Distribution of Rudbeckia laciniata L. and influence of mowing on plant communities structure in the Chugoku mountains: a case study in Nichinan Town, Tottori Pref

The distribution characteristics of an invasive alien species Rudbeckia laciniata was analyzed in Nichinan Town, Tottori Pref. in Chugoku mountain area. A total of 8,431 R. laciniata ramets were confirmed in 9 rivers, and gathered the uppermost stream of the river with human disturbances. We carried out a mowing management of R. laciniata in field and verified its effect on plant communities. R. laciniata is the strong competitor and the surface treatments did not affect the species diversity. It is considered that finding the conditions in which native plants dominate may be the start of suppressing R. laciniata ecologically.