Plains Cottonwood’s Last Stand: Can It Survive Invasion of Russian Olive onto the Milk River, Montana Floodplain?

www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov

Pearce and Smith. 2001. Environmental Management Vol. 28, No. 5, pp. 623–637

The eventual replacement of native plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides) forests by Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a serious threat to biodiversity on floodplains in western North America. Low palatability  of Russian olive saplings and trees, easily dispersed seed, and three-year seed viability give Russian olive a competitive advantage over native woody riparian plants. Read entire article here.