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Invasive Plants and Forest Management

Invasive Plants and Forest Management. Nancy J. Loewenstein School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University. Prevention the best invasive plant control. Awareness Avoid introductions. Avoid spreading propagules .

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Invasive Plants and Forest Management

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  1. Invasive Plants and Forest Management Nancy J. Loewenstein School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University

  2. Prevention the best invasive plant control Awareness Avoid introductions. Avoid spreading propagules. Minimize soil disturbance and creating situations favorable to invasive species. Contain and treat new invasions … Early detection and control will minimize effort and cost!!!

  3. Native plants • natural elements of a regional landscape • plants that have been here since before European settlement TS TS

  4. Non-native plants • Introduced on purpose or accidentally • includes many agricultural and ornamental plants ‘UGA’ photos courtesy of www.invasives.org

  5. Invasive plants • have escaped cultivation and become weedy problems • non-native invasives are of particular concern when they displace native plants and impact ecosystem processes. • natives can be invasive, but usually at a much smaller scale

  6. Why are some species invasive?

  7. Characteristics of invasive plants • Competitive • Large leaf area • Rapid growth rate • Often in dense stands • Strong reproductive pressure • Early maturity • Prolific seed production • Vegetative reproduction • Tolerant and adaptive • Rapid response to disturbance • Release from natural enemies • Hybrid vigor

  8. ‘lag phase’ • After introduction, invasive species populations often remain low for many years (or decades). • An explosive growth phase then follows and the plant becomes apparent as a ‘problem’. • Eventually, a density is reached where growth is slowed due to full use of available resources.

  9. Impacts of invasive plants • Ecosystem structure and functioning • Light availability • Water use and availability • Nutrient cycling • Disturbance regimes (e.g., type, frequency, intensity, duration) • Native biodiversity (plants, insects, birds, animals) • Forest regeneration • Productivity • Management options • Recreational value • Aesthetics • Economic costs

  10. Occupation of Alabama’s Forests by Invasive Plants James H. Miller and Erwin Chambliss, US Forest Service R&D Auburn Preliminary Estimate of Actual Acres Covered (SRS FIA) Japanese Honeysuckle 2,922,547 Acres Privet 902,215 Acres Kudzu 61,295 Acres Japanese Climbing Fern 43,709 Acres Cogongrass 43,889 Acres Mimosa / Silktree34,945 Acres Tallowtree22,505 Acres Nonnative Roses 20,837 Acres Chinaberry 13,496 Acres Asian Wisterias 12,380 Acres Princesstree 2,284 Acres Tropical soda apple1,710 Acres

  11. Invasive tendencies + abundant propagules + disturbance

  12. Activities that can promote establishment of invasive plants • Removal of native vegetation • Soil disturbance • Release of nutrients • Increased light to understory • Off-site equipment • Mechanical damage • Harvesting • Mechanical site prep • Tree planting • Release treatments • Prescribed fire • Internal road construction • Food plots

  13. Soil disturbance an opportunity for invasive plant establishment • Inventory for invasive plants. • Begin activities in uninfested areas. • Avoid or minimize movement • through infested areas. • Retain relatively closed canopies. • Monitor infested areas following • completion of activities; treat as • needed. • Quarantine soil from infested area to • prevent off-site spread.

  14. Off-site Material and Equipment Invasive plants can be introduced and spread by bringing infested equipment and other material on site • Clean all equipment … before and after • Inspect material sources at site of • origin • Inspect areas where off-site material • is used. • Incorporate invasive plant prevention • into management activities … road • work, fire lines, food plots, etc. • Perform maintenance from uninfested • to infested areas.

  15. Pine Straw Production Bales and equipment from infested stands can foster the widespread distribution of invasive plants.

  16. Wildlife Enhancement Wildlife enhancement practices are a common avenue for invasive plant introductions, either via contaminated equipment or intentional planting.

  17. Streamside Management Zones SMZs can be refuges for invasive plants which can spread into adjacent lands.

  18. Land Use Conversion A plant that was a minor pest in the previous land use may not be inhibited by the current management practices and suddenly expand its population drastically.

  19. Early Detection through Monitoring Monitor disturbed habitats for newly established invasive plants • Sites to monitor include: • Food plots • Cut-over lands • Roadsides • Stream sides • Recently flooded areas • Storm damaged areas • Internal roads and trails • Firebreaks • Burned areas • Rights-of-way • Fencerows

  20. An ounce of prevention … • Learn about non-native invasive plants. • Avoid introductions. • Choose landscaping plants wisely. • Avoid use of contaminated mulch and pine straw. • Clean clothing, boots, equipment and vehicles. • Dispose of plant material properly. • Minimize soil disturbance and creating situations favorable to invasive species. • Maintain desirable species. • Contain and treat new infestations … early detection and treatment will minimize effort and cost!

  21. Some species of particular concern to forest management

  22. cogongrass(Imperata cylindrica) Federal and Class A Noxious Weed • Perennial grass (1-5’) often • growing in dense mats • Long yellowish-green leaves with • off-center midvein and • scabrous edges • No apparent stem • Rhizomes sharp-tipped and • white-scaly • Full sun - partial shade • Highly flammable • Spreads by rhizomes and • wind-blown seeds • Often in circular infestations • Invades ROWs, pastures, • plantations, new forests, old • fields, urban …

  23. For more info … http://www.cogongrass.org

  24. Class B Noxious Weed Japanese climbing fern(Lygodium japonicum) • Perennial fern vine • Stem is slender but difficult to break, fronds highly dissected • Forms dense mats and ‘walls’ • Tolerant of wide range of moisture and light conditions, not particularly cold or drought hardy • Spread by rhizome growth, wind-dispersed spores and spores in pine straw and on equipment • Infests stream margins, ROWs, forest edges, new plantations, urban …

  25. Chinese privet(Ligustrum sinense) • Semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub • Can form dense thickets • Tolerant of shade and full sun, moist to dry sites • Spread by root sprouts and abundant bird-dispersed seed • Infests riparian forests, fence rows, ROWs, fields, urban … • Several related species NJL

  26. Japanese and glossy privet (Ligustrum japonicum and L. lucidum)

  27. Chinese tallow tree, popcorn tree(Triadica sebifera) • Ornamental deciduous tree, originally introduced for seed oil • Alternate, diamond-shaped leaves, nice fall color • Tolerant of shade, flooding and saline water • Allelopathic properties and dense growth make this a severe threat • Spreads through prolific seed production and root sprouts • Invades riparian and upland forests, wetlands, pastures, urban …

  28. silverthorn, thorny olive (Elaeagnus pungens) • Ornamental evergreen, bushy shrub • Thick leaves with distinctive silver-brown scales on the undersides • Tolerant of shade, drought and salt • Spread by animal- and bird-dispersed seed and stem sprouts • Forest edges, forest understory, ROWs, riparian forests, pastures, urban …

  29. bush honeysuckles(Loniceramaakii, Lonicera x bella, L. morrowii, L. frangrantissima) • Tardily deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub, often with arching stems • Opposite leaves, hollow stems • Relatively shade tolerant • Spread by bird- and animal-dispersed seed and root sprouts • Can form dense thickets • Big problem in north Alabama (‘privet of the north’) • Infests open forests, edges, pastures, ROWs, urban …

  30. Japanese stiltgrass(Microstegium vimineum) Class C Noxious weed • Annual grass, shade-tolerant but promoted by increased light • Typically on moist soils in the forest understory • Forms very dense stands • Prolific seed production – spread by flood waters and soil disturbance • Invades riparian forests, trail and roadsides, damp fields, lawns …

  31. Tropical soda apple(Solanum viarum) Federal and Class A Noxious Weed • Thorny, perennial sub-shrub (3-6’) in the tomato family • Large, dark green leaves with thorns projecting from the whitish midveins and petioles • Mottled green round fruit which turn yellow when ripe each contain hundreds of seeds • Can be confused with horse nettle • Open to somewhat shady sites • Spread by wildlife and livestock, contaminated seed, hay and machinery

  32. Bradford pear(Pyrus calleryana) • Ornamental deciduous tree • ‘Bradford’ variety has sterile fruits but more recent cultivars and/or hybrids produce viable seed • Best in full sun but tolerates partial shade, wide range of soil types and conditions • Invades natural areas, disturbed areas, riparian forests, urban …

  33. Southeast Exotic Pest Plant CouncilEarly Detection and Distribution Mapping System http://www.se-eppc.org/eddMapS/

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