Effect of Aminopyralid on Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) and the Native Plant Community in a Restored Tallgrass Prairie

AbstractAminopyralid efficacy on Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and potential to injure native species was evaluated in a restored prairie at the Glacial Ridge Preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy in Polk County, MN. Canada thistle stem density was reduced from 17 to 0.1 stems m−2 10 mo after treatment (MAT) with aminopyralid applied in the fall at 120 g ha−1. Aminopyralid also altered the composition of both Canada thistle–infested and native plant communities. Aminopyralid controlled Canada thistle and removed or reduced several undesirable forb species from the restored prairie communities, such as absinth wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis). A number of high seral forbs were also reduced or removed by aminopyralid, including maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) and purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea). Foliar cover of high seral forbs in the native plant community was reduced from 12.2 to 7% 22 MAT. The cover of high seral grass species, such as big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) increased after aminopyralid application in both the Canada thistle–infested and native plant communities and averaged 41.4% cover compared with only 19.4% before removal of Canada thistle. Species richness, evenness, and diversity were reduced after aminopyralid application in both Canada thistle–infested and native plant communities. However, the benefits of Canada thistle control, removal of undesirable species, and the increase in native grass cover should lead to an overall improvement in the long-term stability and composition of the restored prairie plant community, which likely outweigh the short-term effects of a Canada thistle control program.

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Do No Harm: Efficacy of a Single Herbicide Application to Control an Invasive Shrub While Minimizing Collateral Damage to Native Species

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants8100426 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. 426 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

David J. Gibson ◽

Lindsay A. Shupert ◽

Xian Liu

Keyword(s):

Exotic Species ◽

Community Composition ◽

Plant Community ◽

Native Species ◽

Phylogenetic Diversity ◽

Native Plant ◽

Short Term ◽

Seed Addition ◽

Herbicide Treatments ◽

Native Plant Community

Control of invasive exotic species in restorations without compromising the native plant community is a challenge. Efficacy of exotic species control needs to consider collateral effects on the associated plant community. We asked (1) if short-term control of a dominant exotic invasive, Lespedeza cuneata in grassland restorations allows establishment of a more diverse native plant community, and (2) if control of the exotic and supplemental seed addition allows establishment of native species. A manipulative experiment tested the effects of herbicide treatments (five triclopyr and fluroxypyr formulations plus an untreated control) and seed addition (and unseeded control) on taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, and community composition of restored grasslands in three sites over three years. We assessed response of L. cuneata through stem density counts, and response of the plant community through estimates of canopy cover. Herbicide treatments reduced the abundance of the exotic in the first field season leading to a less dispersed community composition compared with untreated controls, with the exotic regaining dominance by the third year. Supplemental seed addition did not provide extra resistance of the native community to reinvasion of the exotic. The communities were phylogenetically over-dispersed, but there was a short-term shift to lower phylogenetic diversity in response to herbicides consistent with a decrease in biotic filtering. Native plant communities in these grassland restorations were resilient to short-term reduction in abundance of a dominant invasive even though it was insufficient to provide an establishment window for native species establishment.

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Emerging fungal pathogen on an invasive grass differentially affects native species

10.1101/2020.08.06.239319 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Amy E. Kendig ◽

Vida J. Svahnstrom ◽

Ashish Adhikari ◽

Philip F. Harmon ◽

S. Luke Flory

Keyword(s):

Community Composition ◽

Plant Community ◽

Indirect Effects ◽

Fungal Pathogen ◽

Native Species ◽

Grass Species ◽

Leaf Spot Disease ◽

Plant Community Composition ◽

Native Plant ◽

Invasive Grass

AbstractInfectious diseases and invasive species are strong drivers of biological systems that may interact to shift plant community composition. Disease and invasion can each directly suppress native populations, but variation in responses among native species to disease, invasion, and their combined effects are not well characterized. Here, we quantified the responses of three native North American grass species to experimental inoculation with the fungal pathogen Bipolaris gigantea, which has recently emerged in populations of the invasive grass Microstegium vimineum, causing leaf spot disease. In a greenhouse experiment, we examined the direct effects of disease on the native species and the indirect effects of disease on the native species through altered competition with M. vimineum, which was planted at a range of densities. Pathogen inoculation directly affected each of the three native species in unique ways, by increasing, decreasing, or not changing their biomass relative to mock inoculation. Higher M. vimineum densities, however, reduced the biomass of all three native species, regardless of inoculation treatment, suggesting that disease had no indirect effects through altered competition. In addition, competition with M. vimineum suppressed native plant biomass to a greater extent than disease. The differential impacts of B. gigantea and the consistent impacts of M. vimineum on native species biomass suggest that disease may modify native plant community composition while plant invasion may suppress multiple native plant species in systems where these drivers co-occur.

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Relationship of Native and Introduced Grasses With and Without Cattle in a Young Ponderosa Pine Plantation

Western Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/wjaf/17.1.31 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 31-36

Author(s):

Philip M. McDonald ◽

Gary O. Fiddler

Keyword(s):

Plant Community ◽

Pinus Ponderosa ◽

Ponderosa Pine ◽

Major Effect ◽

Grass Species ◽

Native Plant ◽

Orchard Grass ◽

Active Chemical ◽

Native Plant Community ◽

Relationship Of

Abstract On an above-average site in northern California, an early shrub-forb-grass plant community was treated by artificially seeding two forage grass species at plantation age 3, cattle grazing with and without seeded grasses, and applying a soil-active chemical (Velpar). Planted ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa) were part of this community. Results for a 10 yr period (1988-1997) are presented for a native, naturally invading needlegrass (Achnatherum nelsonnii), introduced orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and introduced pubescent wheatgrass (Agropyron trichophorum). In general, all three grasses became established, grew well, and spread throughout the study area. Density of needlegrass was highest in the Velpar, fenced control, and grazed control treatments (more than 72,000 plants/ac). Orchard grass density was highest in the seeded and grazed and seeded and fenced treatments (more than 14,000 plants/ac) and relatively high in the Velpar treatment (8,400 plants/ac). Pubescent wheatgrass established well in both seeded treatments (more than 24,000 plants/ac) and spread best to the grazed control (6,950 plants/ac). Ecologically, the introduced grasses had no major effect on the native plant community, and, economically, their effect was positive, although minor. West. J. Appl. For. 17(1):31–36.

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Operational Control of Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and Impacts to the Native Submersed Aquatic Macrophyte Community in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho

Invasive Plant Science and Management ◽

10.1614/ipsm-d-14-00008.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 219-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John D. Madsen ◽

Ryan M. Wersal ◽

Thomas E. Woolf

Keyword(s):

Plant Community ◽

Native Species ◽

Littoral Zone ◽

Aquatic Macrophyte ◽

Myriophyllum Spicatum ◽

Native Plant ◽

Eurasian Watermilfoil ◽

Macrophyte Community ◽

Native Plant Community ◽

Aquatic Macrophyte Community

Lake Pend Oreille is the largest (36,000 ha or 91,000 ac) freshwater lake in Idaho. Approximately 27% or 10,000 ha of the lake is littoral zone habitat supporting aquatic macrophyte growth. Eurasian watermilfoil has invaded large areas of this littoral zone habitat, with early estimates suggesting approximately 2,000 ha by the mid 2000s. Idaho State Department of Agriculture developed a state-wide eradication program in response to the threats posed by Eurasian watermilfoil, which attempts to quantify Eurasian watermilfoil infestations and its effects on the native plant community. Littoral zone point intercept surveys were conducted in 2007 and 2008 to monitor the trends in aquatic macrophyte community structure and assess management strategies against Eurasian watermilfoil. Lake Pend Oreille has a species-rich aquatic macrophyte community of more than 50 species. Lake-wide, the presence of Eurasian watermilfoil significantly decreased from 2007 (12.5%) to 2008 (7.9%). The native plant community has remained stable from 2007 to 2008 despite lake-wide management activities. In managed areas, the frequency of Eurasian watermilfoil during the 2008 assessment was 23.6% after herbicide applications. This represents a 63% reduction in Eurasian watermilfoil presence from the 2007 (64.5%) survey. When 2,4-D was combined with endothall, the presence of Eurasian watermilfoil declined from 63% (2007) to 36.5% in 2008. Eurasian watermilfoil treated with triclopyr also declined significantly, 64% to 18.2%. When all treatment methods were pooled and compared with areas that were not treated, the presence of Eurasian watermilfoil was significantly greater (52.5%) in untreated areas as opposed to treated areas (23%). The removal of Eurasian watermilfoil resulted in an increase in native species in most areas. Currently, there is as little as 200 ha of Eurasian watermilfoil remaining, which represents an overall reduction of 90% in approximately 7 yr of management.

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Impact of invasion of exotic plant Alternanthera philoxeroides on inter-species association and stability of native plant community

CHINESE JOURNAL OF ECO-AGRICULTURE ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1011.2009.00851 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 851-856 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lian-Jin GUO ◽

Tao WANG

Keyword(s):

Plant Community ◽

Alternanthera Philoxeroides ◽

Exotic Plant ◽

Native Plant ◽

Species Association ◽

Native Plant Community

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Fitness costs of butterfly oviposition on a lethal non-native plant in a mixed native and non-native plant community

Oecologia ◽

10.1007/s00442-012-2537-z ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 172 (3) ◽

pp. 823-832 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Mifuyu Nakajima ◽

Carol L. Boggs ◽

Sallie Bailey ◽

Jennifer Reithel ◽

Timothy Paape

Keyword(s):

Plant Community ◽

Native Plant ◽

Fitness Costs ◽

Native Plant Community

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Emerging fungal pathogen of an invasive grass: Implications for competition with native plant species

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0237894 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. e0237894

Author(s):

Amy E. Kendig ◽

Vida J. Svahnström ◽

Ashish Adhikari ◽

Philip F. Harmon ◽

S. Luke Flory

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Plant Species ◽

Fungal Pathogen ◽

Native Species ◽

Grass Species ◽

Leaf Spot Disease ◽

Native Plant ◽

Invasive Grass ◽

Native Plant Species ◽

Species Specific

Infectious diseases and invasive species can be strong drivers of biological systems that may interact to shift plant community composition. For example, disease can modify resource competition between invasive and native species. Invasive species tend to interact with a diversity of native species, and it is unclear how native species differ in response to disease-mediated competition with invasive species. Here, we quantified the biomass responses of three native North American grass species (Dichanthelium clandestinum, Elymus virginicus, and Eragrostis spectabilis) to disease-mediated competition with the non-native invasive grass Microstegium vimineum. The foliar fungal pathogen Bipolaris gigantea has recently emerged in Microstegium populations, causing a leaf spot disease that reduces Microstegium biomass and seed production. In a greenhouse experiment, we examined the effects of B. gigantea inoculation on two components of competitive ability for each native species: growth in the absence of competition and biomass responses to increasing densities of Microstegium. Bipolaris gigantea inoculation affected each of the three native species in unique ways, by increasing (Dichanthelium), decreasing (Elymus), or not changing (Eragrostis) their growth in the absence of competition relative to mock inoculation. Bipolaris gigantea inoculation did not, however, affect Microstegium biomass or mediate the effect of Microstegium density on native plant biomass. Thus, B. gigantea had species-specific effects on native plant competition with Microstegium through species-specific biomass responses to B. gigantea inoculation, but not through modified responses to Microstegium density. Our results suggest that disease may uniquely modify competitive interactions between invasive and native plants for different native plant species.

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Competition between native and non-native plants.

Plant invasions: the role of biotic interactions ◽

10.1079/9781789242171.0016 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 291-307

Author(s):

Elizabeth M. Wandrag ◽

◽

Jane A. Catford ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Native Species ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Invasion Biology ◽

Competitive Interactions ◽

Native Plant ◽

Native Plant Species ◽

New Locations ◽

Strength Of Competition

The introduction of species to new locations leads to novel competitive interactions between resident native and newly-arriving non-native species. The nature of these competitive interactions can influence the suitability of the environment for the survival, reproduction and spread of non-native plant species, and the impact those species have on native plant communities. Indeed, the large literature on competition among plants reflects its importance in shaping the composition of plant communities, including the invasion success of non-native species. While competition and invasion theory have historically developed in parallel, the increasing recognition of the synergism between the two themes has led to new insights into how non-native plant species invade native plant communities, and the impacts they have on those plant communities. This chapter provides an entry point into the aspects of competition theory that can help explain the success, dominance and impacts of invasive species. It focuses on resource competition, which arises wherever the resources necessary for establishment, survival, reproduction and spread are in limited supply. It highlights key hypotheses developed in invasion biology that relate to ideas of competition, outlines biotic and abiotic factors that influence the strength of competition and species' relative competitive abilities, and describes when and how competition between non-native and native plant species can influence invasion outcomes. Understanding the processes that influence the strength of competition between non-native and native plant species is a necessary step towards understanding the causes and consequences of biological invasions.

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