Next Article in Journal
High-Throughput Phenotyping Accelerates the Dissection of the Phenotypic Variation and Genetic Architecture of Shank Vascular Bundles in Maize (Zea mays L.)
Previous Article in Journal
Phenotypic Variation and Peel Contribution to Fruit Antioxidant Contents in European and Japanese Plums
Previous Article in Special Issue
Seasonal Variation in Selected Biochemical Traits in the Leaves of Co-Occurring Invasive and Native Plant Species under Mediterranean Conditions
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Impacts and Drivers of Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) Invasion in Native Ecosystems

School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2022, 11(10), 1340; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101340
Submission received: 19 April 2022 / Revised: 16 May 2022 / Accepted: 17 May 2022 / Published: 18 May 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alien Flora—Adaptation to Novel Ecosystems and Traits for Success)

Abstract

Smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) is an invasive cool-season grass that has spread throughout the Great Plains of North America. The species is considered one of the most widespread exotic grasses that has successfully invaded both cool-season and warm-season native prairies. In the prairies where it has invaded, there has often been a total elimination of native species and an overall homogenization of ecosystems. Smooth brome has greater competitive abilities compared to many native grasses and can foster their total elimination in many instances. The greater competitiveness can be partially attributed to its ability to alter the soil and hydrological properties of a site. It is a deep-rooted rhizomatous grass species that thrives in nitrogen-enriched soil, and since its leaf tissue decomposes faster than native species, it in turn increases the soil nitrogen level, causing positive plant-soil feedback. Moreover, smooth brome is able to transport the required nutrients from older plants to the newer progenies invading new nutrient-depleted areas, making it a potent invader. However, the impact of smooth brome is not limited to soil biochemistry alone; it also affects other ecosystem components such as the movement and behavior of many native arthropods, thereby altering the overall population dynamics of such species. Thus, smooth brome invasion poses a serious threat to the remnant prairies of the Great Plains, and efficient management strategies are urgently needed to control its invasion. Control measures such as mowing, grazing, burning, and herbicide application have been effectively used to manage this species. However, due to the widespread distribution of smooth brome across North America and its adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions, it is challenging to translate the management strategies from one area to another.
Keywords: Bromus inermis; ecosystem; homogenized; invasive species; management; native; smooth brome Bromus inermis; ecosystem; homogenized; invasive species; management; native; smooth brome

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Palit, R.; DeKeyser, E.S. Impacts and Drivers of Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) Invasion in Native Ecosystems. Plants 2022, 11, 1340. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101340

AMA Style

Palit R, DeKeyser ES. Impacts and Drivers of Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) Invasion in Native Ecosystems. Plants. 2022; 11(10):1340. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101340

Chicago/Turabian Style

Palit, Rakhi, and Edward S. DeKeyser. 2022. "Impacts and Drivers of Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) Invasion in Native Ecosystems" Plants 11, no. 10: 1340. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101340

APA Style

Palit, R., & DeKeyser, E. S. (2022). Impacts and Drivers of Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) Invasion in Native Ecosystems. Plants, 11(10), 1340. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101340

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop