| Abstract Detail
Conservation Biology Major, C. Smoot [1], Sweetser, Suzanne [1], Allison, David [2], Major, Kelly [1]. Development of a rapid assessment methodology and predictive model for the identification of exotic invasive hotspots in Southern Alabama. BETWEEN February 2003 and April 2006, over 8,000 records of occurrence data were compiled. Mobile and Baldwin Counties were separated into 6 blocks per 7.5 minute USGS quad. In all, 76 quads cover the two- county region. The most recent estimates indicate that 292 species of exotic plants have established themselves across the coastal plains of Alabama. These occurrences are from 80 families and 186 taxa. The top five families (i.e., families with the greatest number of taxa) are the Poaceae (37 taxa), Fabaceae (30 taxa), Asteraceae (25 taxa), Cyperaceae (10 taxa), and the Rosaceae (9 taxa). Members of the Poaceae were documented in the greatest abundance per block, with the Asteraceae and Fabaceae second and third, respectively. Members of the Poaceae and Asteraceae were documented in all blocks with multiple Poaceae taxa in numerous blocks. Of the aforementioned 292 species, ca. 25% are known to be highly invasive and represent a genuine threat to natural areas, agriculture, sport fishing and tourism in the state of Alabama. Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are equally affected. An analysis of the block data identifies a correlation between the number of exotic species per block and latitude, longitude, elevation, soil type, as well as a relationship between exotic species assemblages.
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1 - University of South Alabama, Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Bldg. #124, 307 University Blvd. North, Mobile, Alabama, 36688, USA
2 - University of South Alabama, Geological Sciences, Lsb 124, Mobile, Alabama, 36688, USA
Keywords:
invasive
southeastern US.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 49-15
Location: 108/Tehama
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 3:45 PM
Abstract ID:692 |
