Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6301949 | Ecological Engineering | 2014 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
The smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) has invaded coastal areas throughout the world, including China, in the past decades. Scientists of China and other countries are trying all means to control its invasion, including physical removal, chemicals, and biological control by herbivores. The present research chose a small island (the Qi'ao Island) to study biocontrol of S.alterniflora with mangroves. In 1999, we began to introduce fast-growing mangroves (mainly an alien species, Sonneratia apetala) to control S. alterniflora invasion. In 2011, we eventually eradicated S. alterniflora (only 0.63Â ha remained for experimental purpose) through expanding mangroves up to 300Â ha. The dozen-year monitoring showed that S. apetala did not invade in native mangroves. The isolated island in the present study makes an experiment platform for scientists to find a strategy to check one invasive plant with another alien plant but not introducing new invasions.
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Authors
Huai Chen, Baowen Liao, Bin'er Liu, Changhui Peng, Yao Zhang, Wei Guan, Qiu'an Zhu, Gang Yang,