Assessing Invasive Exotic Plants in Urban Forests

Invasive exotic plant species is one of the most serious forms of ecological degradation in urban forest that affects millions of metropolitan residents across the country. We propose to study the association between the occurrence of invasive exotic plants and the characteristics of urban forest remnants and their surrounding landscapes (size, structure, usage, and management). The ultimate goal is to determine if these characteristics can be used to predict the severity of exotic plant invasion. The findings will help to prevent and/or mitigate biological invasion for existing and future parks and remnants via better design and management.