When a holiday plant goes rogue: The case of English holly in the PNW
Published in Earth & Environment and Plant Science
Invasive plant species threaten forest ecosystems by outcompeting native flora for essential resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. One such invader, English holly (Ilex aquifolium), a shade-tolerant evergreen shrub or tree native to Eurasia and northern Africa, has become increasingly problematic in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
This study investigates the environmental factors influencing I. aquifolium distribution and spread using species distribution modeling (maximum entropy) and spatial analysis (Ripley’s K function) in an urban forest near Seattle, Washington. Results indicate that evergreen forests support holly establishment more than deciduous vegetation. Temperature emerged as a strong positive predictor of holly presence, suggesting that climate change could accelerate its invasion.
In contrast, soil nutrient levels showed a slight negative association with holly occurrence, potentially indicating either holly’s tolerance for nutrient-poor soils or a disadvantage in nutrient-rich environments. Additionally, holly may deplete soil nutrients through uptake or by altering soil chemistry. Further, the clustered pattern of holly dispersion is likely driven by a combination of short-distance seed dispersal and vegetative spread.
By identifying the ecological conditions that favor holly’s spread, this study provides insights to inform management strategies aimed at mitigating its impact on native biodiversity, forest succession, and ecosystem services in urban forests in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
Access full article here: https://rdcu.be/eYZqi
My research centers on human–environment interactions, with a longstanding focus on land change science, geographic information science (GISc), and remote sensing as tools for advancing understanding of biogeophysical and socio-environmental dynamics. I investigate questions about land use and land cover change, the spatial and temporal dynamics of natural and anthropogenic landscapes, and the implications of these changes for ecosystem functioning, biogeochemical cycling, and human welfare. My work bridges the human and physical dimensions of global change, emphasizing the theoretical and empirical potential of GIS not merely as a tool, but as a scientific framework for generating transformative geospatial knowledge. Key areas of interest include socio-environmental geography, spatial theory, climate and land-use change, with regional emphases in Latin America and the Pacific Northwest.
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