Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
Black and Pale Swallow-Wort (
Vincetoxicum
nigrum
and
V. rossicum
): The Biology
and Ecology of Two Perennial, Exotic
and Invasive Vines
C.H. Douglass, L.A. Weston, and A. DiTommaso
Abstract
Black and pale swallow-worts are invasive perennial vines that were
introduced 100 years ago into North America. Their invasion has been centralized
in New York State, with neighboring regions of southern Canada and New England
also affected. The two species have typically been more problematic in natural
areas, but are increasingly impacting agronomic systems such as horticultural nurs-
eries, perennial field crops, and pasturelands. While much of the literature reviewed
herein is focused on the biology and management of the swallow-worts, conclu-
sions are also presented from research assessing the ecological interactions that
occur within communities invaded by the swallow-wort species. In particular, we
posit that the role of allelopathy and the relationship between genetic diversity lev-
els and environmental characteristics could be significant in explaining the aggres-
sive nature of swallow-wort invasion in New York. Findings from the literature
suggest that the alteration of community-level interactions by invasive species, in
this case the swallow-worts, could play a significant role in the invasion process.
Keywords
Allelopathy
Genetic diversity
Invasive plants
Swallow-wort spp.
Vincetoxicum
spp.
Abbreviations
AMF: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; BSW: Black swallow-wort;
PSW: Pale swallow-wort
C.H. Douglass (
)
Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University,
Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Cameron.Douglass@colostate.edu
A. DiTommaso
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA
L. A. Weston
Charles Sturt University, E.H. Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Wagga Wagga NSW
2678, Australia
