1. Invasive species are those that get introduced into a habitat and readily est
ID: 216727 • Letter: 1
Question
1. Invasive species are those that get introduced into a habitat and readily establish. This is because they may have no predators, parasites or pathogens in their new habitat. The population growth of the invasives may be extreme, to the competitive detriment of the native species that occupied the habitat. a) (4 pts) Identify ONE invasive species (other than those discussed in lecture, including zebra mussels) in the United States that poses a threat to native species due to INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION. How and where did this species get introduced, and what is its current distribution? Are there any biotic or abiotic factors that limit its distribution in the US?Explanation / Answer
Answer 1 a): An invasive grass species, native to Asia named Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) spreads in southeast region of United States and displace native plants such as Loblolly plants. Cogongrass has no food value for native wildlife and affects the uptake of nutrients to loblolly pine by limiting the mycorrhizal associations and fine root production. In US, it is arrived as seeds in packing material from Asia and now it is a major threat to plant species of Southeast region of United states. Due to various abiotic and biotic stresses premature mortality in pine forests is also reported.
Reference
Trautwig Adam N, Eckhardt Lori G, Loewenstein Nancy J, Hoeksema Jason D, Carter Emily A and Nadel Ryan L. 2017. Cogongrass ( Imperata cylindrica ) affects above- and belowground processes in commercial loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda ) stands . Forest Science. 63(1): 10-16. https://doi.org/10.5849/forsci.16-016.
Answer 1 b): Loblolly plants are native plant species of southeast region of United States. It is studied that Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) reduces plantation of Loblolly plants. Cogongrass uses different strategies to cover a large area i.e. threat of wildfire, shading out, production of allelopathic compounds etc.
Answer 1 c): Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) has the potential to inhibit the co occurring of native plants in Southeast east region of United States. Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) domitates over Loblolly plants and other native species by secreting allelopathic compounds and using other strategies.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.