Soil and hydrological responses to wild pig (Sus scofa) exclusion from native and strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum)-invaded tropical montane wet forests

Publication date: 1 October 2016
Source:Geoderma, Volume 279
Author(s): Ayron M. Strauch, Gregory L. Bruland, Richard A. MacKenzie, Christian P. Giardina
The structure and function of many ecosystems are threatened by non-native, invasive plant and animal species. Globally, invasive trees alter interception, evapotranspiration, water use, and throughfall, while wild pigs (Sus scofa) have been introduced and now invade widely ranging ecosystems, with impacts to soil and groundcover, and as a consequence, infiltration, runoff and water quality. In a resource management context, physical, chemical and biological control methods can limit the impact of plants on native biodiversity while fence building and animal removal can limit the effects of non-native ungulates on ecosystems. These expensive treatments have documented biodiversity benefits, but few studies have quantified hydrological effects of such management. Using paired fenced/unfenced runoff plots in native and Psidium cattleianum-invaded Hawaiian tropical montane forests, we examined the independent and interactive effects of strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum), a highly invasive tree in tropical islands and wild pigs on runoff amount, soil erosion rates and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). We sampled 18 events spanning a 22month period, and found that: 1) pigs are less active in invaded forests; 2) higher stem densities in invaded forests were associated with lower soil erosion and runoff rates compared to native forest; 3) reduced canopy cover and greater pig activity in native forests resulted in higher runoff volumes, soil erosion rates, and runoff FIB content; and 4) unfenced plots had more bare soil, less vegetation cover and greater soil FIB (Escherichia coli, total coliforms, enterococci) compared to fenced plots. These results point to the importance of understanding the independent and interactive effects of multiple invaders on watershed function. In this study system, removal of an invasive tree without fencing may actually lead to an increase in disturbance, with impacts to both biodiversity and hydrological properties.