. However, the limited number of hybrid accessions does not allow to conclude that the hybrid presents no transgressive variation throughout Europe. Moreover, genetic variability in the hybrid might allow future evolution of its invasiveness, making the hybrid a priority for prevention and management throughout the world.
Doctorat en Sciences
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

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Larson, Daniel. "Non-indigenous freshwater plants : patterns, processes and risk evaluation /." Uppsala : Dept. of Environmental Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2007. http://epsilon.slu.se/200715.pdf.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Plant invasions'

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