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- Permanent Link:
- http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI06821906/00001
Notes
- Abstract:
- The legislated mission of the National Park Service (NPS) is to preserve, protect, and maintain the natural ecosystenls in its care. In south Florida, many of these "natural areas1' have been invaded by or, are threatened by, exotic plant speciesparticularly the successful "weed" trees, Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), Australian Pine (Casuarina spp.), and Cajeput or Punk Tree (Melaleuca - quinquenervia).
Though originally introduced as useful plants, it is now apparent that they can cause many problems. These three trees not only quickly colonize sites disturbed by human activity (abandoned farmland and homesites, road edges, etc.), but it also appears that they can take advantage of disturbances that are the results of natural phenomena (like hurricanes and fires) or management practices (manipulation of water levels and prescribed burning) to out-compete and exclude native species. The NPS has devoted considerable time and effort toward the control of these plants with varying degrees of success. Eradication of Casuarina from
beaches has been temporarily successful, but removal of Schinus from abandoned farmland has proved difficult. At present, several studies have been initiated to further understand the dynamics of Schinus in hopes that control methods can be found.
Other local and federal management agencies, too, are faced with the problem of controlling exotic plants. Some, like the Florida Division of Parks, want to maintain whole natural ecosystems. Others, like the Water Management District and the U.S. Forest Service, are interested in managing for a particular aspect of their system such as water conservation or wildlife. Many of these agencies have been sponsoring research directed at their particular exotic plant problems. Work being done in countries where these species are native, or where they have been more recently introduced and are grown specifically for use as firewood, is also included. The information gained from all these diverse efforts may be helpful to those interested in controlling these and other exotics. This bibliography is an up-to-date list of the publications that have resulted from the work on three woody exotics in south Florida, the United States, and abroad. ( English )
- Issuing Body:
- SuDoc number: I 29.95: T-682
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Florida International University
- Holding Location:
- South Florida Natural Resource Center
- Rights Management:
- Please contact the owning institution for licensing and permissions. It is the user's responsibility to ensure use does not violate any third party rights.
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