Quantifying the risk of non-native conifer establishment across heterogeneous landscapes

Article Ecology

Competition-colonisation trade-offs are found among but not within wind-dispersed Pinus species

Sarah Wyse et al.

Summary: The competition-colonisation trade-off is a key mechanism for maintaining species diversity. This study focuses on the within-species perspective and finds no evidence of a trade-off between competition and colonisation within species.

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY (2022)

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Article Ecology

Combining laser rangefinder and viewshed technologies to improve ground surveys of invasive tree distributions

Sarah Wyse et al.

Summary: This study introduces a method for ground-based visual surveys of invasive trees using laser rangefinder and GNSS technology, and the novel use of GIS viewsheds to define the surveyed area. The results show that data suitable for mapping invasive trees can be efficiently collected over large areas, supporting species-environment relationship analyses and risk mapping for areas prone to invasion. This efficient approach using standard equipment and GIS software is recommended for other spatial and invasion ecologists.

METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION (2022)

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Article Biodiversity Conservation

Quantifying the risk of non-native conifer establishment across heterogeneous landscapes

Sarah Wyse et al.

Summary: Pines (genus Pinus) are commonly cultivated for forestry purposes, but their rapid spread from plantations can cause substantial weed problems in many regions. Limited knowledge exists on the factors driving this spread, emphasizing the need for assessments across heterogeneous landscapes. Understanding the variables influencing pine establishment can inform management tools to protect vulnerable ecosystems from invasion.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY (2022)

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Article Biodiversity Conservation

Using spatial models to identify refugia and guide restoration in response to an invasive plant pathogen

James K. McCarthy et al.

Summary: The global spread of invasive plant pathogens is putting natural forests and ecosystem services at risk. Spatial data can quantify range non-overlap between invasive pathogens and their hosts to identify potential refugia for escaping the pathogen. In New Zealand, the detection of myrtle rust raised concerns for the native Myrtaceae species, with spatial methods used to compare the distribution of the pathogen with its potential hosts and identify areas for conservation and management efforts.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY (2021)

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Article Biodiversity Conservation

Dispersal potential rather than risk assessment scores predict the spread rate of non-native pines across New Zealand

Sarah V. Wyse et al.

Summary: Common weed risk assessment tools and expert knowledge were unable to predict the spread rates of non-native naturalized pine species in New Zealand, and should not be used to provide an index of spread risk. Instead, we recommend a move towards the use of dispersal models when assessing the spread risk of these species, even at national scales. Current practices relying on expert assessment are likely to underestimate the spread rate of species currently considered 'low risk', suggesting that these tools may be inadequate for predicting spread of these species.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences