IFEVA   02662
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES FISIOLOGICAS Y ECOLOGICAS VINCULADAS A LA AGRICULTURA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Regional Suitability Assessment for the Mouseear Hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella) Invasion in Patagonian Rangelands
Autor/es:
RAUBER, R.B; MARTINI, J.P.; COLLANTES, M.B; CIPRIOTTI, P.A; FRERS, E.
Revista:
Invasive Plant Science and Management
Editorial:
Allen Press Inc.
Referencias:
Año: 2016 vol. 9 p. 242 - 251
ISSN:
1939-7291
Resumen:
Several studies have been carried out to evaluate the main drivers behind biological invasions and their ecologicalconsequences. Nevertheless, it is still extremely difficult to acquire a full understanding of the invasion process due toits high level of complexity. The problems that complicate invasion studies are low detection during the early stagesof invasion, and the high survey cost of working over large, inaccessible, and rugged areas. The studies that developefficient tools to reduce costs and time will help to control or mitigate the invaders? damaging effects. Hieraciumpilosella is an aggressive invader of grasslands worldwide. The aim of this work was to conduct a regional assessmentfor the suitability of H. pilosella invasion in the Fuegian Steppe by combining field surveys, spatial modeling, andgeographic information system tools. We recorded the invader cover in 167 sample sites and we determined therelationship between environmental variables and the probability of invasion. This was carried out by the selection ofalternative generalized linear models. The best model indicates that disturbance and plant community were the maindrivers to predict invasion suitability on a regional scale. Therefore, these two variables were used as main inputs toconstruct a regional invasion suitability map, which identifies the most critical areas for prevention, control, andfurther monitoring. This approach corresponds to a tool that permits us to evaluate the suitability of invasion evenover large and inaccessible areas. The results especially warn about soil disturbance associated with usualmanagement practices in Fuegian rangelands.