Invasiveness Ranking System for Non-Native Plants of Alaska

Extent of the species U.S. range and/or occurrence of5formal state or provincial listing (0–5)The range of ground ivy extends throughout the United States;it is naturalized in Canada and ranges from Newfoundland toBritish Columbia. This species is listed as a weed in Kentucky,Nebraska, and Wisconsin, though the species is not declarednoxious (Invaders Database System 2003, USDA 2002). Groundivy is on the Invasive Garden Perennials Not to Plant StatewideList of Alaska (Integrated Pest Management Program 2004).Total for Ecological Amplitude and Distribution 14/25Feasibility of ControlScoreSeed banks (0–3) 3Seeds of ground ivy remain viable in the soil more than 4 years(Chancellor 1985). Small numbers of viable seeds were foundin soil samples of nearly 20 to over 40 years old (Hutchings andPrice 1999).Vegetative regeneration (0–3) 2Pieces of stem can root at the nodes (Hutchings and Price 1999).Level of effort required (0–4) 3Once it is establishes ground ivy is difficult to control. Groundivy is nearly impossible to dig up and remove all roots and stolonfragments (Mitich 1994).Total for Feasibility of Control 8/10Total score for 4 sections 48/100§Gypsophila paniculata L.Ranking SummaryEcoregion known or expected to occur inSouth CoastalInterior BorealArctic AlpineYesYesYesPotential Max. ScoreEcological Impact 40 25Biological Characteristics and Dispersal 25 14Amplitude and Distribution 25 18Feasibility of Control 7 3Relative Maximum 57Climatic ComparisonCollected inAlaska regions?CLIMEXsimilarity?South Coastal No YesInterior Boreal Yes –Arctic Alpine No YesGypsophila paniculata has been collected in Anchorage andMatanuska–Susitna Valley in Alaska (I. Lapina pers. obs.,J. Snyder pers. com.). Using CLIMEX matching program,climatic similarity between Nome and areas where the species isdocumented is high. Range of the species includes Banff, Alberta,Canada and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (Darwemt 1975),which has a 61% and 54% climatic match with Nome respectively.Gypsophila paniculata can withstand considerable variationin temperature and moisture. It is one of the few perennialornamentals recommended for gardens located on permafrost(Darwent 1975). This suggests that establishment of Gypsophylapaniculata in lower part of arctic alpine Alaska may be possible.Establishment is also likely in drier portions of the south coastalregion, such as upper Lynn Canal.Ecological ImpactScoreImpact on Ecosystem Processes (0–10) 3Baby’s-breath appears to reduce available nutrients for cooccurringgrass species (Robson 2004, Wisconsin DNR 2004).Protein content of desirable grasses declines with the presence ofGypsophila paniculata (Wisconsin DNR 2005).Impact on Natural Community Structure (0–10) 7Baby’s-breath can form dense stands and outcompete nativeperennial species (Darwent 1975, Rutledge and McLendon 1996,Wisconsin DNR 2005).common names: baby’s-breathImpact on Natural Community Composition (0–10) 5Baby’s-breath likely displaces native species (Robson 2004,Rutledge and McLendon 1996, Wisconsin DNR 2005).Impact on Higher Trophic Levels (0–10) 5Though baby’s-breath is not used by native mammals or birds,it has the ability to degrade wildlife habitat (Robson 2004).Baby’s-breath contains high levels of saponins that could resultin animal toxicity (Plants for a future 2002). Flowers of thisplant are attractive to numerous species of pollinating bees andflies (Darwent 1975, Darwent and Coupland 1966), potentiallyimpacting pollination ecology of co-occurring plant species.Baby’s-breath is also reported to be an alternate host for numberof viruses (Royer and Dickinson 1999).Total for Ecological Impact 20/40Biological Characteristics and Dispersal ScoreMode of Reproduction (0–3) 3Baby’s-breath reproduces entirely by seed. Plants are capableof producing up to 14,000 seeds (Royer and Dickinson 1999,Rutledge and McLendon 1996).Long-distance dispersal (0–3) 3Most capsules drop off near the parent plant. However, windis capable of carrying seeds distances of 1 km (Rutledge andMcLendon 1996). At maturity, the plant often breaks off at baseand tumbles in the wind, spreading seeds widely (Royer andDickinson 1999).Spread by humans (0–3) 3Baby’s-breath is cultivated in gardens and flower beds; it is readilyavailable for sale at nurseries. It has escaped cultivation intopastures and rangelands (Robson 2004, Rutledge and McLendon1996, Whitson et al. 2000). Its fairly wide distribution in thenorthwestern U.S. may be a result of it invading transportationcorridors (Robson 2004).It also is a potential seed contaminant(USDA, ARS 2004).Allelopathic (0–2) 0No considerable allelopathic effects were found in experiments(Robson 2004).B-42