The effects of land-use history and the contemporary landscape on non-native plant invasion at local and regional scales in the French Broad Watersheds, 2007

Determining what factors explain the distribution of non-native invasive plants that can spread in forest-dominated landscapes could advance understanding of the invasion process and identify forest areas most susceptible to invasion. The researchers conducted roadside surveys to determine the presence and abundance of 15 non-native plant species known to invade forests in western North Carolina, USA. Prior to sampling, the researchers identified 15 non-native invasive plant species that were of concern in the study region. Generalized linear models were used to examine how contemporary and historic land use, landscape context, and topography influenced presence and abundance of the species at local and regional scales.