Illustrating differences in impact of the invasive Asiatic
Sand Sedge Carex kobomugi on native species
diversity and species richness in pristine versus human-impacted sand dune systems. Burkitt,
J.W., Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, USA and Georgian Court University. Lakewood USA
jburkitt@brookdalecc.edu, Wootton, L.S., Georgian
Court University. Lakewood USA. woottonL@georgian.edu , Myatt, S, Court University.
Lakewood NJ niowl@aol.com,
VanWagner, C. Georgian Court University. Lakewood NJ vanw0744@georgian.edu
Over the past century the invasive Asiatic sand sedge, Carex kobomugi, has been expanding rapidly in the
barrier beach systems of the Sandy Hook Unit (SHU) of Gateway National Recreation Area and
Island Beach State Park (IBSP) in New Jersey. We compared the effects of this invasion on
native species richness and diversity in pristine areas versus those more strongly
impacted by human activities. In the absence of C.
kobomugi, areas farthest from human impact had higher native plant diversity and
species richness than those in highly impacted areas. In such pristine habitats, invasion
by C. kobomugi tended to decrease species
richness and diversity. By contrast, in areas with more human impact, initial species
diversity and richness was lower, and invasion by C.
kobomugi actually increased these parameters. GIS technology provides a powerful tool
to explore distribution of different dune species within the two park areas studied.
Combining on-the-ground GPS mapping of affected areas and quadrat counts of plant
abundances with digital imagery allowed us to depict geographic patterns in species
diversity and richness within the areas studied.