Lythrum salicaria

Lythrum salicaria reduziu a biodiversidade de áreas úmidas deslocando plantas nativas, alterando habitats e mudando comunidades ecológicas (Blossey et al, 2001). L. salicaria reduz a polinização e a produção de sementes do Lythrum alatum nativo (Blossey et al, 2001).

As altas concentrações de taninos nas folhas de L. salicaria têm o potencial de criar ambientes diretamente tóxicos para os girinos de Bufo americanus. A hipótese é que os respiradores branquiais obrigatórios, como os girinos de B. americanus, são altamente sensíveis aos danos branquiais causados ​​por altas concentrações de fenólicos (Maerz et al, 2005).

Nas áreas úmidas de água doce da América do Norte, Lythrum salicaria altera as taxas de decomposição e a ciclagem de nutrientes, a química da água (Blossey et al, 2001).

Lythrum salicaria reduz a adequação do habitat para espécies especializadas de aves aquáticas dos Estados Unidos, como lxobrychus exilis, Podilymbus podiceps, Rallus limicola, Porzana carolina, Cistothorus palustris (Blossey et al, 2001).

After plotting the proportion of native species against the percentage cover of the invasive species, we discerned no clear pattern that the number of native species was reduced more than that of the introduced species. However, the abundance of native species is exponentially reduced by the introduced invasive species, thus increasing risk of local extinction in the future. To take an extreme example, Fanno Creek (FC) was entirely devoid of native plant species. ....We conclude that the variables of interest, purple loosestrife and reed canary grass abundance, are not correlated with various measures of topography, hydrology and soil properties. Therefore,patterns of plant species richness and abundance that are correlated with invasive species abundance are likely a result of theeffect of the invasive species and not the underlying nvironment.In addition, experimental studies document the ability of both invaders to decrease plant diversity (Weiher et al., 1996; Green & Galatowitsch, 2002; Kercher & Zedler, 2004). The combination of this evidence strongly suggests that both purple loosestrife and reed canary grass are reducing the plant community diversity of wetlands in the Pacific Northwest USA. (Schooler et al., 2006).

Whitt et al. (1999) effectively found anegative impact of purple loosestrife on marsh wren(Cistothorus palustris (Wilson), Troglodytidae), : Marsh wren Cistothorus palustris NY—field survey - All nests found during the survey (35) were located in cattail (Typha glauca) stands. None was found in loosestrife stands Rawinski and Malecki (1984); MI—field survey - Abundance was lower in loosestrife stands than in other vegetation types Whitt et al. (1999) ; IL—field survey - Nested exclusively (11 nests) in cattail (Typha spp.) stands Maddox and Wiedenmann (2005) (Lavoie, 2009).