Invasive Species Mapping at Harvard Forest 2005

We are monitoring vegetation at the Harvard Forest for invasive plant populations with respect to land use history and other factors. Using our historical database for the Harvard Forest Prospect Hill tract, we have begun mapping the current distribution of exotic plants as a function of past land use. The 320 ha tract of Prospect Hill is mapped by parcels with known land-use history, soils, vegetation composition, and long-term vegetation dynamics. We plan to conduct annual vegetation surveys at Harvard Forest and the adjacent Quabbin Reservation to document six key exotic species currently present in the area: A. petiolata, the exotic shrubs B. thunbergii, Rhamnus cathartica, R. frangula, Lonicera spp. and the climbing vine, Celastrus orbiculatus. We will map the GPS coordinates and record cover estimates of each species and conduct spatial analyses on these data using our extensive records and GIS maps of land use histories at these locations. Detailed site histories will be determined certain species of interest, using field and archival records. Using similar techniques, we also plan to monitor invasive plant populations at key experimental plots (including the hemlock removal experiment at Simes Tract, and the "recovery phase" of the Chronic N addition plots). Together, these landscape-level studies will provide a novel historical context for understanding biological invasions in a historical context.本研究针对哈佛森林（Harvard Forest）的植被开展监测，聚焦入侵植物种群，并结合土地利用历史与其他相关因素展开分析。依托哈佛森林展望山地块（Prospect Hill tract）的历史数据库，我们已启动针对外来植物当前分布的制图工作，以其与过往土地利用的关联作为分析变量。该展望山地块总面积320公顷，已按地块进行精细化制图，各地块均记录了明确的土地利用历史、土壤属性、植被组成以及长期植被动态数据。我们计划在哈佛森林及相邻的夸本保护区（Quabbin Reservation）开展年度植被调查，以记录该区域当前存在的6种重点外来植物：大蒜芥（A. petiolata）、日本小檗（B. thunbergii）、欧鼠李（Rhamnus cathartica）、亮叶鼠李（Rhamnus frangula）、忍冬属植物（Lonicera spp.）以及攀援藤本圆叶南蛇藤（Celastrus orbiculatus）。我们将对每种目标物种的GPS坐标进行标注，记录其盖度估算值，并依托该区域详尽的历史记录与土地利用历史地理信息系统（GIS）地图，对上述数据开展空间分析。针对部分目标物种，我们将通过野外调查与档案记录，梳理其所在样地的详细历史背景。依托类似的研究方法，我们还计划对关键实验样地的入侵植物种群开展监测，其中包括赛姆斯地块（Simes Tract）的铁杉移除实验样地，以及长期氮添加实验的“恢复阶段”样地。综上，这些景观尺度的研究将为从历史维度解析生物入侵现象提供全新的研究视角与背景支撑。