Effects of invasive plants on fire regimes and postfire vegetation diversity in an arid ecosystem.

ABSTRACT: We assessed the impacts of co-occurring invasive plant species on fire regimes and postfire native communities in the Mojave Desert, western USA. We analyzed the distribution and co-occurrence patterns of three invasive annual grasses (Bromus rubens, Bromus tectorum, and Schismus spp.) known to alter fuel conditions and community structure, and an invasive forb (Erodium cicutarium) which dominates postfire sites. We developed species distribution models (SDMs) for each of the four taxa and analyzed field plot data to assess the relationship between invasives and fire frequency, years postfire, and the impacts on postfire native herbaceous diversity. Most of the Mojave Desert is highly suitable for at least one of the four invasive species, and 76% of the ecoregi

SUBMITTER: Underwood EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6875662 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature