Controlling noxious weeds in urban riparian wetlands: non-selective mowing increases Sicyos angulatus invasion while controlling Humulus scandens

Abstract Invasive plant species pose major challenges to riparian wetland management. We conducted a pilot-scale field experiment over a single growing season to assess how non-selective mowing and subsequent sowing affected two noxious vines, Sicyos angulatus and Humulus scandens , in an urban riparian wetland in the Republic of Korea. Mowing paradoxically increased invasion by S . angulatus but decreased invasion by H . scandens , while sowing after mowing had no additional effect. This differential response indicates that non-selective mowing can shift invasion pressure rather than reduce it, emphasizing the need for species-specific, phenology-based mechanical management rather than uniform disturbance regimes. Mowing temporarily increased species richness and diversity, but the effect diminished over time, and community composition shifted toward species with heavier seeds and lower specific leaf area. Our results highlight that non-selective mowing for invasive species management should be applied with caution, as it can produce species-specific and even contradictory effects.