Effects of Robinia pseudoacacia on understory vegetation

Full title

Invasion of Robinia pseudoacacia in Europe and its effects on understory vegetation in urban and rural areas

Abstract

The aim of this PhD study is to assess the invasion of the legume Robinia pseudoacacia in Europe and its effects on understory vegetation in terms of species composition and richness, with a focus on other alien species, which might have advantages, growing under this alien tree species. Furthermore the effect of urbanization will be taken into account. Until now Robinia is known to invade dry grasslands and urban wastelands, thus diminishing their usually high biodiversity. In woods it is known to respond well to anthropogenic disturbances and coppice forest management. All previous studies were conducted on a local to regional scale. This study will broaden the view of Robinia Invasion in forests; the study area shall extend from Hungary to western France, with Luxembourg as a main central point. Methodologically, the study will examine pairs of wood stands, on one hand, stands composed of Robinia and stands composed of native wooden species, under similar environmental conditions, will be compared. On the other hand stands in urbanized environments will be compared to stands in rural regions. The main variables, that will be gathered, are species composition (α-, ß-diversity), climate data (on a larger scale) and soil features, mainly the N-content of the soil, as Robinia has the capability to bind atmospheric nitrogen. In the end we hope to have an answer to the following questions:

• Does Robinia pseudoacacia pose a threat to certain native European woodland communities in certain regions?
• Does it change soil factors in a way to favour other alien species and to change biodiversity?
• Is there a difference between urban and rural stands?

Status of Phd

Supervisor at university: Prof. Dr. Ingo Kowarik, institute: Ecology, faculty: Planning Building Environment, university: Technische Universität Berlin

Supervisor in Luxembourg: Dr. Christian Ries, institution : Scientific Research Center of the National Museum of Natural History

PhD granted by Fonds national de la recherche Luxembourg. Duration: 3 years (01.08.2013 – 31.07.2016).

Host institution: Fondation faune-flore @ Centre de recherche scientifique, Musée national d’histoire naturelle.

Contact

Yan Steil
Musée national d’histoire naturelle
Centre de recherche scientifique
Laboratoire/Section d’Écologie
24, rue Münster
L-2160 Luxembourg
phone: (+352) 46 22 40 -212
fax: (+352) 46 38 48

Publications and not published works

• Steil, Y., 2013. The distribution and ecology of Lamium galeobdolon ssp. in Luxembourg and Europe. Diploma theses, University of Bonn, Germany. ii + 27 p.

Talks and poster presentations

• Steil, Y., 2013. The distribution and ecology of Lamium galeobdolon ssp. in Luxembourg and Europe. Talk, réunion des collaborateurs scientifiques, 16.3.2013.
• Ries C., Y. Steil & P. Thommes, 2013. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) seeds in bird food in Luxemburg in 2007 and 2012. Poster, réunion des collaborateurs scientifiques, 16.3.2013.
• Ries, C., Y. Steil, M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2013. Survey amongst physicians in Luxembourg on burns caused in 2011 and 2012 by the giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum SOMMIER & LEVIER, Apiaceae). Poster, réunion des collaborateurs scientifiques, 16.3.2013.