Abstract
Invasive alien species are classified as one of the major threats to global biodiversity. On more than 475 000 ha forestland in Sweden the alien tree species (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) has been planted believing that it could not self-propagate. This assumption turned out to be a misconception. Young trees have been found in roadsides and on clearcuts, but also in wetlands and even in the mountains. At the same time more plantations are planned. If the species would spread and establish far from plantations it will likely have major negative effects on the ecosystems within the potential range of the tree leading to high societal costs to eradicate it. The current situation is urgent as most plantations were made in the 1970s and 1980s and it is not until now that large quantities of seeds are produced and dispersed. We wish to survey the distribution of the species in today?s forest landscape, as well as in wetlands and in alpine areas. We also propose germination experiments to investigate where the species potentially can establish. Furthermore, we would like to develop dispersal models for the species that we can use to model the species? distribution pattern in future landscapes. Finally, we wish to optimize potential mitigation strategies and suggest cost-efficient surveillance and eradication schemes. By combining field inventories, experiments and modeling our aim is to study if lodgepole pine is, or can become, invasive in Sweden.
Sweden