We Didn't Start The Fire...or maybe we did!

The Missoulian is reporting that researchers in Montana are taking a closer look at the way their state fights wildfires following concern that it could be leading to the further spread of invasive plant species. Typically large wildfires are attacked from above through the release of flame retardant by aircraft. Unfortunately the flame retardant contains chemicals that can act like a fertilizer on the ground below, injecting the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus that invaders like cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and tumbleweed mustard (Sisymbrium sp.) grab onto and use as a nutrient boost to expand their populations. Since cheatgrass is known to contribute to the strength and size of fires, these aerial treatments meant to fight fire could actually be indirectly contributing to future burns. One possible way being considered to deal with this problem is to follow flame retardant treatments with a reseeding of native seeds.

Thanks to Bill of the Invasive Species of Eastern USA blog for sending in a link to this story.

Heaven Sent Away

The Herald-Leader is reporting that the first major steps have been taken to remove the tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) that has invaded the Henry Clay Estate in Kentucky. The trees have been targeted because they are encroaching upon one of the last remaining populations of running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum), a federally listed endangered plant that is so rare, it was once considered to be extinct. Full-grown trees are being cut and carefully removed, so as not to disturb the clover, and volunteers have been working to remove tree-of-heaven seedlings as well as the invasive Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum).

Dissolve And Conquer

Did you ever wonder how Phragmites gets that amber waves style of monocultural sheen? Turns out it's burning its competitors right out of the picture. Newswise reports on new research from the Bais Lab at the University of Delaware, showing that Phragmites reed (Phragmites australis) exudes an acid from its roots that dissolves the roots of its neighbors.

The ability of plants to release chemicals that impact their competitors is known as allelopathy. Phragmites does it with gallic acid, an allelochemical that degrades the tubulin that maintains root structures, causing exposed roots to simply collapse.

To read more about this research, see the original article in the Journal of Chemical Ecology (abstract only unless you've got a subscription), or check out this press release from the University of Delaware that includes some cool images of degrading roots. Tip of the virtual hat to budak for pointing to the article.

Veti Good, Or Veti Bad?

From the Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog comes this report about the potential benefits of using vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) for erosion control in New Orleans. Problem is...and considering where you are reading this, you probably know where this is going...yes: vetiver grass, native to Asia, is considered an invasive species in several parts of the world. A sterile cultivar has been developed for landscaping purposes but it is unclear whether that too is invasive. A Pacific Islands study labeled vetiver grass as a low risk invader. The Vetiver Network disputes the PIER risk assessment but they seem biased.

On the pro side, there is the reputed ability of the grass to repel Formosan termites (Coptotermes formosanus) and prevent flooding. Also, supporters point to the fact that the grass has been grown in New Orleans for over 200 years and has not yet caused a problem. The Army Corps is apparently still thinking about it, and has placed vetiver grass on a short list of species being considered for restoration plantings near the levees.

I think continued disturbance is a good way to prod a species into evolving new characters, including ones we might not want, such as an ability to better spread into natural areas. That's the last thing New Orleans needs, with such a massive natural disturbance as a hurricane having left it so ecologically vulnerable. What do you think?

Like A Bull In A China Wetland?

This one is too interesting to wait for the next "New In The Literature" post...While trolling Science Direct for articles today, I came across this abstract:

"Inter-specific competition: Spartina alterniflora is replacing previous Spartina anglica in coastal China." 2007. Zhi et al. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 74(3): 437-448.

Wow - Spartina alterniflora (smooth cord grass) really gets around, doesn't it? Native to the east coast of the U.S., this grass has traveled far and wide, invading wetlands from the west coast of the U.S. to the U.K. and all the way to the Far East. In China, where S. alterniflora arrived in the 1970s, the species is now replacing Spartina anglica, an invasive cousin whose populations have been notably dwindling since the 1990s. The study shows that S. alterniflora is outcompeting S. anglica in almost every physiological way: biomass, height, roots, leaf area...the list goes on and on. The older invader could be getting pushed right out of its niche.

Unfortunately, you're stuck with just the abstract of this article unless you or your library has a subscription to Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science...or you can click on the little envelope by the author's name and ask for a reprint.

Can't See The Forest For The Grass

EurekAlert! has this story about new research implicating Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) as an inhibitor of forest regeneration. The scientists conducting the study, which was done in Tennessee, noted that Microstegium can invade low-light habitats, and found that an increase in populations of the grass was correlated with a decrease in native woody plant biodiversity. Interested readers should check out this page, which includes a link to the full research article.

Illegal Aliens

USA Today is reporting that there are aliens causing problems along the USA-Mexico border...and it turns out they're actually talking about alien plants. "Carrizo cane" spreads so fast and grows so tall that it is being blamed for providing cover for drug dealers and people trying to cross into the US illegally. It took a lot of Googling to track down the true identity of "Carizo cane" - the common name is attributed to Arundo donax, but also sometimes to Phragmites australis, and to other grasses as well. Finally, at the Journal of Homeland Security, I found proof: it is Arundo donax, also known by the common name giant reed.

The Department of Homeland Security is paying the US Department of Agriculture $1.5 million to help manage the problem, and from the article it sounds like this involves tracking down a biological control in the plant's native Europe. I find this slightly amusing in light of the fact that it was just a few months ago that Florida businesses were calling for permission to cultivate "e-grass" - the very same Arundo donax. Gee, hope that biocontrol doesn't spread...

Tip of the virtual hat to Ryan Grim over at Slate.

On The Squids

We're going a little cryptic for today's special special cephalo-friendly post:

You'd think it would be news enough that they found a giant squid off the coast of the Florida Keys. Now The News-Press is reporting that the specimen has been identified as Asperoteuthis acanthoderma, until now known only from the Pacific Ocean. Is A. acanthoderma a new arrival in the Atlantic, or is that part of its native range? So few specimens have ever been found, biologists cannot say for sure. Perhaps we can all agree, however, that the last thing the Atlantic Ocean needs is a 25-foot-long invasive species of squid.

A certain 50-years-young someone had better be very appreciative of this silly squid story ;-). Those of you in a more serious mood may feast instead on these cryptic invaders:

• common reed (Phragmites australis)
• freshwater limpet (Ferrissia fragilis)
• Oriental gastropod (Melanoides tuberculata)
• red macroalgae (Gracilaria vermiculophylla)
• from yesterday's ISW post: reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)

The Grass Ring

The University of Vermont recently put out a press release called "Mellow in Europe, Crazy in America," about a paper by Sébastien Lavergne and Jane Molofsky. Their research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is an excellent comparison of the genetic diversity of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) in its native vs. introduced range. We just discussed this paper in my class last week and I have to say it is a very nice study. The authors demonstrate that repeated introductions of the grass from different parts of Europe gave it multiple opportunities for genetic recombination in the USA - in fact alleles that are found only in France or only in the Czech Republic are found together in the USA. The result has been an increase of genetic diversity in these introduced populations, and new genotypes that are not known in Europe. Introduced populations also displayed increased phenotypic variation, expressed in the development of a significantly greater number of tillers (vegetative reproduction via new shoots that grow from the base of a clump of grass), more leaf production and more overall above-ground biomass. The authors attribute these new phenotypes to the rapid spread of reed canarygrass in the USA.

The situation is complicated by the presence of what the authors term "pre-settlement populations" of reed canarygrass in the USA - the "Is it native?" conundrum. However, this study indicates that at least 85% of the genetic diversity of reed canarygrass in the USA is of European origin and it appears that the invasive phenotypes are likely European, similar to what was found with Phragmites.

If you're interested in learning more, there's a link to the full article in the press release.

A Real Cliffhanger

It's time for another "Your Punny Title Here!" contest. Come up with the best, punniest title for this post and you will win a 2007 Invasive Species Weblog Wall Calendar. One entry per person, leave a non-anonymous comment below...

Contest: Your Punny Title Here! IV - Update 3/12/2007: Congratulations to tom at Curly Tales of War Pigs for his winning entry, now installing at the title of this post. Unfortunately, tom must not want his super-snazzy, if now slightly outdated ISW calendar, because he has ignored my efforts to contact him. So the first person to leave a comment or to email me saying that s/he wants the calendar will get it, them's the rules.

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The Honolulu Advertiser says that volunteers in Oahu, Hawaii are finally reporting some success at managing the invasive plant known as bush beardgrass (Schizachyrium condensatum). Unfortunately, the grass is a wily invader, producing proliferous amounts of seed and often spreading onto steep cliffs that are difficult for the volunteers to climb. Native to tropical America, bush beardgrass was first discovered on Oahu back 2002, and can also be found on Kauai and the main island of Hawaii. The Oahu volunteers are hopeful but realistic about the prospects of eradicating it.

Fueling Around

Sounds like APM's Marketplace will be doing a piece about a Florida company that wants to grow the invasive grass Arundo donax as a biofuel. I say "sounds like" because I can find no evidence of it on the Marketplace website - minus two points to them, and minus 50 points if the report refers to the plant as "e-grass!"

When the story goes up online I will update this post with a link to the audio. Until then, your homework is to read these two previous ISW posts about farming the giant reed, and the recent statement by the Florida Native Plant Society about Arundo donax (hint: they don't like it!).

Update: Marketplace has posted a transcript along with a link to the audio of the report here. The piece did look at both sides of the issue, but was way too short to provide any real answers: the brush-off of people opposed to the project ("Citizens Opposed to Virtually Everything") was rude, and there was no questioning of the statement that ditch boundaries are an effective control (what happens when there is a flood...or hurricane-force winds?). At least only a passing reference was made to "e-grass" :-).

Weekend Blog Blogging

Some nice meaty posts about invasive species seen floating around the blogsphere this past week:

• Wayne over at the Niches blog posts about his efforts to eradicate Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) from his home in Georgia. This is his fourth year at it. He seems to be making some progress, but doesn't think he'll be done any time soon. Go Wayne! :-)
• bootstrap analysis blogged about the threat of carp entering the Great Lakes, and speaks out in support of the electric barrier that was once slated to be built in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
• Missed this when it first came out, but bootstrap analysis also posted about non-native earthworms in the midwestern U.S., back in August.

E-grass, I've had a few...

Seems the Sierra Club is not too happy about Florida's plans to farm giant reed (Arundo donax) for use as a biofuel, according to this story from the Palm Beach Post. If the Biomass Investment Group has its way, they'll be planting 15,000 acres of the grass, burning it to generate electricity, and then selling it to a local power company.

Setting aside the fact that whoever decided to start calling this plant "e-grass" needs a stern talking-to (grrrrrr, just look at B.I.G.'s URL), consider that it may not be the best thing for Florida to purposely introduce yet another invasive species there. California, which has also entertained proposals for using giant reed as a biofuel, has been dealing with invasions in the San Diego area for over a decade.

Thanks to Lynn M. for sending in an email about this story.

Weekend Blog Blogging

This past week in invasive species blogging:

• Patrick at Terrierman's Daily Dose blogs about the conflict between anti-pesticide groups and people trying to prevent plants invasions with herbicides.
• Chandle over at The fabulous Chandleous blogs about invasive plant removal work with Americorps.
• Ritaxi has an interesting story (with photos!) about an invasive grass that may be getting displaced by a native one.
• It's an invasive, but it's also a...daybed? Treehugger blogs about an odd-looking piece of furniture made from water hyacinth.

Reeding is Fundamental

As reported by Sign On San Diego, this week workers began clearing a swarth of giant reed (Arundo donax) that covers more than five miles of the San Luis Rey riverbed. Normally this type of removal project wouldn't be that newsworthy, but this project was stalled for more than 10 years! The reeds are so dense and populous that they act as a dam, and are considered an enormous flood hazard. Luckily, the permit hurdles and other barriers of bureaucracy were overcome before there was an actual flood. About $1.3 million has been allocated to the project so far, for the cleanup and an environmental impact report (there are two endangered bird species in the area). The Army Corps is also working on a flood control plan in the hopes of avoiding future problems. It was estimated that if a disaster had occurred it would have cost California $180 million in damages.

Raising Canes

At first glance, this looks like a nice story about a pulp mill trying to make good use of a nasty invasive plant. Unfortunately, it turns out that Samoa Pacific Cellulose (SPC), which started shipping giant reed (giant cane, Arundo donax) after wood chips and demand for them both became scarce, can't make a decent profit from buying the grass that's collected in small batches from infested sites across the country. The company's idea is to farm the stuff, planting 5000 acres of it in Central Valley, California. Luckily for this part of California, giant reed doesn't seem to grow very well there (for now), and though this is frustrating for SPC, it does mean that the chance of the species becoming invasive there is lessened. Still, there is concern about the potential for the species to spread to wetlands from the site where it will be planted or during transport. SPC is marketing the pulp under the trade name "Samoa cane," which they insist is proprietary. The grass yields short fibers that can be used for products like tissue paper, and because the pulp is wood-free, it may command a higher price in U.S. markets as well as overseas.

Very Very Vetiver

Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), native to Thailand, is often planted there to combat soil erosion. According to this article in the Bangkok Post, entrepreneurs in the country have begun to manufacture furniture and other items from the grass, and see its potential as a timber substitute. In the search for the best type of Vetiver grass for every situation, Thailand has also imported many ecotypes of this species from all over Asia, including India and Japan. Since this grass is already known to be weedy, will the foreign ecotypes lead to the development of an invasive species? Vetiver grass is also planted for erosion control in South Africa, and possibly in Mexico as well.

Invasive Plants non grata in San Diego

A member of the Yahoo! newsgroup ma-eppc posted a reference to this article about a proposal by the San Diego City Council to "ban the sale, distribution and cultivation" of four well-known invasive plant species: Pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata), Tamarisk (Tamarix sp.), Giant reed (Arundo donax) and German ivy (Delairea odorata or Senecio mikanioides) (Would have been be nice to have the scientific names in the article!). The proposal is similar to the restrictions put into place by Palm Beach County, Florida. The minutes of the Council meeting may eventually posted here.