Species richness and invasive species presence in interior and exterior plots in a western Pennsylvania deciduous forest

Background/Question/Methods

Invasive plant species have the ability to alter landscapes, often out-compete natives for resources, can alter the soil community’s microbial composition and interfere with beneficial mycorrhizae. They can also have negative economic consequences for a region. Invasive species often colonize forest margins where increased disturbance leads to different microclimatic conditions. As part of the EREN Permanent Forest Plot Project, we investigated differences in woody plant species richness, diversity, and invasive species establishment between interior and edge habitats at Powdermill Nature Reserve in Western Pennsylvania.

Results/Conclusions

Interior and exterior plots differed in diversity, evenness, relative importance of species, and in the presence of woody, exotic invasive plants. Exterior plots were more diverse and more even in species abundance than interior plots. Interior plots were largely dominated by one tree species and were less diverse. The invasive shrubs, Rosa multiflora and Berberis thunbergii, were only found in exterior plots. Exterior plots at the site may be more suitable for invasive species establishment due to their microclimatic conditions, their higher level of disturbance, and their proximity to roadways and residences.