Dynamics of Lantana Invasion of Subtropical Rainforest

Lantana (Lantana camara L.) is a highly aggressiveexotic environmental weed that is well establishedthroughout eastern Australia and is reportedly ableto displace native vegetation under a range ofconditions. Whether lantana is able to displacenative vegetation in the absence of anthropogenicdisturbance is subject of some disagreement in theliterature. The question remains, however, as to whatis the future for the Gold Coast hinterlandrainforests in the face of invasion by lantana?This study is mainly directed at addressing thedynamics at the lantana/rainforest interface,especially lantanas capacity to invade and ability tocompete with the wetter subtropical rainforests ofthe MacPherson Ranges of southeast Queensland, wherethe studies are centered on the Springbrook Plateauand the Springbrook and Lamington National Parks.The aims of this research are to determine: whetherlantana can displace rainforest; whether rainforestcan reclaim the space lost to lantana; and what arethe mechanisms and processes involved. Lantana (Lantana camara L.) is a highly aggressive§exotic environmental weed that is well established§throughout eastern Australia and is reportedly able§to displace native vegetation under a range of§conditions. Whether lantana is able to displace§native vegetation in the absence of anthropogenic§disturbance is subject of some disagreement in the§literature. The question remains, however, as to what§is the future for the Gold Coast hinterland§rainforests in the face of invasion by lantana? §This study is mainly directed at addressing the§dynamics at the lantana/rainforest interface,§especially lantanas capacity to invade and ability to§compete with the wetter subtropical rainforests of§the MacPherson Ranges of southeast Queensland, where§the studies are centered on the Springbrook Plateau§and the Springbrook and Lamington National Parks. §The aims of this research are to determine: whether§lantana can displace rainforest; whether rainforest§can reclaim the space lost to lantana; and what are§the mechanisms and processes involved.