Alien plants and their invasion of the forested landscape of the southeastern United States A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science at Canterbury University by Dawn Lemke Supervisors: Jennifer Brown Philip Hulme P a g e | i Table of Contents CHAPTER 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER 2. ........ Invasion of a Mined Landscape: what habitat characteristics influence the occurrence of invasive plants? ......................................................................................... 16 2.1 Abstract…. ....................................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 17 2.3 Methods…. ....................................................................................................................... 19 2.3.1 Study Area .......................................................................................................... 19 2.3.2 Species of Interest .............................................................................................. 20 2.3.3 Sampling Point Selection ................................................................................... 23 2.3.4 Field Sampling ................................................................................................... 23 2.3.5 Soil Analysis ...................................................................................................... 24 2.3.6 Analysis of Data ................................................................................................. 25 2.4 Results…… ...................................................................................................................... 26 2.5 Discussion………………………………………………………………………………33 2.6 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................ 35 CHAPTER 3. ..... Geospatial Assessment of Non-native Vegetation: application of geospatial models to predicting alien plants on reclaimed mines in the Shale Hills region.............. 41 3.1 Abstract…. ....................................................................................................................... 41 3.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 42 3.3 Methods…. ....................................................................................................................... 44 3.3.1 Study Area .......................................................................................................... 44 3.3.2 Species of Interest .............................................................................................. 44 3.3.3 Site Selection ...................................................................................................... 45 3.3.4 Geospatial Data .................................................................................................. 45 3.3.5 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................... 46 3.4 Results…… ...................................................................................................................... 48 3.5 Discussion.. ...................................................................................................................... 51 3.6 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................ 54 CHAPTER 4. Distribution Modelling of Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Invasion in the Cumberland Plateau and Mountain Region, United States .................................... 58 P a g e | ii 4.1 Abstract…. ....................................................................................................................... 58 4.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 59 4.3 Methods… ....................................................................................................................... 61 4.3.1 Study Area .......................................................................................................... 61 4.3.2 Species of Interest .............................................................................................. 61 4.3.3 Japanese Honeysuckle Occurrence .................................................................... 63 4.3.4 Landscape Variables........................................................................................... 63 4.3.5 Models… ............................................................................................................ 68 4.3.6 Data Selection .................................................................................................... 70 4.3.7 Ensemble Modelling .......................................................................................... 70 4.4 Results…… ...................................................................................................................... 71 4.5 Discussion ……………………………………………………………………………….75 4.6 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................... 77 4.7 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................ 78 CHAPTER 5.Habitat Modelling of Alien Plant Species at Varying Levels of Occupancy ........................................................................................................................ 87 5.1 Abstract…. ....................................................................................................................... 87 5.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 87 5.3 Methods…. ....................................................................................................................... 88 5.3.1 Study Area .......................................................................................................... 88 5.3.2 Species of Interest .............................................................................................. 89 5.3.3 Invasive Plant Occurrence .................................................................................. 92 5.3.4 Landscape Variables........................................................................................... 92 5.3.5 Models… ............................................................................................................ 93 5.3.6 Data Selection .................................................................................................... 94 5.4 Results and Discussion ..................................................................................................... 94 5.5 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................ 99 CHAPTER 6.Invasive Potential of Five Alien Trees in the Forest of the Southeastern Region United States. ................................................................................................................ 106 6.1 Abstract…. ..................................................................................................................... 106 6.2 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 106 6.3 Methods…. ..................................................................................................................... 108 P a g e | iii 6.3.1 Study Region .................................................................................................... 108 6.3.2 Species of Interest ............................................................................................ 108 6.3.3 Invasive Plant Occurrence ................................................................................ 112 6.3.4 Landscape variables ......................................................................................... 112 6.3.5 Models… .......................................................................................................... 115 6.4 Results…… .................................................................................................................... 116 6.4.1 Tree of Heaven ................................................................................................. 118 6.4.2 Chinaberry Tree ................................................................................................ 118 6.4.3 Silktree… ......................................................................................................... 118 6.4.4 Princesstree ....................................................................................................... 119 6.4.5 Tallowtree ......................................................................................................... 120 6.5 Discussion ……………………………………………………………………………..122 6.6 Literature cited ..............................................................................................................