the costs and benefits of using grazing as a management tool to control phragmites autrails in...
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The Costs and Benefits of Using Grazing as a Management Tool to Control Phragmites Autrails in Wetlands: A Project IntroductionTRANSCRIPT
The Costs and Benefits of Using Grazing as a Management tool to
Control Phragmites autralis in Wetlands:
A Project IntroductionBrittany Duncan, Graduate Student in Ecology
Kari Veblen, Assistant Professor, Department of Wildland Resources
Karin Kettenring, Associate Professor, Department of Watershed Sciences
Utah State University, Ecology Center
The Problem: Phragmites australis is taking over Wetlands
Growth Pattern- Forms Monocultures Up to 13ft tall
Very dense/close growing stems
Lots of litter
Reproduces via seeds and stolens/rhizomes
Takes advantage of highly nutritious and disturbed environments
Outcompetes other wetland plants Destroys habitat for wetland birds
and other wildlife
Picture courtesy of: http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=phco15_001_avd.tif
History Introduced in early
1900’s from Eurasia. Utah- More recent
invasion after the mid-1980 floods Wiped out native
vegetation, and allowed for Phragmites to dominate
Important because the Great Salt Lake is essential for migrating birds, and habitat around it is dramatically decreasing
Photo courtesy of: http://www.historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/utah_today/floods.html
Management
Managers have yet to find a cost and time efficient method for management.
Current Techniques Herbicide
Mechanical Methods
Burning
Flooding
Targeted Grazing- gaining popularity, but not well studied
Picture courtesy of: http://www.invasiveplants.net/phragmites/problem.htm
Common Questions Will cattle eat Phragmites?
YES!! Actually quite Nutritious Crude Protein= ~20%
Digestible Dry Matter ranges from 55-40%
Currently grazed from May to mid-September
Health and Safety of Cattle in Wetlands? Sites must be dried out
Illness and injury can occur (i.e. Foot rot).
*Best with educated/conditioned cattle
Photo courtesy of Steve Young and newsromm.unl.edu/announce/beef/2462/13953
Thesis
What are the COSTS and BENEFITS of using different grazing INTENSITIES as a management tool in Wetlands?
1-Plant composition and reproduction
2-Nutrient Cycling
3-Bird density and Species Composition
Methods
Site Locations
All located around the Great Salt Lake
3 on DWR Wildlife Management Areas
At least 1 on Sovereign Lands (State, Forestry, and Fire)
Possibly 1 at Bear Rive Migratory Bird Refuge
Sites: Howard-Slough
Sites: Crystal at Farmington Bay
Sites: Harold Crane
Theory: Piosphere Definition: The zone of influence of grazing on
a region's vegetation and soil http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/piosphere
"development of a distinct ecological system in which the interactions are determined by the existence of the water-point and by the capacity of the animals to forage away from the water-point.” https://www.zotero.org/groups/savanna_ecology/items/NW4FG65B
Grazing radius of 2-5 km around watering points. (Rajabov, 2009); Large mammals up to 8 km (Thrash 1999); Cattle can be over 2km (Thrash 1999)
Tall, thick grass can slow grazing efficiency
Photo from: http://www.gis.usu.edu/~doug/SERDP/Pubs/SRM2000/
Study Design: Theory
Very High Intensity
High IntensityMedium Intensity
Low Intensity
Very Low to No Grazing
Herbicide Herbicide
Herbicide
Theory: Piosphere and Herbicide
Study Design Conti. Time Frame:
2 summers of grazing (Early May-Mid July)
2 years of Herbicide Treatment
2 years of monitoring
5 piospheres (n=5) Size 0.25-1 acre
Measurements taken along a gradient of grazing intensity
6 plots for data collection per intensity zone
Total=150 data points
Measurements Plants
Biomass
Reproduction
Changes in Plant communities/ soil
Nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Ammonium
In Soil, Water, Plants, and cow patties
Microbial Enzymes
Conclusion Goal: To be able to recommend the best grazing practice for
Phragmites control and wetland restoration This study will help unravel the complicated relationship
among wetlands, invasive species, nutrients, and cattle. The Piosphere should allow for a cost effective way to display
the relationship at various levels of grazing. A very large cooperation between many individuals,
organizations, and disciplines (ranchers, land managers, professors, students …)
Acknowledgements Utah Forestry, Fire, and State Lands
Primary Funders of Project
Utah Department of Wildlife Resources
Allowing us to conduct the study on their management areas, and assisting with project implementation
Local Ranchers: Ryan Clegg, John Diamond, Matt Marriott, Ed Gilmorr
Volunteering to participate in project
References Berger, Randy. 2013-2014. Raw Phargmites nutrient data.
Hazelton, E.L.G., T.J. Mozdzer, D.M. Burdick, K.M. Kettenring, and D.F. Whigham. 2014. Phragmites australis management in the United States: 40 years of methods and outcomes. AoB Plants.
Interviews with Ranchers and Land managers: Ryan Clegg, Matt Marriott, Rich Hansen, and Chad Cranney
Mitsch, W.J., and J.G. Gosselink. 2007. Wetlands. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. 571p.
Silliman, B.R, T. Mozder, C. Angelini, J.E. Brundage, P. Esselink, J.P. Bakker, K.B. Gedan, J. van de Koppel, and A.H. Baldwin. 2014. Livestock as a potential biological control agent for an invasive wetland plant. PeerJ 2:e567;DOI 10.7717/peerj.567.
Thrash, I., and J.F. Derry. 1999. The nature and modelling of piospheres: a reviw. Koe
Thanks!!!!!
Photo courtesy of; http://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=2147484863