Research Accomplishment Reports 2011

Assessing the Invasion Pattern of Exotic Plants in Forest Ecosystems in Kentucky

S. Fei
Department of Forestry

 

Non-Technical Summary

Our ability to effectively prevent and/or mitigate the invasion of exotic species is hindered by the limited knowledge of understanding and predicting the spatial invasion patterns of exotic species. This project will a)quantify the spatial distribution and abundance of invasive exotic plant species in forest ecosystems in Kentucky as a function of landscape structure, disturbance, and other influential factors; and b) develop predictive models to detect, monitor, prevent, and mitigate the invasion of exotic plant species in forest ecosystems in Kentucky.

2011 Project Description

Investigator has left the university.

2010 Activities: 1.Field data on over 200 plots in Jefferson Memorial Forest have been analyzed. 2.Field data on near 300 plots in Robinson Forest have been collected. 3.Field sample of hyper-spectral images on invasive and native species have been analyzed and presented. 4.A state-wide weedy invasive species survey based on two sources of data, Kentucky Weed Identification Form and Herbaria records has been conducted.

2010 Events: 1.Introduced the invasive species concepts and management options to students during the 2011 UK Forestry Summer Camp in Robinson Forest. 2.A region-wide invasive species conference is in the planning stage.

2010 Products: 1.An invasive species database for Jefferson Memorial Forest. 2.An invasive species database for Robinson Forest. 3.A weedy invasive species database for Kentucky. 4.A new method to map understory invasive species using high resolution aerial photos with a feature based remote sensing program.

2010 Dissemination: 1.The proceedings of the 2008 Kentucky Invasive Species Conference were distributed to over 150 natural resource managers, landscaping and nursery industries, researchers and general public. 2.Call for paper and participation for the 2011 Invasive Species Conference was distributed region wide.

2011 Impact

Investigator has left the university.

In 2010:

1. The summer camp program raised the awareness of college students (12 students total) about the impact of invasive species and the available management options.

2. Our invasive species website has been visited many times during 2011.

3. Our call for paper and participation of the 2011 Invasive Species Conference has reached to thousands of practitioner, researchers and land owners.

4. Our new method of mapping understory invasive species can assist mapping the precise spatial distribution of invasive species.