Spread of the Introduced Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Coastal Norway
Positive and negative effects on ecosystem services from plantation forestry in Europe have led to conflicts regarding non-native tree species. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) is the most common plantation species in northwest Europe, covering 1.3 Mha. In costal Norway, Sitka spruce wa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/8/1/24 |
| _version_ | 1811344324442456064 |
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| author | Per Holm Nygaard Bernt-Håvard Øyen |
| author_facet | Per Holm Nygaard Bernt-Håvard Øyen |
| author_sort | Per Holm Nygaard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Positive and negative effects on ecosystem services from plantation forestry in Europe have led to conflicts regarding non-native tree species. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) is the most common plantation species in northwest Europe, covering 1.3 Mha. In costal Norway, Sitka spruce was intentionally introduced and is currently occupying about 50,000 ha. Sitka spruce was blacklisted in Norway in 2012, mainly based on the risk for invasive spreading, but little quantitative documentation exists on spread. Here we quantify spread from plantations into abandoned heathland and pastures in thirteen sites where natural regeneration occurs. Spread distances and zero-square distributions related to the nearest edge of the parent stand were fitted by use of Weibull. The median expansion rate was 0.8 m·year−1 in north Norway and 4.4 m·year−1 in west Norway. The maximum establishment distance measured was 996 m. A peak in sapling density occurred within 50 m from the edge, and there was a general decrease in saplings with increasing distance. Conversely, increase in zero-squares percentages occurred with increasing distance. We argue that inclusion of abundance in assessing spread is necessary to define invasiveness. Based on spread models and prevailing forestry practices we recommend that the establishment of new Sitka spruce plantations within 200 m of protected areas should be avoided. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:45:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-abfde05d362e49ebb6af8f2950f02182 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:45:38Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-abfde05d362e49ebb6af8f2950f021822022-12-22T02:32:45ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072017-01-01812410.3390/f8010024f8010024Spread of the Introduced Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Coastal NorwayPer Holm Nygaard0Bernt-Håvard Øyen1Department of Forest Genetics and Biodiversity, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås 1431, NorwayCoastal Forestry, Bredsgården Bryggen, Bergen 5003, NorwayPositive and negative effects on ecosystem services from plantation forestry in Europe have led to conflicts regarding non-native tree species. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) is the most common plantation species in northwest Europe, covering 1.3 Mha. In costal Norway, Sitka spruce was intentionally introduced and is currently occupying about 50,000 ha. Sitka spruce was blacklisted in Norway in 2012, mainly based on the risk for invasive spreading, but little quantitative documentation exists on spread. Here we quantify spread from plantations into abandoned heathland and pastures in thirteen sites where natural regeneration occurs. Spread distances and zero-square distributions related to the nearest edge of the parent stand were fitted by use of Weibull. The median expansion rate was 0.8 m·year−1 in north Norway and 4.4 m·year−1 in west Norway. The maximum establishment distance measured was 996 m. A peak in sapling density occurred within 50 m from the edge, and there was a general decrease in saplings with increasing distance. Conversely, increase in zero-squares percentages occurred with increasing distance. We argue that inclusion of abundance in assessing spread is necessary to define invasiveness. Based on spread models and prevailing forestry practices we recommend that the establishment of new Sitka spruce plantations within 200 m of protected areas should be avoided.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/8/1/24Sitka sprucenon-nativespread distancesinvasive specieshabitat invasibilitymanagement |
| spellingShingle | Per Holm Nygaard Bernt-Håvard Øyen Spread of the Introduced Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Coastal Norway Forests Sitka spruce non-native spread distances invasive species habitat invasibility management |
| title | Spread of the Introduced Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Coastal Norway |
| title_full | Spread of the Introduced Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Coastal Norway |
| title_fullStr | Spread of the Introduced Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Coastal Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spread of the Introduced Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Coastal Norway |
| title_short | Spread of the Introduced Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Coastal Norway |
| title_sort | spread of the introduced sitka spruce picea sitchensis in coastal norway |
| topic | Sitka spruce non-native spread distances invasive species habitat invasibility management |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/8/1/24 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT perholmnygaard spreadoftheintroducedsitkasprucepiceasitchensisincoastalnorway AT bernthavardøyen spreadoftheintroducedsitkasprucepiceasitchensisincoastalnorway |