| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Rouse, Suzanne [1], Major, Kelly [2], Major, C. Smoot [2]. The Prevalence Of Exotic Plants In Southern Alabama. This plant pest survey encompasses both terrestrial and aquatic species. Sampling strategies have been designed to: document and determine to what extent non-indigenous species are impacting native and protected habitats characterized by limited human access (e.g., protected lands owned by either the State or The Nature Conservancy of Alabama and remote regions of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta) and gather baseline data for exotic/invasive species for Mobile and Baldwin Counties, AL. At present, we have collected preliminary floristic data that suggest several exotic species [of the wetland, emergent and aquatic variety] have established potentially viable populations along the length of the Delta from the confluence of the Mobile and Tensaw Rivers to Mobile Bay. Such species include the highly invasive pest plants: Alternathera philoxeroides, Eichhornia crassipes, Hydrilla verticilata and Myriophyllum spicata. Mobile and Baldwin Counties encompass 76 USGS quadrants or approximately 348 surveyable blocks. Thus far, observations from terrestrial habitats have been made in 100 blocks (from 35 quads); a total of 2300 observations and 143 exotic plant species have been documented to date, some of which include the prominant invasives: Imperata cylindrica, Triadica sebiferal, Ligustrum sinense, Lygodium japonicum and Pueraria Montana. This initial list of exotic/invasive species will be used in conjunction with data gathered from our ongoing studies of plant communities of the Mobile-Tensaw watershed to determine to what extent non-indigenous species have impacted southern Alabama and how best to predict the occurrence of notable plant pests for the purposes of eradication, maintenance of biodiversity and management of threatened natural resources.
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1 - University of South Alabama, Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building 126, Mobile, Alabama, 36688, USA
2 - University of South Alabama, Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building #124, 307 University Blvd. North, Mobile, Alabama, 36688, USA
Keywords:
Invasive Species
exotic species.
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 33-19
Location: Salon C, D & E - Gov Ballroom/Hilton
Date: Tuesday, August 16th, 2005
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:212 |
