Journal Article

Riparian plant invasions: hydrogeomorphological control and ecological impacts

Angold, Penelope G., Gurnell, Angela M., Tickner, David P., Mountford, J. Owen

2001

Overview

Biological invasions are a threat to ecosystems across all biogeographical realms. Riparian habitats are considered to be particularly prone to invasion by alien plant species and, because riparian vegetation plays a key role in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, research in this field has increased. Most studies have focused on the biology and autecology of invasive species and biogeographical aspects of their spread. However, given that hydrogeomorphological processes greatly influence the structure of riparian plant communities, and that these communities in turn affect hydrology and fluvial geomorphology, scant attention has been paid to the interactions between invasions and these physical processes. Similarly, relatively little research has been undertaken on competitive interactions between alien and native riparian plant species. Further research in these fields is necessary at a variety of spatial and temporal scales before the dynamics of riparian invasions, and their impacts, can be properly understood.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,Sage Publications,Turpin,Sage Publications Ltd
• Subject: Animal and plant ecology / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / Aquatic ecosystems / Autecology / Bgi / Prodig / Biogeography / Biological and medical sciences / Biological invasions / Biology / Earth sciences / Earth, ocean, space / Ecosystem biology / Ecosystems / Ecosystems and biological productivity / Editors / Exact sciences and technology / Flowers & plants / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Geomorphology / Hydrology / Hydrology. Hydrogeology / Indigenous species / Introduced species / Invasive species / Land use / Marine and continental quaternary / National parks / Physical geography / Plant communities / Plant species / Riparian ecology / Riparian vegetation / River ecology / Scholarly publishing / Soil erosion / Surficial geology / Synecology / Terrestrial ecosystems / Vegetation / Water shortages