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Woody plant invasions and restoration in forests of island ecosystems: lessons from Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile

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Abstract

Islands are susceptible to exotic plant invasion, and Robinson Crusoe Island (RCI), Juan Fernandez Archipelago (33°S, 78°7′W, Chile) is no exception. Through a literature review, we assessed plant invasion and compared it to other oceanic islands worldwide. Here, we discuss measures to enhance forest recovery on RCI based on knowledge accumulated from studies on RCI and other islands. Although these findings are designed to halt the progress of invasion on RCI, they could also be applied to other insular ecosystems. We addressed the following questions: (1) What is the plant invasion status on RCI in relation to other islands worldwide? (2) How imminent is biodiversity loss by plant invasion on RCI? (3) How is woody plant invasion taking place on RCI? (4) What methods are effective in controlling invasive woody species on islands worldwide? (5) What is the ability of natural forests to recover after controlling invasive plants on RCI? We found that (1) RCI is globally the fourth most invaded island for woody species. (2) Invasive woody species expansion is estimated at 4.3 ha annually. (3) Some invasive species establish under forest canopy gaps, out-competing native species. (4) Control of invasive plant species should focus on small gaps, and restoration should promote plant cover and soil protection. Mechanical and chemical control of invasive species seemed to be insufficient to prevent biodiversity loss. Developing alternatives like biological control are indispensable on RCI. (5) Six years after invasive species control, floristic composition tended to recover.

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Acknowledgements

We thank National Forest Committee (CONAF), to Paola González (Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge); to Natalia Neira (Universidad de Chile) for the review on islands, several students and to Andrés Fuentes (Universidad de la Frontera) for the critical reading of the previous version of the manuscript. Thanks go, too, to Constanza Maldonado, Denise Fliegel Lori Bell and Juan Armesto for the edition of the manuscript and the English review. Thanks to the editor of this journal by his comments. The drafting of this manuscript was supported by Basal Support PFB23, ICM 005-02, CONICYT PAI #821320069 and Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado Universidad de la Frontera.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Los Lagos, Av. Fuchslocher 1305, Osorno, Chile

    Cecilia Smith-Ramírez

  2. Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad-Chile (IEB), Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa Santiago, Chile

    Cecilia Smith-Ramírez, Jessica Castillo, Juan Pablo Mora & Gisella Arellano-Cataldo

  3. Instituto de Biodiversidad, Conservación y Territorio, Universidad Austral de Chile, Isla Teja s/n Valdivia, Chile

    Cecilia Smith-Ramírez & Jessica Castillo

  4. Laboratorio de Biometría, Departamento de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de la Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco, Chile

    Rodrigo Vargas

  5. Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Almirante Simpson 471, 5951822, Coyhaique, Chile

    Juan Pablo Mora

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  1. Cecilia Smith-Ramírez
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  2. Rodrigo Vargas
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  3. Jessica Castillo
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  4. Juan Pablo Mora
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Correspondence to Cecilia Smith-Ramírez.

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Communicated by Peter Ashton.

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Smith-Ramírez, C., Vargas, R., Castillo, J. et al. Woody plant invasions and restoration in forests of island ecosystems: lessons from Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile. Biodivers Conserv 26, 1507–1524 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1317-9

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