Phragmites Management Techniques

Erik Kiviat

Presentation 2014 Erik Kiviat

Midsummer: Marsh and Distances -Alan Gussow

Characteristics of Piermont Marsh pertinent to management

Large tidal marsh, several thousand years old, urban environmentSeasonally brackish (about 0 14 ppt, higher on high marsh)High nutrient levels in Hudson RiverHistory includes railroad, paper mill, gas pipeline, garbage dump, sewage disposal, salt hay harvest

Characteristics of Phragmites pertinent to management

Super-weed, adapted to human impactsVery diverse and adaptable geneticallyRhizomatous and colonialRobust and highly productiveTolerates wide range of salinity, fertility, contaminants, etc.Provides many non-habitat ecosystem servicesHabitat functions for some species and not others; varies according to

management

Management should be goal-directed and site-specific

Goal: Optimize conservation of rare plants and high salt meadows, and non-habitat ecosystem services that include coastal storm defense (?)

Sequenced(?) management of an environmental weed

Keep it out of an area

Early detection, rapid response (EDRR)

Contain

Eradicate

Modify stands

Harvest for products

Leave it alone

Herbicide

Advantages: Lots of experienceIt works to some extent

Disadvantages:Toxic to nontarget plants, animals, and microorganismsDifficult to measure toxicity in field

Sulfide addition

Advantages:Augments a naturally abundant chemical

Disadvantages:Possibly toxic to non-target organisms

Covering with plastic (solarization)

Advantages:Spatially selectiveModerate amount of experience including in tidal marshes

Disadvantages:Effort intensiveKills all plants beneath plastic

Frequent cutting with collection of cut material

Advantages:Can be targeted to some extentNontoxicSoil impacts if machinery used incautiously

Disadvantages:Must isolate and contain surrounding Phragmites colony to prevent feeding or re-colonizing cut areaEffort-intensive

Livestock grazing

Advantages:InexpensiveExperience in nontidal habitats

Disadvantages:Little experience in tidal habitats?Mobilization of nutrients via manureSoil impacts

Phragmites grazed by cow

Classical biocontrol(using natural enemies: from the weeds native range; reduces biomass, does not eradicate)

Advantages:Self-maintaining, little cost after large R&D investmentFew effects on non-target plants

Disadvantages:Sometimes doesnt work, or effects are patchyNot site-specificWidespread effects on Phragmites ecosystem servicesMay attack non-target plants (e.g., native Phragmites)

Classical biocontrol for Phragmites is being developed at Cornell University. It could be adverse to Phragmitesecosystem services.

Augmentative or microbial biological control

Advantages:Low risk to non-target speciesSite-specific

Disadvantages:R&D needed to identify safe, effective control organisms

Encouraging muskrat populations(by building small elevated nest platforms)

Advantages:InexpensiveSomewhat selective food habits (e.g., cattail > Phragmites > Spartina)

Disadvantages:Experience limited to non-tidal marshes in MidwestFeeding on rare native plants possible

Phragmites management overall(i.e., reduction of Phragmites extent or biomass)

Advantages:May achieve species conservation goalsMay allow conservation of high salt meadow community or rare native plants

Disadvantages:Might fail to achieve conservation goalsReduction in non-habitat ecosystem servicesReduction of habitat functions for certain species

Distinguish science from social factors

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