Managers Volunteers Partners

Research

Many partners and organizations are involved in various research projects involving different aspects of slender false brome biology, invasion history and management. This page features some of this research and serves as a central location for papers and links describing these projects.

 

Featured Work

 

  • A genetics study involving Brachypodium sylvaticum is being conducted at the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University. The Working Group has already submitted specimens from the Tompkins County area and plans to continue collecting plants for this project.

 

  • A study was carried out to determine how plant communities, trails and other park features affect Brachypodium sylvaticum distribution and looked at the competitive abilities of this species. Larger patches of this species were seen in shaded areas along corridors. This species successfully spreads into disturbed areas and potentially does well in shaded areas because it has less competition from other vegetation there.

Holmes, Susan E., et al. “Context-dependent pattern and process: the distribution and competitive dynamics of an invasive grass, Brachypodium sylvaticum.” Biological Invasions, vol. 12, no. 7, 2010, pp. 2303-2318.

 

  • The enemy release hypothesis was examined by studying Brachypodium sylvaticum in its native and introduced ranges. Populations of this species had a higher growth rate when enemies were excluded in the native range, while no significant difference in growth rate was seen in the invaded range. Also, in the native range pathogens caused the most damage to leaves of this species, while insects produced more damage in the introduced range.

Roy, Bitty A., et al. “Population regulation by enemies of the grass Brachypodium sylvaticum: demography in native and invaded ranges” Ecology, vol. 92, no. 3, 2011, pp. 665-675.

 

  • Species distribution modelling was used to predict areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains that had conditions favorable for slender false brome population establishment. Annual precipitation, annual minimum and maximum temperature, and soil data influenced the distribution of this species the most. The model can be used to aid research in that area and help prioritize survey locations.

Bird, Janine E. Predicting Slender False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) Invasion in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California. MA Thesis. San Jose State University, 2013.

 

  • Taylor and Cruzan conducted research on the effects disturbance and propagule pressure have on Brachypodium sylvaticum.  Their results show that this species grows best in areas with little leaf litter or other vegetation, which are conditions consistent with disturbance. They did notice some synergistic effects of disturbance and propagule pressure, but only when mulch was used in experimental plots. To prevent the spread of this species, they recommend that managers minimize disturbance impacts on native vegetation, encourage accumulation of deciduous leaf litter and limit Brachypodium sylvaticum reproduction.

Taylor, Laura A. V. and Mitchell B. Cruzan. “Propagule Pressure and Disturbance Drive the Invasion of Perennial False-Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum)” Invasive Plant Science and Management, vol. 8, no. 2, 2015, pp. 169-180.

 

Literature Review

Audrey Bowe, of the New York Invasive Species Research Institute, prepared a Box folder containing Brachypodium sylvaticum research papers. Feel free to contact Audrey at aeb286@cornell.edu for information and access to this folder.