Exotic and Invasive Woody Plant Species in Iowa

Authors

Donald R. Farrar, Iowa State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Research

Keywords

exotic species, forest health, Iowa forests, invasive plants

Abstract

Seventy species and hybrids of exotic woody trees, shrubs, and vines have naturalized in Iowa. Nearly half of these species (31) have become invasive pests in parts of the state or have potential do so. Most of the seriously invasive species are spread by bird ingestion of whole fruits. Widespread dispersal by birds hinders eradication efforts and should be considered a trait indicative of potential invasiveness. The economic and ecological values of Iowa forests are seriously compromised by exotic invasive woody species, especially where forests recovering from cropland and pasture are dominated by exotic species. Thus, a simple measure of acres under forest cover is a misleading indicator of the health of Iowa's forest resource.

Publication Date

December 2001

Journal Title

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

108

Issue

4

First Page

154

Last Page

157

Copyright

© Copyright 2001 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

EN

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Farrar, Donald R. (2001) "Exotic and Invasive Woody Plant Species in Iowa," Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS, 108(4), 154-157.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias/vol108/iss4/9