Is it worth the effort? Spread and management success of invasive alien plant species in a Central European National Park

The management of invasive alien species (IAS) in protected areas has become increasingly important in recent years. In this study, we analyse IAS management in the bilateral National Park Thayatal-Podyjí at the Austrian-Czech border. Based on two surveys from the years 2001 and 20...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Verena Schiffleithner, Franz Essl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2016-09-01
Series:NeoBiota
Online Access:http://neobiota.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=8071
id doaj-c992bea07d65486fac4957a82b7ced63
record_format Article
spelling doaj-c992bea07d65486fac4957a82b7ced632020-11-25T00:54:57ZengPensoft PublishersNeoBiota1619-00331314-24882016-09-0131436110.3897/neobiota.31.80718071Is it worth the effort? Spread and management success of invasive alien plant species in a Central European National ParkVerena Schiffleithner0Franz Essl1University of ViennaUniversity of Vienna The management of invasive alien species (IAS) in protected areas has become increasingly important in recent years. In this study, we analyse IAS management in the bilateral National Park Thayatal-Podyjí at the Austrian-Czech border. Based on two surveys from the years 2001 and 2010 and on annual management data from 2001-2010 we analyse changes in distribution and the efficiency of IAS management of three invasive alien plants (Fallopia × bohemica, Impatiens glandulifera, Robinia pseudoacacia). In 2010, the three study species had invaded 161 ha (2%) of the study area. Despite a decade of management, F. × bohemica has become widespread, whereas I. glandulifera distribution has decreased strongly. The most widespread species, R. pseudoacacia, has declined substantially in cover, but the area invaded has increased. From 2001 to 2010, annual management effort declined by about half. Management effort per hectare and decade was highest for F. × bohemica (2,657 hours), followed by R. pseudoacacia (1,473 hours) and I. glandulifera (270 hours). Management effort for achieving the same amount of reduction in population size and cover was highest for R. pseudoacacia, followed by F. × bohemica and I. glandulifera. We conclude that substantial effort and resources are necessary to successfully manage the study species and have to be provided over prolonged time periods, and thus continued management of these species is recommended. We highly recommend a systematic approach for monitoring the efficiency of IAS management projects in protected areas. http://neobiota.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=8071
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Verena Schiffleithner
Franz Essl
spellingShingle Verena Schiffleithner
Franz Essl
Is it worth the effort? Spread and management success of invasive alien plant species in a Central European National Park
NeoBiota
author_facet Verena Schiffleithner
Franz Essl
author_sort Verena Schiffleithner
title Is it worth the effort? Spread and management success of invasive alien plant species in a Central European National Park
title_short Is it worth the effort? Spread and management success of invasive alien plant species in a Central European National Park
title_full Is it worth the effort? Spread and management success of invasive alien plant species in a Central European National Park
title_fullStr Is it worth the effort? Spread and management success of invasive alien plant species in a Central European National Park
title_full_unstemmed Is it worth the effort? Spread and management success of invasive alien plant species in a Central European National Park
title_sort is it worth the effort? spread and management success of invasive alien plant species in a central european national park
publisher Pensoft Publishers
series NeoBiota
issn 1619-0033
1314-2488
publishDate 2016-09-01
description The management of invasive alien species (IAS) in protected areas has become increasingly important in recent years. In this study, we analyse IAS management in the bilateral National Park Thayatal-Podyjí at the Austrian-Czech border. Based on two surveys from the years 2001 and 2010 and on annual management data from 2001-2010 we analyse changes in distribution and the efficiency of IAS management of three invasive alien plants (Fallopia × bohemica, Impatiens glandulifera, Robinia pseudoacacia). In 2010, the three study species had invaded 161 ha (2%) of the study area. Despite a decade of management, F. × bohemica has become widespread, whereas I. glandulifera distribution has decreased strongly. The most widespread species, R. pseudoacacia, has declined substantially in cover, but the area invaded has increased. From 2001 to 2010, annual management effort declined by about half. Management effort per hectare and decade was highest for F. × bohemica (2,657 hours), followed by R. pseudoacacia (1,473 hours) and I. glandulifera (270 hours). Management effort for achieving the same amount of reduction in population size and cover was highest for R. pseudoacacia, followed by F. × bohemica and I. glandulifera. We conclude that substantial effort and resources are necessary to successfully manage the study species and have to be provided over prolonged time periods, and thus continued management of these species is recommended. We highly recommend a systematic approach for monitoring the efficiency of IAS management projects in protected areas.
url http://neobiota.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=8071
work_keys_str_mv AT verenaschiffleithner isitworththeeffortspreadandmanagementsuccessofinvasivealienplantspeciesinacentraleuropeannationalpark
AT franzessl isitworththeeffortspreadandmanagementsuccessofinvasivealienplantspeciesinacentraleuropeannationalpark
_version_ 1725232593328144384