Transcript Invasive Species and Their Impacts

Travis Gallo
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
at the University of Texas at Austin
What is an invasive species?

An invasive species is defined as a species that is nonnative (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and
whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or
environmental harm or harm to human health. (Executive
Order 13112).
Ailanthus altissima
Tree of Heaven
Arundo donax
Giant Reed
Carduus nutans
Nodding Thistle
Lonicera japonica
Japanese Honeysuckle
Why should we care?
1.
Invasive species threaten
native plants and native plant
communities.
2.
After habitat destruction,
invasive species are the
single largest cause of
native plant extinction.
3.
The rate at which new,
potentially invasive, species
are being introduced is
exponentially increasing.
4.
The U.S. spends
approximately $135 billion
on the control and
management of invasive
species
Melia azedarach (Chinaberry Tree)
Pueraria montana var. lobata (Kudzu)
Ecosystem Impacts
FIRE REGIMES
HYDROLOGY
EROSION
AQUATIC
NUTRIENTS
Are all exotics invasive?
The lag effect
Invasive Species Texas
Rauschuber C. 2002. List Appendix to Invasive Species - Texas.

How many invasives are in
Texas?
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67 terrestrial plants
12 aquatic/wetland plants
10 mammals
4 birds
7 fishes
11 insects
11 mollusks and crustaceans

Worst of the Worst
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Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.)
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Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
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Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
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Nutria (Myocaster coypus)

Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis
invicta)

Channeled Applesnail (Pomacea
canaliculata)
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www.texasinvasives.org/publications
Texas Department of Agriculture
TITLE 4.AGRICULTURE. Part 1. TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Chapter 19.
QUARANTINES AND NOXIOUS PLANTS
§19.300.Noxious Plant List.
Botanical Name - Common Name
Orobanche ramosa - broomrape
Alhagi camelorum - camelthorn
Triadica sebiferum - Chinese tallow tree
Cyperus entrerianus - deeprooted sedge
Carthamus lanatus - distaff thistle
Myriophyllum spicatum - Eurasian watermilfoil
Spirodela oligorrhiza - giant duckweed
Arundo donax - giant reed
Calystegia sepium - hedge bindweed
Hydrilla verticillata - hydrilla
Rottboellia cochinchinensis - itchgrass
Cuscuta japonica - Japanese dodder
Botanical Name - Common Name
Pueraria montana var. lobata - kudzu
Lagarosiphon major - lagarosiphon
Melaleuca quinquenervia - paperbark
Lythrum salicaria - purple loosestrife
Eichhornia azurea - rooted waterhyacinth
Tamarix spp. - Saltcedar
Salvinia spp. - Salvinia
Nassella trichotoma - Serrated tussock
Panicum repens - Torpedograss
Solanum viarum - Tropical soda apple
Ipomoea aquatica - water spinach
Cryptocoryne beckettii - water trumpet
Eichhornia crassipes - waterhyacinth
Pistia stratiotes - waterlettuce
Alternanthera philoxeroides - alligatorweed
Cardiospermum halicacabum - balloonvine
Schinus terebinthifolius - Brazilian peppertree
Texas Challenges
1.
2.
3.
4.
A need for a definitive
source for IS information
in Texas.
A need for more
communication among the
state’s IS stakeholders
A coordinated response to
address IS on a statewide
level has yet to
materialize.
There is a gap in our
knowledge about the
distribution and biology
of IS.
Addressing the Issues

How can we meet challenges?
 Help define the problem through information sharing and
research  Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference,
TIPPC, Universities, AgriLife, etc.
 Raise public awareness through education and outreach
 The Wildflower Center, AgriLife, TPWD, & You
 Take hands-on action to stop the spread of invasive
species  You!
Pennisetum ciliare - Buffelgrass
Wisteria sinensis - Chinese wisteria
What you can do…
Some common Invaders:
Ligustrum spp. (5)
2. Chinaberry
3. Nandina
4. Tree-of-Heaven
5. Elephant Ear
6. Johnson grass
7. Lilac Chaste-tree
8. Japanese honeysuckle
9. English Ivy
10. Bamboos
11. Giant Reed*
12. Chinese Tallow*
1.
* Not in trade but still spreading
Ligustrum spp.

Two groups
 Big leaf: L. lucidum, L. japonicum
 Small leaf: L. sinense, L. quihoui, L. vulgare
All evergreen
 Spread by birds and other berry eating
animals
 Impact: Can replace forest with a monoculture and quickly dominate an area
 Native Alternative: Yaupons, Coma,
Possomhaw, Cherry laurel

Small-leaf
Privets
L. vulgare (European privet)
L. sinense
(Chinese privet)
L. quihoui (wax-leaf privet)
Big-leaf
Privets
L. japonicum (Japanese Privet)
L. lucidum (Glossy privet)
Chinaberry (Melia azerdarach)

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Extremely common
Spread by berries
and root sprouts
Impact: very fast
growing, drought
tolerant, and insect
resistant, therefore
can outcompetes
native vegetation
Native Alternative:
Western Soapberry
Nandina (Nandina domestica)
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Evergreen shrub
with red berries
Spread by root
sprouts and berries
Impact: displaces
native vegetation in
shaded forest
Native Alternative:
Yaupon,
Possomhaw, TX
Persimmon
Tree-of-Heaven (Alianthus altissima)


Prolific grower
Impacts:
 Tree-of-heaven is a prolific
seed producer, grows rapidly,
and can overrun native
vegetation.
 Once established, it can
quickly take over a site and
form an impenetrable thicket.
 Ailanthus trees also produces
toxins that prevent the
establishment of other plant
species.
 The root system is aggressive
enough to cause damage to
sewers and foundations

Native Alternative: Pecan,
Flame-leaf Sumac
Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta)


Invading most
riparian habitat and
river edges (Town
Lake)
Impacts: Reduces
native species along
water’s edge. Can
“drain” small wet
depressions.
Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)
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Very common for fall
color
Invading urban
preserves in Austin
Impacts: Displaces
native trees and can
shade understory.
Birds spread seeds far
distances
Native Alternative:
TX Pistache, Flameleaf sumac, bigtoothed maple, TX
oak
Lilac Chaste-tree
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Reduces native
plant populations.
Invades riparian and
upland habitats
(Lake Travis, BCP)
Impact: Pushes out
native brush species
Native Alternative:
Red Buckeye
Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera
japonica) & English Ivy (Hedera helix)
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Both climbing vines
Both evergreen
Impacts:
 Both can kill trees by
strangling and shading
 Both also grow along
ground creating a
ground cover shading
out all understory
growth

Native Alternative:
Coral honeysuckle,
Caroline jessaman,
Virginia creeper, 7 leaf
Virginia creeper
Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
Very prolific grower
Reproduces from
rhizomes
 Impacts:


 Creates a complete
monoculture
 Non-food source for
wildlife
 Prolific spreader
 Attracts roaches in urban
setting

Native Alternative:
Yaupons, Wax myrtle,
native cane
(Arundinaria)
Giant Reed (Arundo donax)
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One of the worst in
the state
Illegal to sell, trade or
traffic
Reproduces
vegetatively
Impacts:
 destroys complete
ecosystems and
habitats
 Creates a monoculture
 Non-food source for
wildlife
Arundo Impacts…
Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera)
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

Also illegal to sell,
traffic or trade
30% of Houston’s
urban forest canopy
Impacts:
 Turns areas into
monocultures if not
managed
 Leafs are toxic to other
plants
 Creates a monotypic
forest shading all
undergrowth
Taking action!
Management

Five laws of Management and Control
 Cultural
 Preventative
 Mechanical
 Chemical
 Biocontrol
Cultural and Preventative

Cultural
 Small scale-food
crops
○ Water spinach
 Grower’s growing
cycles
○ 7 years out
 Education
○ Nandina,
bermudagrass,
Ligustrums, etc.

Preventative
 DON’T PLANT!
 Remove them when
they show up
Mechanical

Hand pulling
 To a certain size

Weed wrenching
 Very effective
 Best method for
avoiding herbicides
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
Grazing
Prescribed Fire
http://www.weedwrench.com/
Chemical
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Follow all labels and directions
Do not over use
Only use when needed
BE SELECTIVE

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE
PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL
RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND
CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE
REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR
RECOMMENDATIONS. MENTION OF PESTICIDE
PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE
ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.
Direct Foliar Spray
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Most cost effective
Usually done with a backpack sprayer
Use foliar active herbicides
Use proper nozzle for job and spray shield
to avoid over drift
Mid-summer to fall is best, but…
Stem Injection/”Hack-n-squirt”
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Very selective – GOOD
Good for controlling larger trees where
situation does not allow for full removal
Applying water-based herbicide to downward
cuts circling the base of the trunk
Best in late winter through fall
Be careful of root graphs and rain events
Cut and Treat
All around most effective (my opinion)
 For larger trees that can not be weed
wrenched
 Cut at base and apply herbicide around
edges of stump, very selective, very
easy

Basal Sprays
Herbicide-oil mix sprayed or daubed to the
lower portion of trunk
 Must apply to bottom 12-14” all the way
around
 Apply before bark becomes corky and
rough
 Very selective

Selecting Effective Herbicides

Folilar active (mostly)

Foliar and soil-active
 Glyphosate
 Arsenal AC (imazapyr)
 Garlon 3A (triclopyr)
 Escort XP (mesulfuron)
 Garlon 4A (triclopyr)
 Pathway (2, 4-D + picloram)
 Krenite S (fosamine)
 Plateau (imazapic)
 Pathfinder II (triclopyr)
 Tordon 101 (2, 4-D + picloram)
 Milestone VM
 Tordon K (picloram)
(aminopyralid)
The most important step!!
The Rehabilitation Phase
 You can’t just cut down trees!

 Replanting and reseeding native species is
vital to keep down re-sprouting invasives
and hold soil
Educate yourself, educate others!
Resources

texasinvasives.org
 Descriptions for 140
species
 Control methods for most
 Publications and links

Lady Bird Johnson
Wildflower Center
 www.wildflower.org
 Native plants
 Suppliers list
Resources

Plantwise
 www.beplantwise.org
 Invasive to Native Translator
 Gardening tips to avoid invasives
Resources



www.invasive.org
Nonnative Invasive
Plants of Southern
Forest. By James H.
Miller
Invasive Plants. By
Kaufman and
Kaufman
Partners