Plant invasions into mountain protected areas: Assessment, prevention and control at multiple spatial scales

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

Authors

  • Christoph Kueffer
  • Keith McDougall
  • Jake Alexander
  • Curt Daehler
  • Peter Edwards
  • Sylvia Haider
  • Ann Milbau
  • Catherine Parks
  • Aníbal Pauchard
  • Zafar A. Reshi
  • Lisa J. Rew
  • Mellesa Schroder
  • Tim Seipel

Mountains are of great significance for people and biodiversity. Although often considered to be at low risk from alien plants, recent studies suggest that mountain ecosystems are not inherently more resistant to invasion than other types of ecosystems. Future invasion risks are likely to increase greatly, in particular due to climate warming and increased human land use (e.g. intensification of human activities, human population growth, and expansion of tourism). However, these risks can be reduced by minimising anthropogenic disturbance in and around protected areas, and by preventing the introduction of potentially invasive alien plants into these areas, particularly at high elevations. Sharing information and experiences gained in different mountainous areas is important for devising effective management strategies. We review current knowledge about plant invasions into mountains, assembling evidence from all continents and across different climate zones, and describe experiences at local to global scales in preventing and managing plant invasions into mountain protected areas. Our findings and recommendations are also relevant for managing native species that expand to higher elevations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPlant Invasions in Protected Areas : Patterns, Problems and Challenges
EditorsLlewellyn C. Foxcroft, Petr Pysek, David M. Richardson, Piero Genovesi
Number of pages25
PublisherSpringer Netherlands
Publication date01.01.2013
Pages89-113
ISBN (print)9789400777491
ISBN (electronic)9789400777507
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.01.2013
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013.

    Research areas

  • Biology - alpine, altitude, arctic, climate change, Cold climate, elevation gradient, Global, invasibility, mountain, Non-native, Ornamental plant trade, precautionary principle, tourism