The Montana based non-profit, Working Dogs for Conservation, http://www.workingdogsforconservation.org/, trains dogs to sniff out invasive plants. The dogs can sniff out at least 5 species, including Dyer’s Woad (Isatis tinctoria). Their noses are especially useful in detecting small populations of plants in rough country. Other work for the dogs includes tracking elusive wildife for scientific studies, and finding invasive animals like introduced snails in Hawaii.
A study in Missouri woodlands demonstrated that amphibian species richness (numbers of species) and evenness (relative distribution of species) declined in plots dominated by burning bush, Euonymus alatus. The decline was attributable to a cooler microclimate under burning bush. The cooler temperatures did seem to favor the green frog, but the authors noted that the shrubs might also limit the mobility of the frogs making them more vulnerable to predators.
Watling, J. I., C.R. Hickman, J. L. Orrock. 2011. Invasive shrub alters native forest amphibian communities. Biological Conservation 144: 2597-2601.
The University of Florida IFAS Extension has published a revised edition of “Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida” by K. A. Langeland, J. A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G. E. MacDonald, and R. K. Stocker (SP 242). This book covers management of non-native plants growing in Florida, but not identification. The authors recommend Langeland, K. A. and Craddock Burks, 2008. “Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas” (SP 257) for identification.
Both books are availaable to purchase from http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/c-103-invasive-and-non-native-plants.aspx. The management publication can be downloaded from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg209 and the identification guide can be downloaded from http://www.fleppc.org/ID_book.htm
A new cultivar will be seedless
Researchers at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have painstakingly developed a sterile triploid cultivar of Euonymus alatus, winged burning bush. This ever-popular landscape plant has created dense thickets when it escapes into forests. The process for developing the sterile cultivar is being patented by the researchers and the University of Connecticut. It will take several years before the sterile plants are available at a nursery near you. Sales of burning bush currently reach $38 million/year in the U.S.
Thammina et al. 2011. In vitro regeration of triploid plants of Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ (burning bush) from endosperm tissues. HortScience 46:1141-1147.
http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2011/08/uconn-scientist-develops-sterile-variety-of-invasive-plant-2/
Two moths have passed a major test towards becoming approved biocontrol agents for swallow-wort vines (Vincetoxicum spp.). Swallow-wort is related to milkweeds, but these moth larvae appear to specialize on swallow-wort and don’t touch native milkweeds.
http://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/publications/ipm-insights/swallow-wort-biocontrols-pass-test/
Two University of Minnesota researchers propose that the rapid spread of Phragmites australis around urban areas could be responsible for high levels of allergenic pollen. Currently most people are simply tested for allergies to grass pollen without differentiating different species of grasses, but since Phragmites pollen is a distinctive size, the authors propose setting up pollen traps to see how abundant the pollen is compared to other grass pollens. More than 90 million people could live close to large stands of Phragmites in the U.S.
Schimpf, D. J. and White, N. A. 2011. Did Cryptic Invasion of North America by Common Reed Change Exposure to Pollen Allergens? University of Minnesota Duluth Occasional Papers. http://d-commons.d.umn.edu:8180/jspui/handle/10792/135
The current issue of Weed Science (vol. 59 issue 3) includes several articles on the growing resistance of agricultural weeds to herbicides. Several plant species show resistance to glyphosate, commonly used in invasive plant control. Some agricultural weeds can become invasive in natural areas and if they develop glyphosate resistance alternative control techniques will have to be used.
Two Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station researchers have been spending a lot of time among the barberry. One frequently cited study of theirs links the prevalence of Lyme-disease carrying ticks with Japanese barberry infestations. Another study discusses control techniques including herbicides and propane torches.
Williams, S.C. et al. 2009. Managing Japanese barberry (Ranunculales: Berberidaceae) infestations reduces blacklegged tick (Acari: Ixodidae) abundance and infection prevalence with Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae). Environmental Entomology 38(4): 977-984.
Ward, J. S. et al. 2009. Controlling Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC) in southern New England, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 257(2):561-566.
