Spatial Distribution of Four Exotic Plants in Relation to Physical Environmental Factors with Analysis using GIS

The spatial distributions of four plant species native to Asia, yet considered invasive in southwestern Virginia, were studied in order to produce predictive habitat maps. The study took place in the mountains to the north of Blacksburg, VA, on National Forest lands. A random GPS survey of each of the four species, Microstegium vimineum, Lonicera japonica, Rosa multiflora and Elaeagnus umbellate, was used in combination with a series of Geographic Information System (GIS) layers representing environmental variables (Elevation, Aspect, Roads, Trails, Streams, & Normalized Difference Moisture Index) to produce logistic regression models. After field- validating the models, the models were ranked according to usefulness, with the E. umbellate model proving most accurate. It is hoped that such GIS models will allow forest managers to more productively search for invasive species within their jurisdiction, by indicating sites more likely to provide habitat suitable to the invasive species described by the model. A non-GIS search for correlations between the study species' presence and field-collected discrete environmental variables was also included. Both Disturbance and Canopy Cover were considered for their effect upon Microstegium vimineum, Lonicera japonica, Rosa multiflora and Elaeagnus umbellate presence. Using Pearson's Correlation with the Canopy Cover data, and Chi-squared Correlation with the Disturbance data, only R. multiflora and E. umbellate showed significant correlation to decreasing canopy cover.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geography

Department dc:contributor.department

Geography

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Murray, David Patrick

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Resler, Lynn M.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Kolivras, Korine N.
• Carstensen, Laurence W.

• Elaeagnus umbellate
• GIS
• Virginia
• Logistic Regression
• Rosa multiflora
• Lonicera japonica
• Microstegium vimineum
• NDMI
• National Forest

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-02192009-122911

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/31281