Roads as conduits for exotic plant invasions in a semi-arid landscape.

Synopsis: This study examined the effect of road improvement and environmental variables on exotic and native plant diversity in roadside verges and adjacent semi-arid grassland, shrubland, and woodland communities of southern Utah. Researchers measured the cover of exotic and native species in roadside verges and both the richness and cover of exotic and native species in adjacent interior communities (50 meters beyond the edge of the road) along 42 roads stratified by level of road improvement (paved, improved surface, graded, and four-wheel drive track). Exotic species richness and cover were more than 50% greater, and the richness of native species 30% lower, at patch interiors adjacent to paved roads than those...

Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: Colorado Plateau, Land use configuration, Landscape fragmentation, Utah, edge effects, All tags... exotic species, fragmentation, invasive species, linear disturbances, native species, plant diversity, protected grassland, road effects, semi-arid grassland, sub-regional, Fewer tags