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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #245881
Title: Designing Invasion Resistant Plant Communities: The Role of Plant Functional Traits

Author
item DRENOVSKY, REBECCA - John Carroll University
item James, Jeremy

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2009
Publication Date: 2/1/2010
Citation: Drenovsky, R., James, J. 2010. Designing Ivasion Resistant Plant Communities: The Role of Plant Functional Traits. Rangelands. 32:32-37.

Interpretive Summary: Establishing and maintaining weed-resistant plant communities is a central goal of sustainable invasive plant management programs. Plant community characteristics that improve invasion resistance, however, are poorly understood. Here we synthesize data from multiple studies and show traits related to leaf morphology and nutrient use efficiency may be good predictors of the ability of native plants to resist weeds. The number of plant species and varieties available for restoration is continuing to increase. Using these traits may improve our ability to decide what species to seed in various restoration situations.

Technical Abstract: Establishing and maintaining weed-resistant plant communities is a central goal of sustainable invasive plant management programs. Plant community characteristics that improve invasion resistance, however, are poorly understood. Here we synthesize data from multiple studies and show traits related to leaf morphology and nutrient use efficiency may be good predictors of the ability of native plants to resist weeds. The number of plant species and varieties available for restoration is continuing to increase. Using these traits may improve our ability to decide what species to seed in various restoration situations.