invasive species, wildfire, and the use of native seeds ... · sarah kulpa botanist/restoration...

Sarah Kulpa Botanist/Restoration Ecologist Reno Fish and Wildlife Office

Invasive Species, Wildfire, and the Use of Native Seeds

for Restoration

U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

© Jeannie Stafford, USFWS


• Invasive species and fire are the greatest threats to sage-grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem in the Great Basin

• Cheatgrass dominates at least 2 million hectares (and growing) in the Great Basin


Conserving the Great Basin Sagebrush Ecosystem

Why Is Cheatgrass Such a Problem?

• Facilitated by soil-disturbing activities

• Invade and outcompete native plant species

• Create continuous fine fuels

• Increase fire frequency, severity and extent


Figure 1. Balch et al 2013 with WD


Cheatgrass Drives Fires

• Fire has been a natural part of sagebrush ecosystem for millennia

• Cheatgrass grasslands were four times more likely to burn than native vegetation during the 2000s (Balch et al. 2013).

Balch et al. 2013


After fire, large scale restoration occurs


Seeds Used Post-Fire in Nevada

• More native grasses are being seeded in Nevada – From 1999-2003, only 20 – 50% of seeded sites in the

Great Basin were native perennial grass (Knutson et al. 2014)

– From 2006-2009, 75% of seeding treatments in Nevada were native perennial grass (Leger & Baughman 2015)

U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

But…What is the Origin of Seed Used in Nevada?

Jones and Larson, 2005


• Was launched Aug 2015

• Covers 2015 – 2020

• Meets Sec Order 3336 Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management, and Restoration - Objective 7(b)ix

• Ensures Objectives of the National Pollinator Strategy can be achieved


Four Seed Strategy Goals 1. Identify Seed Needs and Ensure the Reliable Availability of Genetically

Appropriate Seed (13 actions)

2. Identify Research Needs and Conduct Research to Provide Genetically Appropriate Seed and to Improve Technology for Native Seed Production and Ecosystem Restoration (12 actions)

3. Develop Tools that Enable Managers to Make Timely, Informed Seeding Decisions for Ecological Restoration (17 actions)

4. Develop Strategies for Internal and External Communication (9 actions)


Agency Partners and 51 Seed Strategy Actions

Agencies Number of

Actions

BIA 27

BLM 47

FWS 46

NPS 37

USGS 39

ARS 26

FS 46

NIFA 32

NRCS 36

FHWA 16

Smithsonian 3

US Botanic Garden 1


Why does FWS care about seeds?

Endangered Species Act of 1973

“The purposes of this Act are to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, [and] to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species…”


• The species we conserve depend on resilient, functioning ecosystems

• Plants are the foundation of ecosystems serving as primary

producers and soil stabilizers as well as food, cover, and structure for other species

• Terrestrial ecosystems are often degraded, threatened by invasive

species, and need to be restored • To conserve and recover species, we need the native seeds and

plants that these species (and their habitat) depend on

In other words… U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

Getting the Right Seed: Developing & Increasing Native Seed for Sagebrush Restoration

Partners

• FWS

• BLM

• FS

• GBNPP

• BFI Native Seeds

National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration Goal 1: Identify Seed Needs and Ensure the Reliable Availability of Genetically Appropriate Seed Reserves


Increasing Native Seed for Restoration

• Seeds adapted to the most arid zones of the Great Basin

• Species that provide structural, dietary, or other benefit to sage-grouse

National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration Goal 1: Ensure Availability of Genetically Appropriate Seed Objective 1.3 Action 1.3.2: Improve agency and partner capability to plan for seed needs and to use common seed zones

Action 1.3.5: Engage federal procurement specialists to assess current contracting regulations and practices to identify strengths and take actions to correct deficiencies


USDA Plant Hardiness Zones U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

Seed Zones – A Tool For A Variable Environment

• 20 seed zones in the Great Basin

• A zone with similar environmental conditions within which plant materials can be transferred

• Based on minimum winter temperature and aridity


NV

ID OR

CA

UT

Scientific Name Common

Name Duration and

Habit Sage-grouse

use

Agoseris grandiflora

bigflower agoseris perennial forb preferred food

Astragalus filipes

basalt milkvetch perennial forb preferred food

Cleome lutea yellow bee

plant annual forb early

successional

Erigeron speciosus aspen fleabane perennial forb preferred food

Eriogonum elatum

tall woolly buckwheat perennial forb food

Leymus cinereus Great Basin

wildrye perennial

grass cover

Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia

gooseberryleaf globemallow perennial forb preferred food

Sphaeralcea munroana

Munro’s globemallow perennial forb preferred food


Increasing Great Basin Wildrye by Seed Zone


• We started with 27 collections of Great Basin wildrye seed (black dots)

• Collections are from 4 different seed zones

• We are increasing this seed by seed zone in fields at BFI Natives in Washington

National Seed Strategy in Action: Increasing Forbs

• Seven small-lot forb fields

(< 1 ac), each containing a single species, grown-out and increased for 2 years

• 3 of 7 forbs produced seed in year 1 – 40 lbs. Agoseris grandiflora

– 19 lbs. Astragalus filipes

– 59 lbs. Cleome lutea

Agoseris grandiflora

Cleome lutea

© BFI Native Seeds

© BFI Native Seeds


National Seed Strategy in Action: Increasing Great Basin Wildrye

• 2014 – started with 24 lbs. of seed of 18.5 acres

• 2015 – Juvenile phase

• 2016 – 5,565 lbs. of seed

• This quantity would seed 1,391 acres


Photo credit: BFI Natives

How much seed do we need?


5,565 lbs. of Great Basin

wildrye seed

Scaling Up: We Need More Native Seed For Restoration

• We need to strategically increase both native grasses and forbs • Grasses are easier and limited number of workhorse species needed

– Increase relies on conventional agronomic practices – Seed yield is typically high (100-500 lbs/ac/year) – All of which are perennial bunchgrasses

• Forbs are harder and 100s (or 1,000s) of species likely needed – Forb whisperers are few and far between – Seed yield varies widely among species – Dormancy, seeding depth, seed harvest methods, life history, etc. also

vary among species



Questions?

invasive species, wildfire, and the use of native seeds ... · sarah kulpa botanist/restoration...

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