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The Global Invasive Species Team | |
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Global Invasive Species Team listserve digest #048 Wed, 17 Nov 1999 17:50:33 -0800 (PST) --CONTENTS-- 1. Water dispersal of weed seeds 2. Wanted: Northeast freshwater sites with invasive species problems 3. On controlling Japanese knotweed 4. Goat poisoning via English ivy, Poison oak, or Vinca? 5. Controlling Phragmites australis and buckthorns in fragile wetlands --------------------------------------- 1. Water dispersal of weed seeds From: Susie Smith (Susan.Smith(at)NAU.EDU) I am looking for published research on water dispersal of weed seeds, especially sampling methods (sieving, screening, flotation, or other methods designed to extract seeds from water). So far, I have two references, both from Weed Science (Burns & Kelley, 1975; and Wilson, 1980). If anyone can point towards more recent information that is accessible, please contact me. --------------------------------------- 2. Wanted: Northeast freshwater sites with invasive species problems From: Laura Ahearn Meyerson (laura.ahearn(at)yale.edu) Laura Ahearn Meyerson (previously funded in part by the Connecticut Field Office), is preparing her efforts for research on a Post-doctoral level. She is interested in including Nature Conservancy sites in the Northeast as part of her research focusing on the presence/absence of invasive plant species and what makes a site open for invasion. What are your management activities in these sites? What species are most problematic? If Ecologists and/or Stewards can relay site numbers and location, it would be greatly appreciated. Forward directly to Laura via email, or phone her at (203) 436-4221. Information can also be passed to David Gumbart at the Connecticut Field Office [dgumbart(at)tnc.org, (860) 344-0716]. --------------------------------------- 3. On controlling Japanese knotweed From: Karen Budd (KBudd3030(at)aol.com) Continual mowing of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) will eventually discourage it. We have had success with this method at a site in northeastern PA where it was an easy job to mow it in an upland site. The problem with continual cutting and/or mowing near a stream is that the smallest fragment that floats down the stream has the potential of re-rooting elsewhere. Every piece that has been cut MUST be collected and hauled away from the site! We have also had success in foliar spraying Japanese knotweed where it has formed a complete monoculture. This was near a marsh area in Bristol, PA. For foliar treatment we used a 4% Roundup solution with a very small amount of Arsenal (1 oz. to 2 1/2 gallons water). Where we were very close to the water we used Rodeo. We have not tried treating cut stems. I would be very interested in information about this technique. --------------------------------------- 4. Goat poisoning via English ivy, Poison oak, or Vinca? From: Andrea_Pickart (Andrea_Pickart(at)fws.gov) At Humboldt Bay NWF we are manually controlling English ivy (Hedera helix), and are unable to deal with the areas where it occurs with poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum). How have others dealt with this problem, with or without chemicals. Are there any exotic plants that are known to be poisonous to goats that we should worry about tethering a goat next to? Does anyone know if a goat will eat Vinca major? Poison oak? --------------------------------------- 5. Controlling Phragmites australis and buckthorns in fragile wetlands From: Kay Sadighi (KayTrees(at)aol.com) --Kay recently gave a talk on weed control, called "Treating Phragmites australis and Rhamnus cathartica and frangula in fragile wetlands", and was good enough to give us a few paragraph summary of what she said... Small groups of volunteers cut Phragmites stem by stem and carry out the seedheads for composting at a farm. Hollow stems are filled with a 25% solution of Rodeo (glyphosate by Monsanto) using a 1-pint size reagent bottle with narrow-diameter nozzle. This is not the spot treatment on the Rodeo label which refers to backpack spraying. With this stem-by-stem treatment, the herbicide is contained completely within the Phragmites plant. No collateral mortality has ever been observed among intertwined native plants. Density of Phragmites has been reduced 80-90%. To mark stems which have been treated, the licensed herbicide applicator wears a cotton glove over a nitrile protective glove and saturates the cotton glove with acrylic paint so that as the stem is held for treatment, it is marked with bright paint. Areas are also recorded with GPS pre- and post-treatment to monitor control from year to year. For control of Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.), we cut the stems/trunks in winter which affords easier access on the bog and eliminates trampling of native vegetation. Within 15 minutes of cutting, the stumps is marked with an indelible marker and full-strength Rodeo is applied using a pot scrubber having a sponge affixed to a hollow plastic handle. These are available in grocery stores and work better than paint brushes. Fewer than 90% of stems re-sprout using this method. |
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