Cotula coronopifolia : invasive or just another alien species?
It is known that alien species can become invasive in a new environment and in new geographic areas. The recent and rapid expansion of Cotula coronopifolia (cotula)on the island of Öland in Sweden has raised questions about its potential invasiveness. The lack of information about the species ecolog...
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| Formato: | H2 |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés sueco |
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SLU/Dept. of Ecology
2020
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| Materias: |
| _version_ | 1855572551181271040 |
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| author | Tomasson, Lina |
| author_browse | Tomasson, Lina |
| author_facet | Tomasson, Lina |
| author_sort | Tomasson, Lina |
| collection | Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
| description | It is known that alien species can become invasive in a new environment and in new geographic areas. The recent and rapid expansion of Cotula coronopifolia (cotula)on the island of Öland in Sweden has raised questions about its potential invasiveness. The lack of information about the species ecology and behavior lead to this study which focuses on cotula’s history of expansion, dispersal mechanisms and potential vectors, expansion speed and habitat preferences, and if there is any spatial competition between cotula and native species.
A literature review, a field study and a couple of floating experiments indicates that the main dispersal mechanism of cotula is its good floating ability regarding both plants and seeds. The present population in Sweden is most likely a result of secondary spread by water across the Baltic Sea around 2002. A mapping survey done over two seasons, 2018 and 2019, of two populations on the island of Öland and a demographic study showed a high dispersal potential, with 2.4 million seeds produced per m2, and an expansion speed of, at least, 380 m per year. The field study, in combination with the mapping survey, showed that cotula has a broader niche in terms of habitat preferences than the literature indicated. I also found that the adult plants were able to endure much more frost and ice than previously known. A survey of 290 vegetation plots (0.0625 m2) with cotula present showed that there is a negative correlation between the cover of cotula and the native species and also with species number. This indicates spatial competition between cotula and the native species. The present populations will likely continue to grow and spread since there is plenty of uncolonized habitat available along the coasts of the Baltic Sea. Hence, there is a need for an action plan to prevent further establishment and a readiness for rapid eradication once the species reaches new areas. |
| format | H2 |
| id | RepoSLU15277 |
| institution | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
| language | Inglés swe |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publishDateSort | 2020 |
| publisher | SLU/Dept. of Ecology |
| publisherStr | SLU/Dept. of Ecology |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | RepoSLU152772020-01-17T02:00:57Z Cotula coronopifolia : invasive or just another alien species? Tomasson, Lina Cotula coronopifolia dispersal mechanism invasive species It is known that alien species can become invasive in a new environment and in new geographic areas. The recent and rapid expansion of Cotula coronopifolia (cotula)on the island of Öland in Sweden has raised questions about its potential invasiveness. The lack of information about the species ecology and behavior lead to this study which focuses on cotula’s history of expansion, dispersal mechanisms and potential vectors, expansion speed and habitat preferences, and if there is any spatial competition between cotula and native species. A literature review, a field study and a couple of floating experiments indicates that the main dispersal mechanism of cotula is its good floating ability regarding both plants and seeds. The present population in Sweden is most likely a result of secondary spread by water across the Baltic Sea around 2002. A mapping survey done over two seasons, 2018 and 2019, of two populations on the island of Öland and a demographic study showed a high dispersal potential, with 2.4 million seeds produced per m2, and an expansion speed of, at least, 380 m per year. The field study, in combination with the mapping survey, showed that cotula has a broader niche in terms of habitat preferences than the literature indicated. I also found that the adult plants were able to endure much more frost and ice than previously known. A survey of 290 vegetation plots (0.0625 m2) with cotula present showed that there is a negative correlation between the cover of cotula and the native species and also with species number. This indicates spatial competition between cotula and the native species. The present populations will likely continue to grow and spread since there is plenty of uncolonized habitat available along the coasts of the Baltic Sea. Hence, there is a need for an action plan to prevent further establishment and a readiness for rapid eradication once the species reaches new areas. I samband med den nyliga och hastiga spridningen av kotula, Cotula coronopifolia i Sverige har det väckts frågor kring dess potentiella invasivitet. Eftersom litteraturen kring kotulans ekologi och historia är mycket sparsam så initierades denna studie som fokuserar på kotulans historiska spridningsvägar, dess spridningsmekanismer och potentiella vektorer, dess expansionshastighet, habitatpreferenser, och om det finns någon indikation på spatial/rumslig konkurrens mellan kotulan och inhemska arter. Litteraturstudien, fältstudien och flytexperimenten indikerar att den huvudsakliga spridningsmekanismen är dess goda flytförmåga, av både plantor och frön. Dagens svenska population är troligen ett resultat av sekundär spridning och kom troligen vattenvägen över Östersjön kring år 2002. Kartläggningen som gjordes av två populationer på Öland, år 2018 och 2019, tillsammans med en demografistudie visar på kotulans höga spridningspotential, en fröproduktion av 2,4 miljoner frön per kvadratmeter och en expansionshastighet på minst 380 meter per år. Denna studie visade också att kotulan har en bredare habitatnisch och uthärdar mer kyla och frost än vad litteraturen indikerar. En täckningsgradsinventering utfördes i 290 stycken 0,0625 m2 vegetationsrutor där kotula fanns närvarande, vilket visade på att det fanns en negativ korrelation mellan kotulas täckningsgrad och de inhemska arternas och även med antalet arter. Detta indikerar att det förekommer spatial konkurrens mellan kotula och de inhemska arterna. Den befintliga populationen i Sverige kommer troligtvis att fortsätta expandera och sprida sig då det finns gott om potentiellt habitat längs Östersjöns kuster. Därav behövs det en handlingsplan som avser att hindra vidare spridning och en beredskap för utrotning av kotula när den etablerar sig på nya lokaler. SLU/Dept. of Ecology 2020 H2 eng swe https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/15277/ |
| spellingShingle | Cotula coronopifolia dispersal mechanism invasive species Tomasson, Lina Cotula coronopifolia : invasive or just another alien species? |
| title | Cotula coronopifolia : invasive or just another alien species? |
| title_full | Cotula coronopifolia : invasive or just another alien species? |
| title_fullStr | Cotula coronopifolia : invasive or just another alien species? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cotula coronopifolia : invasive or just another alien species? |
| title_short | Cotula coronopifolia : invasive or just another alien species? |
| title_sort | cotula coronopifolia : invasive or just another alien species? |
| topic | Cotula coronopifolia dispersal mechanism invasive species |