Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T19:38:30.543Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Using Sheep to Control Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

G. S. Kleppel  and
Erin LaBarge
G. S. Kleppel*
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Conservation and Policy Program, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222
Erin LaBarge
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: gkleppel@albany.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We investigated the use of sheep for controlling the spread of purple loosestrife in a wet meadow in upstate New York from June to August 2008. Changes in the purple loosestrife population and vascular plant community structure were monitored as a function of the grazing of two ewes, “rotated” through four “experimental” paddocks at 2- to 3-d intervals. Comparative data were collected in “reference” paddocks from which sheep were excluded. Purple loosestrife was heavily grazed and most plants did not flower in experimental paddocks. Purple loosestrife cover declined by 40.7% in the experimental paddocks but did not change significantly in the reference paddocks. After grazing, species richness was 20% higher in experimental than reference paddocks.

Keywords

Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria L.Targeted grazingintensive rotational grazinginvasive speciesspecies richnessnuisance species management
Type
Research
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 50 - 57
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Allen-Diaz, B., Jackson, R., Bartolome, J., Tate, K., and Oates, G. 2004. Grazing management of spring-fed wetlands in Californian oak woodlands: summary of results of a long term study. Calif. Agric 58:144–148.Google Scholar
Augustine, D. J. and McNaughton, S. J. 1998. Ungulate effects upon functional species composition of plant communities: herbivore selectivity and plant tolerance. J. Wildl. Manag 62:1165–1183.Google Scholar
Ausden, M., Hall, M., Pearson, P., and Strudwick, T. 2004. The effects of cattle grazing on tall-herb fen vegetations and mollusks. Biol. Conserv 122:317–326.Google Scholar
Bangsund, D. A., Nudell, D. J., Sell, R. S., and Leistritz, F. L. 1999. Economic Analysis of Controlling Leafy Spurge with Sheep. Pages 119 p. North Dakota State University, Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, Agricultural Experimental Station Report Number 431, Fargo, ND.Google Scholar
Blossey, B. 1993. Herbivory below ground and biological weed control: life history of a root-boring weevil on purple loosestrife. Oecologia 94:380–387.Google Scholar
Blossey, B. 1995. A comparison of various approaches for evaluating potential biological control agents using insects on Lythrum salicaria . Biol. Control 5:113–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blossey, B. 2007. Biological control of weeds using arthropods. Pages 77–92. In Upadhyaya, M. K. and Blackshaw, R. E. eds. Non-Chemical Weed Management: Principles, Concepts and Technology. Cambridge, MA CAB International.Google Scholar
Blossey, B. and Schat, M. 1997. Performance of Galerucella calmariensis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on different North American populations of purple loosestrife. Environ. Entomol 26:439–445.Google Scholar
Blossey, B. and Schroeder, D. 1995. Host specificity of three potential biological weed control agents attacking flowers and seeds of purple loosestrife. Biol. Control 5:47–53.Google Scholar
Bock, C. E., Jones, Z., and Bock, J. H. 2006. Rodent communities in an exurbanizing southwestern landscape (USA). Conserv. Biol 20:1242–1250.Google Scholar
Boggs, K., Hansen, P., Pfister, R., and Joy, J. 1990. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in northwestern Montana. Missoula, MT Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, University of Montana, School of Forestry. 217 p.Google Scholar
Brown, J. H. and McDonald, W. 1995. Livestock grazing and conservation on southwestern rangelands. Conserv. Biol 9:1644–1647.Google Scholar
Capers, R. S. and Les, D. H. 2005. Plant community structure in a freshwater tidal wetland. Rhodora 107:386–407.Google Scholar
Corrigan, J. E., MacKenzie, D. L., and Simser, L. 1998. Field observations of non-target feeding by Galerucella calmariensis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an introduced biological control agent of purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria (Lythraceae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Ont 129:99–106.Google Scholar
Downey, N. M. and Heath, R. W. 1970. Basic Statistical Methods. New York, NY Harper and Row. 379 p.Google Scholar
Driscoll, D. A. and Childs, L. N. eds. 2002. Helderberg Escarpment Planning Guide. Slingerlands, NY Albany County Land Conservancy. 229 p.Google Scholar
Floyd, M. L., Fleischner, T. L., Hanna, D., and Whitefeild, P. 2003. Effects of historic livestock grazing on vegetation at Chaco Culture National Historic Park, New Mexico. Conserv. Biol 17:1703–1711.Google Scholar
Fraker-Marble, M. J., Launchbaugh, K. L., and Walker, J. W. 2007. Differences in food ingestion and digestion among sheep classified as high or low sagebrush consumers. Rangeland Ecol. Manag 60:191–194.Google Scholar
Gillespie, J. R. 2002. Modern Livestock and Poultry Production. 6th ed. Albany, NY Delmar. 1153 p.Google Scholar
Harris, W. 2005. Enough Grass to Make Your Head Rotate. http://www.kerrcenter.com/nwsltr/2005/summer2005/page15.pdf. Accessed September 14, 2009.Google Scholar
Hartwell, A. L. 2005. Distribution of purple loosestrife and effects of its invasion in wetlands of the Hudson River Valley, New York. Pages 66 p. Ph.D dissertation, Albany, NY: University at Albany, SUNY.Google Scholar
Hersom, M. 2009. Pasture stocking density and the relationship to animal performance. Gainesville, FL University of Florida Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Technical Paper AN155. 4 p.Google Scholar
Hormung, J. P. and Rice, C. L. 2003. Odonata and wetland quality in southern Alberta Canada: a preliminary study. Odonatologica 32:119–129.Google Scholar
Jensen, A. and Healy, M. 2003. Frog communities and wetland condition: relationships with grazing by domestic livestock along an Australian floodplain river. Biol. Conserv 109:207–219.Google Scholar
Kleppel, G. S. 1992. Environmental regulation of feeding and egg production by Acartia tonsa off southern California. Mar. Biol 112:57–65.Google Scholar
Launchbaugh, K. L., Daines, R. J., and Walker, J. W. eds. 2006. Targeted Grazing: A Natural Approach to Vegetation Management and Landscape Enhancement. http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/rx-grazing/Handbook.htm. Accessed December 17, 2009.Google Scholar
Launchbaugh, K. L. and Howery, L. D. 2005. Understanding landscape use patterns of livestock as a consequence of foraging behavior. Rangeland Ecol. Manag 58:99–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luginbuhl, J-M., Harvey, T. E., Green, J. T. Jr, Poore, M. H., and Mueller, J. P. 1999. Use of goats as biological agents for the restoration of pastures in the Appalachian region of the United States. Agrofor. Syst 44:241–252.Google Scholar
Malecki, R. A., Blossey, B., Hight, S. D., Schroeder, D., Kok, L. T., and Coulson, J. R. 1993. Biological control of purple loosestrife. BioScience 43:680–686.Google Scholar
Malecki, R. A. and Rowinski, T. J. 1979. Purple loosestrife: a need for concern. Dep. Nat. Resour. Cornell Univ. Conserv. Circ 17:1–5.Google Scholar
Marty, J. T. 2005. Effects of cattle grazing on diversity of ephemeral wetlands. Conserv. Biol 19:1626–1632.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McNaughton, S. J. 1983. Compensatory plant growth as a response to herbivory. Oikos 40:329–336.Google Scholar
Provenza, F. D., Villalba, J. J., Dziba, L. E., Attwood, S. B., and Banner, R. E. 2003. Linking herbivore experience, varied diets and plant biochemical diversity. Small Ruminant Res 49:257–274.Google Scholar
Provenza, F. D., Villalba, J. J., MacAdam, J. W., Griggs, T. C., and Wiedmeier, R. D. 2007. The value to herbivores of plant physical and chemical diversity in time and space. Crop Sci 47:382–398.Google Scholar
Reeves, P. N. and Champion, P. D. 2004. Effects of Livestock Grazing on Wetlands: Literature Review. Pages 33 p. Environment Waikato, NIWA Client Report HAM2004-059, Hamilton, New Zealand: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Ltd.Google Scholar
Ruyle, G. B. and Bowns, J. E. 1985. Forage use by cattle and sheep grazing separately and together on summer range in southwestern Utah. J. Range Manag 38:299–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saberwal, V. K. 1996. Pastoral politics: Gaddi grazing, degradation and biodiversity conservation in Hamachal Pradesh, India. Conserv. Biol 10:41–49.Google Scholar
Shaw, R. A., Villalba, J. J., and Provenza, F. D. 2006. Resource availability and quality influence patterns of diet mixing by sheep. J. Chem. Ecol 32:1276–1278.Google Scholar
Skarpe, C. and Hester, A. J. 2008. Plant traits, browsing and grazing herbivores and plant dynamics. Pages 217–261. In Gordon, I. and Prins, H. H. T. eds. The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing, 195. New York Springer.Google Scholar
Skinner, L. C., Rendall, W. C., and Fuge, E. L. 1994. Minnesota's Purple Loosestrife Program: History, Findings and Management Recommendations. Pages 27 p. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Special Report 145, St. Paul, MN.Google Scholar
Swearingen, J. M. 2005. Fact Sheet on Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria . http://www.nps.gov/plants/ALIEN/fact/lysa1.htm. Accessed December 16, 2009.Google Scholar
Tadey, M. and Farji-Brener, A. G. 2007. Indirect effects of exotic grazers: livestock decreases the nutrient content of refuse dumps of leaf-cutting ants through vegetation impoverishment. J. Appl. Ecol 44:1209–1218.Google Scholar
Tesauro, J. 2001. Restoring wetland habitat with cows and other livestock. Conserv. Pract 2:26–30.Google Scholar
Tessauro, J. and Ehrenfeld, D. 2007. The effects of livestock grazing on the bog turtle [Glyptemys (= Clemmys) muhlenbergii]. Herpetologia 63:293–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomson, R. H. 1971. Naturally Occurring Quinones. 2nd ed. London Academic Press.Google Scholar
Van Hoewyk, D., Groffman, P. M., Kiveat, E., Mihocko, G., and Stevens, G. 2000. Soil nitrogen dynamics in organic and mineral soil calcareous wetlands in eastern New York. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J 64:2168–2173.Google Scholar
Wallace, J. M., Wilson, L. M., and Launchbaugh, K. L. 2008. The effect of targeted grazing and biological control on yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) in canyon grasslands of Idaho. Rangeland Ecol. Manag 61:314–320.Google Scholar
Walter, H. S. and Levin, G. A. 2008. Feral sheep on Socorro Island: facilitators of alien plant colonization and ecosystem decay. Divers. Distrib 14:422–431.Google Scholar
Werner, K. J. and Zedler, J. B. 2002. How sedge meadow soils, microtopography and vegetation respond to sedimentation. Wetlands 22:451–456.Google Scholar