Chinese Tallow Invasion in Maritime Forests: Understand Invasion Mechanism and Develop Ecologically-Based Management Lauren Susan Pile Clemson University
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Clemson University TigerPrints All Dissertations Dissertations 12-2015 Chinese Tallow Invasion in Maritime Forests: Understand Invasion Mechanism and Develop Ecologically-Based Management Lauren Susan Pile Clemson University Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations Part of the Forest Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Pile, Lauren Susan, "Chinese Tallow Invasion in Maritime Forests: Understand Invasion Mechanism and Develop Ecologically-Based Management" (2015). All Dissertations. 1807. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/1807 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CHINESE TALLOW INVASION IN MARITIME FORESTS: UNDERSTAND INVASION MECHANISM AND DEVELOP ECOLOGICALLY-BASED MANAGEMENT A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Forest Resources by Lauren Susan Pile December 2015 Accepted by: G. Geoff Wang, Committee Chair William C. Bridges Jr. Patricia A. Layton Thomas A. Waldrop Joan L. Walker ABSTRACT Invasion by highly aggressive, non-native, invasive plants is a significant threat to management and conservation priorities as these plants can transform ecosystem functions and processes. In this study, I investigated the non-native, invasive tree, Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) in the maritime forests of Parris Island, South Carolina. I studied the role of land-use history and modern forest disturbance in facilitating the invasion of Chinese tallow. I found that stands previously cleared for agriculture and reforested with slash pine (Pinus elliottii Englem.) since the 1970s had significantly more Chinese tallow stems than stands that remained forested since 1939 and conclude that past and contemporary land-use practices facilitated the invasion of Chinese tallow in disturbed stands by allowing a window of opportunity for establishment, followed by further spread with increased propagule supply. I investigated the potential of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as a highly abundant, non- native seed disperser, particularly its role in dispersing Chinese tallow seeds within forest stands. I found that while white-tailed deer did not disperse the seeds of Chinese tallow in this study, they were dispersing the seeds of other small-seeded non-native plants. To determine the most effective management option for the control of Chinese tallow and the restoration of the native community, I tested several integrated management options: herbicide (H); herbicide and fire (HF); mastication and herbicide (MH); and mastication, herbicide, and fire combined (MHF). Overall, I found that MHF was the most effective at reducing Chinese tallow density, without having a significant increase in Chinese tallow regeneration, when compared to all other treatment types. MHF also resulted in a positive ii response from the community by reducing midstory density of yaupon (Ilex vomitoria Aiton), and southern waxmyrtle (Morella cerifera (L.) Small), promoting desired oak (Quercus sp.) species, and increasing ground flora richness. Results from my work show that while land-use history and modern forestry practices increase the establishment of Chinese tallow, an ecologically-based integrated management approach aimed to restore the historic stand structure and fire regime may effectively control Chinese tallow and increase community resistance. iii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my grandparents, Robert C. Lohman, Ph.D. and Elizabeth M. Lohman. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the funding support and cooperators for this project: Parris Island MCRD, the Department of Defense, the Army Corps of Engineers – Fort Worth District, and the Piedmont – South Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit. I would personally like to thank the natural resource staff at Parris Island, John Holloway Jr., Van Horton, and Charles Pickney for their dedication and hard work that made this project happen. In addition, I would like to thank Jeff Odom at MCCS for his assistance in providing housing for three years of the project. Also, the long hot days would have been unbearable if it wasn’t for the great companionship my three field technicians. Thank you Steven Broom, Hunter Hadwin, and Matthew Raeckelboom. I would like to thank Dr. G. Geoff Wang for believing in me twice. I sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity, for building my skills as a scientist, allowing me to be creative, and supporting me every step of the way. I thank my committee members: Drs. Pat Layton and Joan Walker for being amazing role models to me, each in their own very significant way; Dr. Tom Waldrop for his valuable insight and wisdom; and Dr. Billy Bridges whose office I left each time with incredible excitement to analyze data. Additionally, although he is not a part of my committee, I would like to thank Dr. Victor Shelburne for being a mentor to me since I started my graduate studies at Clemson. I would like to thank my family for supporting me on this intellectual journey. My Mom for always believing in me, allowing me to be an eccentric child who was always digging in the dirt, exploring the woods, or performing “scientific experiments” in my bedroom. My brother for always being my hero and never allowing being a girl as an v acceptable excuse to anything. I thank my Dad and Wilma for their constant encouragement and love, and reminding me that the best work is the work that comes from your heart and inspires your soul. Without the love and support of my dear friends, this would have never been possible, or at least not as fun. Thank you Ben Knapp, for reminding me that I had moxie when I needed it most, and being the best cheerleader I could ever ask for; Paul Leonard for the laughter and tears we shared together throughout this crazy experience; Eric Winters for always being a good friend, roommate, and watching SVU with me when I needed some down time; Caroline Gorga for being there, always, even miles away; Reggie Goolsby, who can make me laugh so hard it hurts; and Erika Heinzelman, for being my most favorite bibliophile. I love you all and thank you. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TITLE PAGE .................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................ iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................... xv CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 Literature cited ......................................................................................... 5 II. MECHANISMS AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS OF CHINESE TALLOW (TRIADICA SEBIFERA) INVASION – A REVIEW .......... 6 Introduction .............................................................................................. 6 Invasiveness – species traits..................................................................... 8 Invasibility – community traits .............................................................. 19 Limiting factors ...................................................................................... 24 Management ........................................................................................... 25 Using science to inform management .................................................... 28 Research needs ....................................................................................... 29 Literature cited ....................................................................................... 34 III. EFFECTS OF PAST AND CONTEMPORARY ANTHROPOGENIC DISTURBANCES ON CHINESE TALLOW (TRIADICA SEBIFERA) INVASION ............................................................................................ 46 Abstract .................................................................................................. 47 Introduction ............................................................................................ 49 Methods.................................................................................................. 53 Results .................................................................................................... 59 vii Table of Contents (Continued) Page Discussion .............................................................................................. 62 Conclusion ............................................................................................. 72 Acknowledgements ................................................................................ 73 Literature cited ....................................................................................... 74 Tables ....................................................................................................