invasive species

Relatively little research has focused on the spread of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) in working pine forests of the southeastern United States despite sericea being one of the most prominent forest invaders of this region. Timber thinning is commonly used to meet forestry and wildlife habitat objectives within these forests, with thinning intensity being objective-dependent. Higher-intensity thinning may facilitate the spread of sericea or other forest invaders due to effects such as increased availability of understory sunlight and understory disturbance, though the...

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a highly destructive invasive species and reported to be present in 77% of counties in the southeastern U.S. Wild pigs may negatively affect white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereinafter, deer) and eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris; hereinafter, turkey) via competition over forage or exclusion from preferred areas. To explore effects of wild pigs on spatial distribution of these species within a mixed agriculture-forest landscape, we developed models predicting camera trap detections of deer and turkeys as a...

Negative impacts from non-native congener introductions have emerged as an immediate threat to black bass conservation and management. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) historically comprised the sole black bass fishery in Moss Lake, North Carolina. Alabama bass (Micropterus henshalli) were illegally introduced into Moss Lake and were first detected during a 2008 electrofishing survey conducted by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission biologists. Since this detection, Alabama bass rapidly increased in abundance throughout the reservoir...