Managing spread from rhizome fragments is key to reducing invasiveness in Miscanthus x giganteus

Authors: West, Natalie; MATLAGA, DAVID - Susquehanna University; KALITA, P - University Of Illinois; Davis, Adam

Submitted to: Invasive Plant Science and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2014
Publication Date: 12/1/2014
Citation: West, N.M., Matlaga, D.P., Kalita, P., Davis, A.S. 2014. Managing spread from rhizome fragments is key to reducing invasiveness in Miscanthus x giganteus. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 7:517-525.

Interpretive Summary: To reduce risks of invasive bioenergy crop escape, and to make it easier to find escaped populations, land managers need information on habitats that will support the establishment of such crops. We monitored the establishment of two Miscanthus bioenergy species for five years in two common habitats in central Illinois. Our objectives were to determine 1) how well escapes might establish into habitats surrounding agricultural fields, 2) what factors were facilitating establishment outside cultivation, and 3) if habitat type is a reliable predictor of invasion likelihood. We found that Miscanthus was able to invade surrounding habitats, and that habitats differed substantially in the performance of Miscanthus over time. Plants introduced into old fields were much more successful compared to plants in floodplain forest. Therefore, Miscanthus species could become likely invaders in agricultural landscapes, though their long term establishment depends heavily on the conditions of the receiving community. Further, survival differences among habitats suggest managers should prioritize particular habitats to optimize monitoring efforts.

Technical Abstract: Developing strategies to mitigate the risk of potentially invasive crop species requires experiments that test the ability of candidate species to establish in surrounding habitats. We followed the establishment success of two candidate Miscanthus species for five years. They were introduced into two common habitats in central Illinois as an effort to determine 1) how well escapes might establish into habitats surrounding agricultural fields, 2) what factors were facilitating establishment outside cultivation, and 3) if habitat type is a reliable predictor of invasion likelihood. We found that Miscanthus was able to invade surrounding habitats, and that habitats differed substantially in the performance of Miscanthus over time. Plants introduced into old fields were much more successful compared to plants in floodplain forest. Within habitats, both species had higher survival in areas with greater species richness, and light conditions further mediated survival differences. Therefore, Miscanthus species could become likely invaders in agricultural landscapes, though their long term establishment depends heavily on the conditions of the receiving community. Further, survival differences among habitats suggest managers should prioritize particular habitats to optimize monitoring efforts.