Invasive Early Detection and Response Plants Learning British Columbia s Top Aquatic Plant Invaders to Protect Investments in Natural Resources and the Restoration: (Webinar August 23, 2014 1:00-2:00pm) Prof. Sam Chan, Tania Siemens, Jennifer Lam and Danielle Goodrich Oregon State University, Sea Grant Extension Sam.chan@oregonstate.edu 503-679-4828
THE SOLUTION? Invest in Prevention and Early Detection to prevent future large scale invasions and keep costs DOWN!
Agenda for today: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/plants/management.htm Invasive species pathways Species Overviews: Riparian Giant Cane Biomass candidate Flowering rush The knotweed complex Aquatic Brazilian elodea Hydrilla Eurasian milfoil Parrots Feather milfoil Additional species Giant hogweed Spartina (cordgrass complex)
BIOMASS: Replacing coal with potentially invasive crops. The Case of the Giant Cane :Arundo donax
Fueling Power Plants with a Potentially Invasive Plant (Giant Cane- Arundo donax)
Arundo donax dominating riparian zone on the Rio Grande, Texas Univ of Calif. Riverside
Arundo chokes na7ve plants and the func7ons they provide in riparian areas. Arundo is difficult to control and can become highly flammable Ba2le Creek Watershed Conservancy Dense rhizomes facilitate rapid sprou7ng and exclude na7ve species Canes of Arundo can sprout from each node on the stem
Arundo donax (Giant Reed) leaves are arranged opposite along the stem Leaves clasp around the stem Steve Csurhes
Large Flowers. Seeds are seldom viable Flowers are borne on long stalks that can be several meters tall Seed- head is a very large plume- like open panicle (30-70 cm long) that is borne at the top of the stems. Seed- heads contain numerous flower spikelets (8-15 mm long) bearing long silky hairs. MBNA Flora
Giant Reed (Arundo donax) In PNW climates, reproduces through stem fragments and rhizomes Risks assessments rate this species as potentially moderate to high invasive risk Moderate risk rating because the plant has not produced viable seeds in our climate Risk increases with climate change warming
Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) East Bay Flathead Lake MT Resembles common bull rush and difficult to identify without flowers Difficult to control without herbicides \
Flowering Rush (not a true rush) Butomus umbellatus Belongs to its own family: Butomaceae Habitat: Lake shores. Slow moving water umbel shaped cluster of ~20-50 flowers 3 whitish pink petals & 3 similar sepals green leaves are triangular in cross section (a true rush has round leaves) leaf tips may be spirally twisted strongly rhizomatous, fleshy Flowers have nine stamens arranged in an outer whorl of six and an inner whorl of three. There are six carpels, each can produce about 200 seeds.
Flowering rush: Characteristics Flowering rush is an aquatic species resembling a large sedge emergent plant with upright foliage in shallower waters (shoreline to roughly 3 m), or a submerged plant with flexible leaves suspended in the water column in deeper waters (approximately 3-6m depth). Easily recognized with 20-50 flowers per cluster
Rhizome fragments are buoyant allowing long distance dispersal. (photo by Peter Rice) http://store.msuextension.org/publications/agandnaturalresources/eb0201.pdf
Reservoirs create favorable habitat for flowering rush American Falls
Japanese Knotweed (Hou2uyn 1777) 'a plant of sterling merit... undoubtedly one of the finest herbaceous plants in culmvamon'. The late-victorian taste for Japanese knotweed, a highly invasive species, proves that fashion doesn't merely come and go; sometimes it must be actively repulsed.
panese knotweed 23 ys arer emergence
Japanese Knotweed: Outcompeting blackberries
The Knotweed Complex Polygonum x bohemicum, P. cuspidatum, P. sachalinense, P. polystachyum The soecies name Fallopia is also used. Buckwheat Family Tall (2-4 m) bamboo-like stems. Broad leaves are rounded, flat, or heart-shaped at the base, and taper to a point toward the end Drooping clusters or greenishwhite flowers (2.5 3 mm long) Found in the riparian area of ANY river or stream
Knotweed can spread quickly through fragments of stems and In just two years knotweed had occupied twice the stream length 2006 Trask River Peninsula 2008
Animals as potential vectors of knotweed. Sprouting knotweed cane fragments cut by????. Courtesy, S. Chan and the 10,000 Year Institute
Knotweed Complex Ecological Impacts Dominates riparian landscapes Alters food web by reducing litter input critical for stream health, fish and invertebrates Changes soil chemistry Compared to native plants, knotweed ties up higher ratio nutrients in rhizome biomass Prevents establishment of native riparian trees and understory
Interior of large knotweed patch Note lack of vegetation in understory
Knotweed has poor bank holding capacity
Why knotweed is so hard to control
Knotweed aboveground mortality after broadcast herbicide application- What s next? http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsandplants/noxious-weeds/ weed-identification/invasive-knotweeds/knotweed-control-video.aspx
(Regrowth of knotweed 5 years later)
Aquatic Weeds stabilizing influence diverse communities aggressive competitors monocultures
Brazilian elodea Egeria densa
Egeria densa Brazilian elodea Leaves and stems are generally are a bright green with a very leafy appearance. Leaves which are minutely serrated (needing magnification) are 1-3 cm long, up to 5mm broad, and found in whorls of four to eight. Stems grow until they reach the surface of the water where they form dense mats. Flowers have three petals which are white (18-25 mm) and float on or rise just above the water's surface.
Widely used in Schools to Teach Anatomy, Demonstrate Cytoplasm Streaming and as Aquarium Plants http://www.bing.com/videos/search? q=elodea+cytoplasmic +Streaming&FORM=RESTAB#view=detail &mid=a398cb9d63d7b793a1f5a398cb 9D63D7B793A1F5 http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=elodea+cytoplasmic +Streaming&FORM=RESTAB#view=detail&mid=A398CB9D63D7B793A1F5A398CB9D63D7B793A1F5
Red swamp crayfish (P. Clarkii) and Brazilian elodea shipped from Biological Supply House into Classrooms
Similar to Brazilian Elodea Hydrilla, Florida elodea, water thyme Hydrilla verticillata
REPORT THIS SPECIES 1-866-INVADER Hydrilla verticillata Hydrilla forms dense mats of vegetation Leaves in whorls around the stem (generally 5/whorl). Serrations or small spines along the leaf edges. Nut-like turions (tubers) a key to ID
EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL Seeds
EURASIAN WATER-MILFOIL Distribution
Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum
Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian watermilfoil Eurasian watermilfoil Northern watermilfoil
EURASIAN WATER-MILFOIL (Myriophyllum spicatum) Plant native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. Aquatic plant rooted to the bottom of the waterbed Stems are underwater and long, branching off and producing many leaves near the water surface. The leaves are divided into thread-like leaflets, usually in pairs of more than 12 to 14, forming a feathery shape, with uppermost leaves having a squarish tip. This species can be distinguished from native northern watermilfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum), whose long leaflets occur in fewer than 11 pairs and extend almost to the leaf tip, resulting in rounded uppermost leaves. In addition, northern watermilfoil tends to grow close to the bottom, while Eurasian watermilfoil grows up to the water surface.
Parrot s feather Myriophyllum aquaticum
PARROT S FEATHER (Myriophyllum aquaticum) Originating from Southeastern United States, north to and including Virginia. Also native to South America. Prefers habitats with shallow, sluggish waters to 1 m deep, including swamps, ponds and ditches. Pathway- water gardens, fragments carried by boating and other water recreation
Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrot Feather Submersed shoots have reddish orange leaves At water surface, plant growth changes Emergent leaves feather-like, are whorled and stiff, can extend above the water, branching
Thank you! Dr. Sam Chan, Oregon State Univesity samuel.chan@oregonstate.edu 503-679-4828
Giant hogweed (heracleum mantegazzianum) Originally from Eurasia and introduced as an ornamental curiosity
Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum CAUTION! TOXIC! phyto-photodermatitis *Oils in this plant cause severe skin burns! Wear protective clothing and gloves!!
Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum WHEN TO LOOK Flowers May-July WHERE TO LOOK Along streambanks, fields, forest understory
Giant Hogweed vs. Cow Parsnip Giant Hogweed Cow Parsnip http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/plants/ videos.htm#worksafe
Spar7na alterniflora na7ve to the eastern USA (smooth cord grass) occupied over 90% of Willapa Bay, WA mid- 90 s
Spartina Impacts on Shorebirds Western sandpiper Dunlin Shorebirds/sqr m/hr From: Patten, K. Shorebird, waterfowl, and birds of prey usage in Willapa Bay in response to Spartina control efforts. WSU Long Beach Extension Unit!
Ecological Impacts Conversion of open mud- flats to monotypic meadows of Spartina Displaces native plants in high marsh Increased sediment accumulation Reduction of available wildlife habitat Shift from algal- based food- web to detrital Altered hydrology - increased channel velocity Increased risk of flooding upstream
Known Distribution on the West Coast Comox Harbor, BC Fanny Bay, BC Boundary Bay, BC Puget Sound, WA Gray s Harbor, WA Willapa Bay, WA Siuslaw River, OR Coos Bay, OR Humboldt Bay, CA San Francisco Bay, CA
British Columbia Three species known in BC S. anglica S. densiflora S. patens Formed BC Spartina Working Group eradication efforts in Vancouver area expanded monitoring on east coast of Vancouver Island BC Spartina Response Plan 2010 Note red sheaths of S. densiflora Committed to 2018 eradication goal stated in Pacific Coast Collaborative Spartina densiflora
S. Densiflora forms in clumps. S. Anglica often solitary in coarse clumps
BC Monitoring Focus on: Fraser Delta & Roberts Bank (S. anglica) East Coast of Vancouver Island (S. densiflora) Results: S. anglica and S. densiflora populations are increasing