Title: Acer negundo L.

Scientific Name: Acer negundo L.

Common Name: box elder maple



Source & more images (via ALA)

Habitat: Native to North America, A. negundo occurs in lowland forest, wet hard wood forest, flood plain forest and riparian areas including ephemeral streams in montane areas and the borders of swamps (Dineva 2005; Gabbe et al 2002; Kolb, Hart & Amundson 1997; Sargent 1949). Outside of its native range it is reported to invade damp to wet sclerophyll forest, sheltered forests and riparian vegetation (Carr, Yugovic & Robinson 1992; Muyt 2001).



Distribution:



Original source via CABI


Invasiveness Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT


1. Germination requirements? Mass germination occurs in spring (Blood 2001).

2. Establishment requirements? Can establish in partially shaded habitats (Mędrzycki 2007).

3. How much disturbance is required? Can invade riparian vegetation (Carr, Yugovic & Robinson 1992).

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE


4. Life form? Other; Tree (Carr, Yugovic & Robinson 1992).

5. Allelopathic properties? Leaves contain inhibitory compounds (Rice 1984). The impact these compounds have on other plants is not reported.

6. Tolerates herb pressure? In a study in the US after four years exposed to browsing pressure of 67 White tailed deer per km2 all box elder saplings were eliminated (Rossell, Gorsira & Patch 2005). Densities of 67 White tailed deer per km2 are high as Kilpatrick, Spohr & Lima (2001) report that densities of 20 deer/ km2 to be moderate and at a more moderate grazing pressure it is presumed some will be able to reach maturity as the species is able to grow to 4.6m in its first four to five years (Dineva 2005). When leaves are damaged thy release volatile compounds which may act as a deterrent to insects (Ping, Shen & Jin 2001). In the species native range it is generally avoided by foraging insectivorous birds (Gabbe et al 2002). This would indicate that the tree doesn’t support much insect life and therefore as a mature tree not effected by grazing.

7. Normal growth rate? Fast growing (Blood 2001). Fast growing, gap colonising tree (O’Hanlon-Manner & Kotanen 2006). Fast growing tree (Möllerová 2005). Very fast growing in its first 20 years of life, able to grow to 4.6m in four to five years (Dineva 2005).

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? Tolerant of flooding (Weber 2003). Saplings can be killed is inundated for more than 85 days during the growing season, mature trees however can survive being inundated for the entire growing season (Friedman & Auble 1999). Tolerant of frost (Blood 2001). Will re-shoot after fire (Blood 2001). Saplings that are only a few years old will not survive fire (Sachse 1992). Sensitive to water stress, females more than males (Ward et al 2002). Tolerant to some extent of drought (Weber 2003). Drought resistant (Mędrzycki & Pabjanek 2001). Susceptible to caviation under drought conditions (Tissier et al 2004).

REPRODUCTION


9. Reproductive system? Plants of the species produce separate female and male flowers, which are usually on separate plants and through sexual reproduction seeds are produced (Blood 2001). The different sex flowers are said to be usually on different plants, usually would indicate not always, therefore the species is capable of self and cross pollination.

10. Number of propagules produced? Female trees can produces up to 30,000 seeds (Mędrzycki & Pabjanek 2001).

11. Propagule longevity? Germinating power of seed is reported to reduce quickly (Möllerová 2005). This is presumably less than 5 years

12. Reproductive period? Can live for 60 years (Kort & Michiels 1997). Can form monocultures (Sachse 1992).


13. Time to reproductive maturity? First fruits after 10 years (Möllerová 2005). Maturity reported in five years (Sachse 1992). While there is dispute to when the species can reproduce the minimum is still five years or more.

DISPERSAL


14. Number of mechanisms? Seed is dispersed by wind and water. Plants are also still available in trade (Blood 2001). Seeds can be transported by vehicles along roads (Von Der Lippe & Kowarik 2007).

15. How far do they disperse? Wind dispersed the seeds may be carried more than 50m, and seed can survive at least six weeks in water (Mędrzycki 2007). With water as a dispersal agent, seeds are capable of being dispersed distances greater than 1km (Vogt, Rasran & Jensen 2004).


Impact Assessment

RECREATION


1. Restrict human access? This fast growing tree germinates on mass and can form dense thickets in riparian areas (Blood 2001). Therefore the species has the potential to be a major impediment in access to waterways and as a tree require significant works to remove.

2. Reduce tourism? Unknown.

3. Injurious to people? People can have hypersensitivity to the species pollen (Shah & Lin 2004).

4. Damage to cultural sites? Has extensive root system which can invade piping in the search for water (Blood 2001). This could be damaging to infrastructure.

ABIOTIC


5. Impact flow? Saplings can establish in the stream bed, they are however killed if inundated for more than 85 days during the growing season or if broken under the stress of the water (Friedman & Auble 1999). Unknown to what extent this would impact on actual water flows.

6. Impact water quality? The species is a deciduous tree that is reported to occur in riparian habitats (Blood 2001). As a deciduous species alteration of seasonal light levels and changes to nutrient cycling could impact water quality, the impact this species has on water quality has not been reported however.

7. Increase soil erosion? Has an extensive root system (Blood 2001). Therefore there is a low probability of large scale soil movement occurring in association with this species.

8. Reduce biomass? In open environments which are the species preferred habitat, establishment of the species especially in a thicket would increase biomass. In more heavily shaded environments where the species is more stunted its invasion is likely to cause a direct replacement of biomass (Mędrzycki 2007).

9. Change fire regime? Unknown impact on fire regime, considering the species preference for wetter environments it is unlikely to be significant.

COMMUNITY HABITAT


10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC? EVC= Floodplain Riparian Woodland (E); CMA= Corangamite ; Bioreg= Otway Plain ; VH CLIMATE potential. Able to form thickets excluding all other species except winter growing bulb species (Blood 2001). Exclusion of all other species indicates a monoculture at least within a layer.

10(b) Impact on medium value EVC? EVC= Sedgy Riparian Woodland (D); CMA= Corangamite ; Bioreg= Otway Plain ; VH CLIMATE potential. Able to form thickets excluding all other species except winter growing bulb species (Blood 2001). Exclusion of all other species indicates a monoculture at least within a layer.

10(c) Impact on low value EVC? EVC= Riparian Scrub (LC); CMA= West Gippsland ; Bioreg= Wilsons Promontory; VH CLIMATE potential. Able to form thickets excluding all other species except winter growing bulb species (Blood 2001). Exclusion of all other species indicates a monoculture at least within a layer.

11. Impact on structure? Able to form thickets excluding all other species except winter growing bulb species (Blood 2001). Therefore the species is capable of major displacement.

12. Effect on threatened flora? Unknown; there is no evidence of this reported.

FAUNA


13. Effect on threatened fauna? Unknown; there is no evidence of this reported.

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? Significant alteration of habitat in terms of flora composition could have a significant impact on food supply for fauna species. The degree to which this species would impact on Australian fauna has not been quantified however.

15. Benefits fauna? Even in the species native range it is generally avoided by foraging insectivorous birds (Gabbe et al 2002). As a moderate sized tree it may provide some shelter for species.

16. Injurious to fauna? There is no evidence reported to support this.

PEST ANIMAL


17. Food source to pests? Browsed by deer species (Rossell, Gorsira & Patch 2005).

18. Provides harbor? Dense thickets of the species have been described as places of informal intimate social life (Mędrzycki 2007). This dense vegetation cover could provide shelter for pest species.

AGRICULTURE


19. Impact yield? Not reported as a significant weed of agriculture.

20. Impact quality? Not reported as a significant weed of agriculture.

21. Affect land values? Not reported as a significant weed of agriculture.

22. Change land use? Not reported as a significant weed of agriculture.

23. Increase harvest costs? Not reported as a significant weed of agriculture.

24. Disease host/vector? The species is effected by die back caused by Fusarium solani and cankers caused by Eutypella parasitica and Inonotus rickii (Annesi, Coppola & Motta 2003; Demirci & Maden 2006; Ogris, Jurc & Jurc 2006). Fusarium solani can also damage soybeans (Roy et al 1989). Inonotus rickii is a wood decaying fungus of hardwoods and could have implications for forestry (Barnard 1993).



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Assessment ratings originally made by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.
The entry of this assessment was made possible through the generous support of The Weed's Network.






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potential distribution Acer negundo L..doc
potential distribution Acer negundo L..doc
present distribution Acer negundo L..doc
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wra4789: re: Acer negundo L.
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wra825: Common Name - B (via box elder maple)
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Date: 26 October 2009; 10:18:05 AM AEDT

Author Name: Fariba Moslih
Author ID: moslih