Reintroduced Native Populus nigra in Restored Floodplain Reduces Spread of Exotic Poplar Species

Exotic Populus taxa pose a threat to the success of riparian forest restoration in floodplain areas. We evaluated impact exotic on softwood development along river Common Meuse after introducing native nigra and re-establishment natural dynamics. sampled 154 poplar seedlings that spontaneously colonized restored habitat assessed their taxonomy based diagnostic chloroplast nuclear microsatellite markers. Furthermore, by using paternity analysis 72 resulting from six open pollinated P. females, we investigated hybridization between frequently planted cultivated poplars . The majority gravel banks analyzed where identified as ; only 2% exhibited genes species. Similarly, progenies were For three (4%), was assigned cultivar × canadensis Almost two decades reintroducing , constitution seed pollen pools changed study area favor reproduction species at expense This indicates that, although significant gene flow form is observed European floodplains, programs can vigorously outcompete flows strongly reduce development.