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Germination and Growth of Native and Invasive Plants on Soil Associated with Biological Control of Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2017

Rebecca A. Sherry ,
Patrick B. Shafroth ,
Jayne Belnap ,
Steven Ostoja  and
Sasha C. Reed
Rebecca A. Sherry
Affiliation:
Cherokee Services Group, contracted to the U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building. C, Fort Collins, CO 80526
Patrick B. Shafroth*
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526
Jayne Belnap
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2290 S West Resource Boulevard, Moab, UT 84532
Steven Ostoja
Affiliation:
USDA California Climate Hub, Agricultural Research Service, The John Muir Institute of the Environment, One Shields Ave., University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Sasha C. Reed
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2290 S West Resource Boulevard, Moab, UT 84532
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: shafrothp@usgs.gov
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Abstract

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Introductions of biocontrol beetles (tamarisk beetles) are causing dieback of exotic tamarisk in riparian zones across the western United States, yet factors that determine plant communities that follow tamarisk dieback are poorly understood. Tamarisk-dominated soils are generally higher in nutrients, organic matter, and salts than nearby soils, and these soil attributes might influence the trajectory of community change. To assess physical and chemical drivers of plant colonization after beetle-induced tamarisk dieback, we conducted separate germination and growth experiments using soil and litter collected beneath defoliated tamarisk trees. Focal species were two common native (red threeawn, sand dropseed) and two common invasive exotic plants (Russian knapweed, downy brome), planted alone and in combination. Nutrient, salinity, wood chip, and litter manipulations examined how tamarisk litter affects the growth of other species in a context of riparian zone management. Tamarisk litter, tamarisk litter leachate, and fertilization with inorganic nutrients increased growth in all species, but the effect was larger on the exotic plants. Salinity of 4 dS m−1 benefitted Russian knapweed, which also showed the largest positive responses to added nutrients. Litter and wood chips generally delayed and decreased germination; however, a thinner layer of wood chips increased growth slightly. Time to germination was lengthened by most treatments for natives, was not affected in exotic Russian knapweed, and was sometimes decreased in downy brome. Because natives showed only small positive responses to litter and fertilization and large negative responses to competition, Russian knapweed and downy brome are likely to perform better than these two native species following tamarisk dieback.

Keywords

Downy brome, Bromus tectorum L.Russian knapweed, Acroptilon repens (L.) DC.tamarisk, Tamarix spp.red threeawn, Aristida purpurea Nutt. var. longiseta (Steud.) Vaseysand dropseed, Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) GrayAcroptilon repensAristida purpureabiological controlBromus tectorumlegacy effectssecondary invasionSporobolus cryptandrusTamarix
Type
Research
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , December 2016 , pp. 290 - 307
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 by the Weed Science Society of America

Footnotes

Associate Editor for this paper: John Cardina, Ohio State University.

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