© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 155
M.J. Germino et al. (eds.), Exotic Brome-Grasses in Arid and Semiarid
Ecosystems of the Western US, Springer Series on Environmental Management,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-24930-8_6
Chapter 6
Attributes That Confer Invasiveness
and Impacts Across the Large Genus Bromus :
Lessons from the Bromus REEnet Database
Sheryl Y. Atkinson and Cynthia S. Brown
Abstract Bromus (L.) species are cool-season grasses of temperate regions and
tropical high elevations. Some species in the genus Bromus have been widely introduced
into new areas of the globe and are invasive in the Western United States, while
others occur only in their native ranges. We developed a database with information
about traits of Bromus species and their interactions with biotic and abiotic features
of their environments. Using the collected data, we looked for correlations among
wide introduction, weediness, a suite of traits including taxonomic section, year, life
span, seed awn length, average seed mass, polyploidy, human use and cultivar avail-
ability, and climate factors. Annual Bromus species were often destructive crop
weeds, ruderal weeds, and environmental (natural habitat) weeds. Long awn length
was associated with wide introduction and weediness in annual Bromus grasses.
Perennial Bromus grasses generally remained confi ned to their native regions unless
they were polyploid species cultivated for hay, forage, and revegetation, and few
were invasive. Invasiveness in Bromus species was associated with the ability to
grow at high and low temperature and precipitation levels and with human activities.
Most research focuses on highly invasive species such as Bromus tectorum L. (downy
brome or cheatgrass) and cultivated species such as Bromus inermis Leyss. (smooth
brome), while information about most other species is more limited. Information
about Bromus species in a central location facilitates comparisons among species and
provides data that can be used for modeling, prediction, management, and control of
Bromus grass invasions.
Keywords Taxonomy • Plant traits • Introduction • Invasiveness • Human use •
Species distribution
S. Y. Atkinson (*) • C. S. Brown
Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management , Colorado State University ,
Fort Collins , CO 80523-1177 , USA
e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]