title: Global Invader Impact Network (GIIN): toward standardized evaluation of the ecological impacts of invasive plants.
abstract: Terrestrial invasive plants are a global problem and are becoming ubiquitous components of most ecosystems. They are implicated in altering disturbance regimes, reducing biodiversity, and changing ecosystem function, sometimes in profound and irreversible ways. However, the ecological impacts of most invasive plants have not been studied experimentally, and most research to date focuses on few types of impacts, which can vary greatly among studies. Thus, our knowledge of existing ecological impacts ascribed to invasive plants is surprisingly limited in both breadth and depth. Our aim was to propose a standard methodology for quantifying baseline ecological impact that, in theory, is scalable to any terrestrial plant invader (e.g., annual grasses to trees) and any invaded system (e.g., grassland to forest). The Global Invader Impact Network (GIIN) is a coordinated distributed experiment composed of an observational and manipulative methodology. The protocol consists of a series of plots located in (1) an invaded area; (2) an adjacent removal treatment within the invaded area; and (3) a spatially separate uninvaded area thought to be similar to pre-invasion conditions of the invaded area. A standardized and inexpensive suite of community, soil, and ecosystem metrics are collected allowing broad comparisons among measurements, populations, and species. The method allows for one-time comparisons and for long-term monitoring enabling one to derive information about change due to invasion over time. Invader removal plots will also allow for quantification of legacy effects and their return rates, which will be monitored for several years. GIIN uses a nested hierarchical scale approach encompassing multiple sites, regions, and continents. Currently, GIIN has network members in six countries, with new members encouraged. To date, study species include representatives of annual and perennial grasses; annual and perennial forbs; shrubs; and trees. The goal of the GIIN framework is to create a standard yet flexible platform for understanding the ecological impacts of invasive plants, allowing both individual and synthetic analyses across a range of taxa and ecosystems. If broadly adopted, this standard approach will offer unique insight into the ecological impacts of invasive plants at local, regional, and global scales.
authors: Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA.
authors: Jacob N
authors: JN
authors: Barney
authors: Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA.
authors: Daniel R
authors: DR
authors: Tekiela
authors: CONICET, CENAC-APN Fagnano 244, Bariloche, Argentina.
authors: Maria Noelia
authors: MN
authors: Barrios-Garcia
authors: Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos (GEPI), INTA-CONICET Modesta Victoria 4450, Bariloche, Argentina.
authors: Romina D
authors: RD
authors: Dimarco
authors: Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University 1177 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA.
authors: Ruth A
authors: RA
authors: Hufbauer
authors: Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University 1177 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Leipzig-Scott
authors: Laboratorio de Ecotono, INIBIOMA, CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250, Bariloche, Argentina.
authors: Martin A
authors: MA
authors: Nuñez
authors: Laboratorio de Invasiones Biológicas (LIB), Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile ; Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) Santiago, Chile.
authors: Aníbal
authors: A
authors: Pauchard
authors: Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic ; Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague Viničná 7, CZ-128 44, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Petr
authors: P
authors: Pyšek
authors: Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic.
authors: Michaela
authors: M
authors: Vítková
authors: Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University Bozeman, Montana, 59717, USA.
authors: Bruce D
authors: BD
authors: Maxwell
keywords: Coordinated distributed experiment; impact assessment; invasive plants; meta-analysis; natural experiment; research network; research protocol