Introduction Invasive or non-native plants pose a threat to ecosystems throughout the United States. In California alone, approximately 3,000 invasive plant species have been introduced (17, Dowell and Krass). These plants cause damages to native vegetation and often out compete their native counterparts (17). One species of slender oat, Avena barbata, is threatening native plants in California (Cal- IPC). This paper will focus on current research on the effects of invasive plants including A. barbata on native plants and explore the options in which to control the growing populations.
Body Avena barbata, slender wild oat, is an invasive plant in California. According to the California Invasive Plant Council, it is listed as moderately …show more content…
Competition can also arise between shrubs and grasses as there is often limited shared resources (8). These resources include access to sunlight, water, and nutrients in the soil. Light completion occurs above ground and is very different than belowground resources such as nutrients and water (8). Grasses are often available to take up more resources from the soil than shrubs due to their roots being more fibrous (8). This can lead to issues with native shrubs in areas that A. barabta is present. Grasses are also able to take in more resources per gram of weight due to their roots (8). When studied together, shrubs were have better productivity above ground while grasses were more productive underground (8). This can often be caused by the height of the shrubs not being affected by the grasses in the area as grasses tend to shorter. When grasses are removed from an ecosystem, there is no difference in light resources available to the shrubs. When looking at access to resources below ground, shrubs need access to higher levels of nitrogen in the soil than does grass (8). If an invasive grass such as A. barbata is taking up great amounts of nitrogen from the soil, this can lead to nitrogen becoming a limiting source fro the scrubs in the area. In prairies ecosystems, competition between shrubs and grasses was show to be symmetric as both growth forms affected the other
Body Avena barbata, slender wild oat, is an invasive plant in California. According to the California Invasive Plant Council, it is listed as moderately …show more content…
Competition can also arise between shrubs and grasses as there is often limited shared resources (8). These resources include access to sunlight, water, and nutrients in the soil. Light completion occurs above ground and is very different than belowground resources such as nutrients and water (8). Grasses are often available to take up more resources from the soil than shrubs due to their roots being more fibrous (8). This can lead to issues with native shrubs in areas that A. barabta is present. Grasses are also able to take in more resources per gram of weight due to their roots (8). When studied together, shrubs were have better productivity above ground while grasses were more productive underground (8). This can often be caused by the height of the shrubs not being affected by the grasses in the area as grasses tend to shorter. When grasses are removed from an ecosystem, there is no difference in light resources available to the shrubs. When looking at access to resources below ground, shrubs need access to higher levels of nitrogen in the soil than does grass (8). If an invasive grass such as A. barbata is taking up great amounts of nitrogen from the soil, this can lead to nitrogen becoming a limiting source fro the scrubs in the area. In prairies ecosystems, competition between shrubs and grasses was show to be symmetric as both growth forms affected the other