Invasiveness of Linaria vulgaris (yellow toadflax) - Effects of Disturbance and Environment

This book explores some of the theoretical §foundations of invasion ecology in a practical, §applied way using Linaria vulgaris (yellow toadflax) §as a case study, and it provides information that §will improve the ecological management of invasive §plant species. First, the question of how soil §disturbance and propagule pressure affect plant §invasions is addressed. Second, while plant §invasions are usually viewed and managed at the §species level, it is a fundamental biological §principle that population growth rate will vary §along a habitat suitability gradient. The varying §invasiveness of L. vulgaris is discussed, and a §method is presented to quantify population §invasiveness, allowing for targeted management of §populations within a given habitat, rather than §managing the species as a whole. Finally, plant §invasions are often associated with soil §disturbance, fire and grazing, and it is generally §assumed that invasive species respond favorably to §these disturbances while native species may decline §in abundance. The effects of these disturbances, as §well as that of herbicide, on existing L. vulgaris §populations and the extant plant community are §discussed.