Can native clonal moso bamboo encroach on adjacent natural forest without human intervention?

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Forestry
• Invasive Species Research

Background:

• Native species typically require human intervention to encroach on forests.
• Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) in China exhibits self-encroachment behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To monitor native moso bamboo population dynamics and encroachment into adjacent natural forests.
• To quantify the rate and extent of moso bamboo spread without human intervention.

Main Methods:

• Employed the transition front approach to track population dynamics.
• Monitored bamboo spread in Chinese fir and evergreen broadleaved forests from 2005 to 2014.

Main Results:

• Moso bamboo encroached at rates of 1.28 m/yr in Chinese fir and 1.04 m/yr in evergreen broadleaved forests.
• New bamboo culm production averaged 533/437 culms/hectare/year.
• Continuous decrease in natural forest area and increase in bamboo coverage observed.

Conclusions:

• Native moso bamboo is gradually encroaching on adjacent natural forests autonomously.
• Management strategies, such as selective culm removal, should be considered to control encroachment.