Invasive plants in Interior Alaska
Non-native plant species have been expanding rapidly across the state of Alaska, likely aided by higher winter temperatures and long growing seasons, increased levels of human traffic, and more frequent and larger wildfires. Several projects evaluate the impacts of changes in abundance of introduced plant species on plant communities:
1) Are Alaskan Pollinators Abandoning Native Berries for an Exotic Clover? Implications for Invasive Plant Management on Fruit Production. In this project we evaluate whether and how the expansion of non-native Melilotus alba across the state of Alaska affects pollination and fruit set of two berry species: Vaccinium vitis-idaea (bog cranberry) and Vaccinium uliginosum (bog blueberry). This is a collaboration with Matt Carlson (UA Anchorage).
Christa Mulder and Katie Spellman outplanting experimental Melilotus plants; Katie Spellman next to a Melilotus plant expanding into newly burned forest habitat.
To find out more about this project, including our Citizen Science network and our education work, go to the Melibee Project website or to the Citizen Science website on the Hands-on-the-Land site
2) What factors affect the success of invasive plants in natural environments? Recently burned forest is likely to be particularly susceptible to invasion, and forest fires are increasing in both frequency and extent. Projects associated with this question include:
Greenhouse experiments conducted by Katie Villano (former MS student) to evaluate soil and ground cover factors that best explained germination and growth of three introduced plant species, and by Luke Ponchione (former undergraduate student) to evaluate the role of moss species in facilitating or retarding the germination of introduced plant species.
