Common Names: ash-leaf maple, ashleaf maple, box elder, boxelder, boxelder maple, California boxelder, Manitoba maple, three-leaf maple, western boxelder
Researchers assessed the relationship between tree canopy cover and plant diversity in Yekaterinburg, Russia, focusing on the impact of alien ash-leaved maple (Acer negundo). They found that areas dominated by A. negundo had decreased plant diversity compared to areas dominated by native tree species, with a 40% decrease in inter-habitat and 20% in intra-habitat settings. The increased canopy cover from A. negundo limited light for other species, leading to a negative impact on native plant communities.