scholarly journals Purple Loosestrife Provides Long-Distance Pollinator Attraction to a Coflowering Native Species

2018 ◽  
Vol 179 (8) ◽  
pp. 593-602
Author(s):  
Adam F. Groulx ◽  
Risa D. Sargent
2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K. Scott ◽  
Kathryn L. Batchelor

AbstractOne of Australia's most serious weeds, Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata (bitou bush) was recently found for the first time in Western Australia as a well established population in Kwinana, a major port and industrial area south of Perth, the State's capital. This population is remote from other bitou bush infestations in Australia and had escaped detection despite extensive surveys in the same State for the other subspecies that is present in Australia, Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera (boneseed). The main reasons it went undetected are thought to be the tightly controlled access to this area because of mineral processing and port activities, the unusual invasion route via a heavy industrial area and the morphological similarity to a native species when it is not flowering. Two surveys defined the core population of 1038 plants that are spread along the coast over a 25-ha semi-circle with about a 500-m (1640 ft) diameter. Subsequent surveys of first a 500 m buffer zone and later a 1-km (0.621 mi) buffer found four additional plants, indicating that there is considerable potential for dispersal. We concluded that the survey has not delimited the distribution because of the potential and evidence for long distance dispersal. Cooperation by the various land managers has led to all plants being killed, as an initial step to management of this species. Other steps to be undertaken include an awareness campaign in the area that would need to be surveyed for delimitation of the spatial distribution and seed bank assessment to measure potential dispersal both in space and through time. It remains to be determined what is the best strategic response: eradication or containment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-483
Author(s):  
Luděk Šlapanský ◽  
Michal Janáč ◽  
Kevin Roche ◽  
Pavel Jurajda

Understanding non-native species dispersal is vital for their future management. The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) has greatly extended its range since the 1990s, with commercial shipping being the main vector. However, our knowledge regarding their secondary dispersal from points of introduction is surprisingly limited. In this study, a series of field experiments were undertaken on a mid-sized river to assess goby dispersal patterns within an established population, following a simulated release of a large number of propagules, or at a simulated invasion front. Most of the established population remained stationary and just a few individuals undertook long-distance dispersal (principally upstream). Mean distance travelled was 1.1 m·day−1 (max. 29.6 m·day−1). While site fidelity appeared to last for most of the year (including winter), it was surprisingly relaxed during the spawning season. Concentrated release of a large number of propagules resulted in appreciably greater movement rates than in the established population, with upstream movement again dominating. In general, smaller, mostly male fish tended to move further and appeared as first colonizers in uninvaded areas.


2013 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
FG. Becker ◽  
Fries LCC. De ◽  
J. Ferrer ◽  
VA. Bertaco ◽  
KDG. Luz-Agostinho ◽  
...  

The aquatic habitats of the Taquari-Antas river basin (in the Patos Lagoon basin, southern Brazil) are under marked environmental transformation because of river damming for hydropower production. In order to provide an information baseline on the fish fauna of the Taquari-Antas basin, we provide a comprehensive survey of fish species based on primary and secondary data. We found 5,299 valid records of fish species in the basin, representing 119 species and 519 sampling sites. There are 13 non-native species, six of which are native to other Neotropical river basins. About 24% of the total native species are still lacking a taxonomic description at the species level. Three native long-distance migratory species were recorded (Leporinus obtusidens, Prochilodus lineatus, Salminus brasiliensis), as well as two potential mid-distance migrators (Parapimelodus nigribarbis and Pimelodus pintado). Although there is only one officially endangered species in the basin (S. brasiliensis), restricted range species (21.7% of total species) should be considered in conservation efforts.


1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 1305-1330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarun R. Mai ◽  
Jon Lovett-Doust ◽  
Lesley Lovett-Doust ◽  
G. A. Mulligan

Lythrum salicaria is a serious weed of wetlands in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. Indeed some assessments suggest that this exotic is now responsible for the conversion of more wetland habitat than is current human development pressure¡ Lythrum is a heterostylous species and clones by means of root buds. Despite its tristylous breeding system, Lythrum is a successful colonizer, and can produce prodigious numbers of seeds. It is likely that control can be achieved by hand-pulling in low-density populations, but once the species is established it generally becomes abundant and often approaches a monoculture. This species is particularly difficult to control because of its strong competitive ability, the extreme sensitivity of wetland habitats, and the likelihood of serious repercussions for wetland wildlife and fisheries if herbicides are used to control it. We see better possibilities for control through cultural techniques (e.g., manipulation of water levels to favour native species), enhancement of North American herbivores, and, possibly, the introduction of biological control agents from Europe and Asia.Key words: Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, wetlands, introduced weed


2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 31-44
Author(s):  
Gilberto Nepomuceno Salvador ◽  
Ruanny Casarim ◽  
Gustavo Ribeiro Rosa ◽  
Yuri Malta Caldeira ◽  
Paulo Santos Pompeu

The ichthyofauna of the Rio São Francisco basin is relatively well-documented. However, most of this knowledge is concentrated at the upper stretch of its catchment area. In this study, we compile a list of species encompassing almost the entire length of the Rio Carinhanha, an important tributary from upper-middle section of the Rio São Francisco, including a comprehensive diversity of environments. A total of 99 species from 8 orders and 27 families were recorded. Five species are considered non-native, six classifieds as long distance migrants, and three as vulnerable. The orders with the greatest richness of native species were Characiformes and Siluriformes. Characidae was the most represented family, followed by Loricariidae. The main river channels were the richest environments sampled, followed by floodplain lagoons, veredas, and streams. The Carinhanha basin has important lotic remnants, thus it has several migratory fish populations as well as endangered species. This study demonstrates the importance of cataloguing the still poorly explored tributaries of the upper-middle section of the Rio São Francisco basin.


Author(s):  
Samuel Boff ◽  
Jessica Amaral Henrique ◽  
Anna Friedel ◽  
Josué Raizer

Abstract Plants may use different strategies to attract pollinators in long distance (e.g. floral display) and in short distance (e.g. ratio between differentially colored flowers) scales. The Verbenaceae Lantana canescens Kunth is a wide spread species in open sites of the Brazilian Pantanal wetland. Individuals of this generalist species can produce a variable number of open inflorescences with yellow and white flowers that are organized in whorls. In this study we tested the hypothesis that increased floral display (long distance attraction) and the ratio between yellow and white flowers (short distance attraction) enhances the number of pollinator species and individuals. We observed flower visitors and calculated floral parameters in 38 plots of 1 m2 each, that contained a varying number of flowering L. canescens individuals. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and Bray-Curtis distances were used to account for flower visitor composition and the relative visitation rate, respectively. We used a structural equation model to test the power of each predictor variable on the visitation rate and a covariance analysis to disentangle the effect of each independent variable on the frequency of plant-pollinator interactions. We found that the number of flower visitors and the visitation rate increased with increasing number of inflorescences. Disentangling long and short distance attraction indicated that the number of inflorescences (per plot) and the number of yellow flowers (yellowing effect) contributed most to flower visitation at long and short distance, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Michaela Thomson

<p>Currently within the Wellington region there is an abundance of green spaces hosting a variety of native and exotic wildlife species (Rastandeh, Brown, & Pedersen Zari, 2018; “The Sanctuary,” 2018). These species are somewhat confined to a ‘home’ green space, in that travel between habitats involves difficult navigation between dense urban and residential structures (Forman, 1995; Rastandeh, Brown, et al., 2018). Many native species are not able to make long distance flights (Wittern & Berggren, 2007); and as a result habitat fragmentation is occurring at a rapid ecological level. The built form is limiting and discouraging wildlife movement, as well as being dangerous for smaller animals (Forman, 1995; Santiago, 2014). Currently tiny patches of vegetation provide wildlife with a directional indication of intended movement, but overall urban planning is designed for humans only.  Aside from the lack of possible movement between habitats, there is also an absence of human connections to these spaces. There is a missed opportunity to introduce humans to ecological spaces, in that it allows a physical link and understanding to be achieved, as well as additional wellbeing benefits (Ell, 1981a; Santiago, 2014).   With these two existing elements; the lack of wildlife movement between established habitats and the connectivity of humans to these spaces, there is also a third element of how interaction between people and wildlife within urban locations is absent. People are stuck with contributing towards the rapid decline of habitat, there are very limited positive interactions that are being utilised (Rastandeh, Brown, et al., 2018; Santiago, 2014). Infrastructure and specific designed elements that provide the correct facilities to allow for interactions between wildlife and humans is largely non-existent and crucial in the face of biodiversity loss and fragmentation.  This thesis aims to establish a set of design guidelines towards understanding how interaction can be utilised within the design profession, as a way to reduce biodiversity loss, fragmentation and to increase exposure to unique species. Exploration at different scales, macro, meso and micro will be addressing different issues to answer the question of what types of interactions will be occurring within these spaces.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Michaela Thomson

<p>Currently within the Wellington region there is an abundance of green spaces hosting a variety of native and exotic wildlife species (Rastandeh, Brown, & Pedersen Zari, 2018; “The Sanctuary,” 2018). These species are somewhat confined to a ‘home’ green space, in that travel between habitats involves difficult navigation between dense urban and residential structures (Forman, 1995; Rastandeh, Brown, et al., 2018). Many native species are not able to make long distance flights (Wittern & Berggren, 2007); and as a result habitat fragmentation is occurring at a rapid ecological level. The built form is limiting and discouraging wildlife movement, as well as being dangerous for smaller animals (Forman, 1995; Santiago, 2014). Currently tiny patches of vegetation provide wildlife with a directional indication of intended movement, but overall urban planning is designed for humans only.  Aside from the lack of possible movement between habitats, there is also an absence of human connections to these spaces. There is a missed opportunity to introduce humans to ecological spaces, in that it allows a physical link and understanding to be achieved, as well as additional wellbeing benefits (Ell, 1981a; Santiago, 2014).   With these two existing elements; the lack of wildlife movement between established habitats and the connectivity of humans to these spaces, there is also a third element of how interaction between people and wildlife within urban locations is absent. People are stuck with contributing towards the rapid decline of habitat, there are very limited positive interactions that are being utilised (Rastandeh, Brown, et al., 2018; Santiago, 2014). Infrastructure and specific designed elements that provide the correct facilities to allow for interactions between wildlife and humans is largely non-existent and crucial in the face of biodiversity loss and fragmentation.  This thesis aims to establish a set of design guidelines towards understanding how interaction can be utilised within the design profession, as a way to reduce biodiversity loss, fragmentation and to increase exposure to unique species. Exploration at different scales, macro, meso and micro will be addressing different issues to answer the question of what types of interactions will be occurring within these spaces.</p>


1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 851-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil O. Anderson ◽  
Peter D. Ascher

Male and female fertility, seed germination, and progeny fertility were used to determine cultivar fertility in species of Lythrum. One short-, 11 mid-, and six long-styled cultivars were included in this study. Duplicates of several cultivars from different nurseries and three unknown cultivars from Minnesota gardens were also collected. Plants from 17 Minnesota and one Wisconsin population of L. salicaria served as fertile male and/or female testers. Pollen stainability (usually 100%) showed low levels of male gamete abortion. Pollen size within and among anther type varied widely; possible 2n gametes were present in primarily the short- and mid-anther morphs. Seed production per capsule from legitimate cross-pollinations, using cultivars as male parents with Minnesota or Wisconsin female testers, averaged 48 ± 36 across style morphs. Cultivars differed as males, as did anther morphs. With female fertility tests, seed set per capsule ranged from zero to 152 and averaged 54 ± 40 in legitimate pollinations (i.e., pollinations between stamen and styles of the same length). Seed set for other crosses showed similar trends. Only `Morden Gleam' produced no seed with all legitimate pollinations, although illegitimate selfs or interspecific crosses produced seed. Seed from legitimate crosses of L. salicaria × cultivars had 30% to 100% germination. Common male and female parents within each legitimate crossing group were not significantly different. This study showed that the cultivars are highly fertile when used as male or female parents with wild purple loosestrife, native species (L. alatum Pursh.), or other cultivars. Thus, cultivars grown in gardens could serve as pollen or seed sources for the continued spread of purple loosestrife. The implications of cultivar fertility, especially interspecific F1 hybrids, is discussed in relation to the spread of noxious weeds in wetlands.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 539-548
Author(s):  
Neil O. Anderson

Historic ignorance of species’ native range, expansion due to unintentional involvement by vectors, and their quiet evolution has caused several invasive species to become “poster children,” such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), and others. Common misconceptions on how these became problematic have involved a variety of causes, including ignorance of species’ ability to intercross and create introgressive hybrids, lack of insects for control, wind pollination, and intercontinental distribution from their native range. Current research focuses on how misappropriating the historical contexts can reverse our misconceptions of native species being noninvasive and how this affects control by land managers. Purple loosestrife and reed canarygrass will be used as example species to demonstrate challenges that native vs. exotic, intra-, and interspecific differences confer to land managers. Issues such as a lack of phenotypic differences challenge land managers’ charge to control invasive individuals yet retain the noninvasives. This is fraught with challenges when native vs. exotic status is invoked or cultural values are entwined. To avoid a monumental impasse, particularly when native and exotic types are phenotypically indistinguishable, this dilemma could be solved via modern techniques using molecular biology.


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