Environmental tolerance of an invasive riparian tree and its potential for continued spread in the southwestern US

Product Type: Journal Article

Year: 2010

Author(s): Reynolds, L.V. and D.J. Cooper

Suggested Citation:
Reynolds, L.V. and D.J. Cooper. 2010. Environmental tolerance of an invasive riparian tree and its potential for continued spread in the southwestern US. Journal of Vegetation Science 21(4): 733-743.

Abstract

Questions: Exotic plant invasion may be aided by facilitation and broad tolerance of environmental conditions, yet these processes are poorly understood in species-rich ecosystems such as riparian zones. In the southwestern United States (US) two plant species have invaded riparian zones: tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima, T. chinensis, and their hybrids) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia). We addressed the following questions: (1) is Russian olive able to tolerate drier and shadier conditions than cottonwood and tamarisk? (2) Can tamarisk and cottonwood facilitate Russian olive invasion? Location: Arid riparian zones, southwestern US. Methods: We analyzed riparian tree seedling requirements in a controlled experiment, performed empirical field studies, and analyzed stable oxygen isotopes to determine the water sources used by Russian olive...