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Enhancing Japanese knotweed control and longterm habitat restoration post-treatment / SOPHIE HOCKING

Swansea University Author: SOPHIE HOCKING

  • Redacted version - open access under embargo until: 9th November 2026

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.58777

Abstract

Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica var. japonica) is among the most problematic invasive plants worldwide due to its negative impacts on recipient ecosystems and propensity for rapid spread, eliciting substantial control costs. As global focus on sustainability intensifies in response to the cur...

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Published: Swansea 2021
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Eastwood, Dan
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58777
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first_indexed 2021-11-24T15:15:36Z
last_indexed 2021-11-25T04:18:07Z
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As a long-lived perennial species, the Japanese knotweed invasion highlights this. While empirical evidence of effective knotweed management measures is growing, there is conflict between knotweed management and the wider ecological and environmental impacts of this. The focus of this thesis was to investigate the long-term effects of Japanese knotweed invasion and subsequent management in a large-scale, long-term knotweed field trial, and assess avenues for post-treatment restoration. Long-term plant community dynamics, soil abiotic characteristics and microbial diversity were investigated at a site in Taff&#x2019;s Well, south Wales, UK. This study found that the diversity of native flora was largely limited to ruderal species, potentially hindering regeneration potential of native plants. The rare hybrid Conolly&#x2019;s knotweed (x Reyllopia conollyana) was also discovered in the seed bank. Secondary invasion by Himalayan balsam also occurred. Native species diversity significantly increased in response to knotweed management (i.e., herbicide application). Soil abiotic characteristics showed varied response to knotweed treatment; spatial variation explained changes to most parameters measured. There was no discernible effect of knotweed cover or herbicide application on soil microbial diversity. Restoration trials found that active restoration may be a valuable tool for enhancing post-knotweed community recovery. Native species abundance and target community composition can be enhanced by revegetation. While functional composition of revegetation seed mixes did not enhance knotweed suppression, this may provide insight into the coexistence of native and invasive species to enhance biodiversity. Physical covering using geotextiles increased native species abundance but did not suppress knotweed. Finally, a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of knotweed treatment methods found that the simplest and most effective knotweed management method (annual glyphosate foliar spray) elicited the lowest environmental impacts to produce. LCA of restoration methods found that geotextile matting and revegetation contributed the greatest environmental impacts. 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spelling 2021-11-24T17:01:28.8030773 v2 58777 2021-11-24 Enhancing Japanese knotweed control and longterm habitat restoration post-treatment 4f6b73c0bd8565b24b8aaf73349b28d3 SOPHIE HOCKING SOPHIE HOCKING true false 2021-11-24 Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica var. japonica) is among the most problematic invasive plants worldwide due to its negative impacts on recipient ecosystems and propensity for rapid spread, eliciting substantial control costs. As global focus on sustainability intensifies in response to the current biodiversity and climate crises, the value of long-term ecological monitoring and planning is increasingly evident. As a long-lived perennial species, the Japanese knotweed invasion highlights this. While empirical evidence of effective knotweed management measures is growing, there is conflict between knotweed management and the wider ecological and environmental impacts of this. The focus of this thesis was to investigate the long-term effects of Japanese knotweed invasion and subsequent management in a large-scale, long-term knotweed field trial, and assess avenues for post-treatment restoration. Long-term plant community dynamics, soil abiotic characteristics and microbial diversity were investigated at a site in Taff’s Well, south Wales, UK. This study found that the diversity of native flora was largely limited to ruderal species, potentially hindering regeneration potential of native plants. The rare hybrid Conolly’s knotweed (x Reyllopia conollyana) was also discovered in the seed bank. Secondary invasion by Himalayan balsam also occurred. Native species diversity significantly increased in response to knotweed management (i.e., herbicide application). Soil abiotic characteristics showed varied response to knotweed treatment; spatial variation explained changes to most parameters measured. There was no discernible effect of knotweed cover or herbicide application on soil microbial diversity. Restoration trials found that active restoration may be a valuable tool for enhancing post-knotweed community recovery. Native species abundance and target community composition can be enhanced by revegetation. While functional composition of revegetation seed mixes did not enhance knotweed suppression, this may provide insight into the coexistence of native and invasive species to enhance biodiversity. Physical covering using geotextiles increased native species abundance but did not suppress knotweed. Finally, a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of knotweed treatment methods found that the simplest and most effective knotweed management method (annual glyphosate foliar spray) elicited the lowest environmental impacts to produce. LCA of restoration methods found that geotextile matting and revegetation contributed the greatest environmental impacts. The results of this thesis can inform sustainable, long-term knotweed management and enhance practical alignment with priorities around ecological and environmental sustainability. E-Thesis Swansea Invasion ecology, Japanese knotweed, restoration, herbicides, invasive plants, eDNA, Life Cycle Assessment 24 11 2021 2021-11-24 10.23889/SUthesis.58777 A selection of third party content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis due to copyright restrictions.ORCiD identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7475-6156 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Eastwood, Dan Doctoral Ph.D KESS II Scholarship in partnership with Swansea University and Complete Weed Control Ltd. 2021-11-24T17:01:28.8030773 2021-11-24T15:12:02.2814967 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences SOPHIE HOCKING 1 Under embargo Under embargo 2021-11-24T15:43:44.9695273 Output 4784377 application/pdf Redacted version - open access true 2026-11-09T00:00:00.0000000 Copyright: The author, Sophie C. Hocking, 2021. true eng
title Enhancing Japanese knotweed control and longterm habitat restoration post-treatment
spellingShingle Enhancing Japanese knotweed control and longterm habitat restoration post-treatment
SOPHIE HOCKING
title_short Enhancing Japanese knotweed control and longterm habitat restoration post-treatment
title_full Enhancing Japanese knotweed control and longterm habitat restoration post-treatment
title_fullStr Enhancing Japanese knotweed control and longterm habitat restoration post-treatment
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Japanese knotweed control and longterm habitat restoration post-treatment
title_sort Enhancing Japanese knotweed control and longterm habitat restoration post-treatment
author_id_str_mv 4f6b73c0bd8565b24b8aaf73349b28d3
author_id_fullname_str_mv 4f6b73c0bd8565b24b8aaf73349b28d3_***_SOPHIE HOCKING
author SOPHIE HOCKING
author2 SOPHIE HOCKING
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publishDate 2021
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUthesis.58777
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences
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description Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica var. japonica) is among the most problematic invasive plants worldwide due to its negative impacts on recipient ecosystems and propensity for rapid spread, eliciting substantial control costs. As global focus on sustainability intensifies in response to the current biodiversity and climate crises, the value of long-term ecological monitoring and planning is increasingly evident. As a long-lived perennial species, the Japanese knotweed invasion highlights this. While empirical evidence of effective knotweed management measures is growing, there is conflict between knotweed management and the wider ecological and environmental impacts of this. The focus of this thesis was to investigate the long-term effects of Japanese knotweed invasion and subsequent management in a large-scale, long-term knotweed field trial, and assess avenues for post-treatment restoration. Long-term plant community dynamics, soil abiotic characteristics and microbial diversity were investigated at a site in Taff’s Well, south Wales, UK. This study found that the diversity of native flora was largely limited to ruderal species, potentially hindering regeneration potential of native plants. The rare hybrid Conolly’s knotweed (x Reyllopia conollyana) was also discovered in the seed bank. Secondary invasion by Himalayan balsam also occurred. Native species diversity significantly increased in response to knotweed management (i.e., herbicide application). Soil abiotic characteristics showed varied response to knotweed treatment; spatial variation explained changes to most parameters measured. There was no discernible effect of knotweed cover or herbicide application on soil microbial diversity. Restoration trials found that active restoration may be a valuable tool for enhancing post-knotweed community recovery. Native species abundance and target community composition can be enhanced by revegetation. While functional composition of revegetation seed mixes did not enhance knotweed suppression, this may provide insight into the coexistence of native and invasive species to enhance biodiversity. Physical covering using geotextiles increased native species abundance but did not suppress knotweed. Finally, a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of knotweed treatment methods found that the simplest and most effective knotweed management method (annual glyphosate foliar spray) elicited the lowest environmental impacts to produce. LCA of restoration methods found that geotextile matting and revegetation contributed the greatest environmental impacts. The results of this thesis can inform sustainable, long-term knotweed management and enhance practical alignment with priorities around ecological and environmental sustainability.
published_date 2021-11-24T04:15:35Z
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score 11.012678

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