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South Texas Wildlife SOUTH TEXAS WILDLIFE J. R. THOMASSON A publication of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Spring 2012 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville Volume 16, No. 1 must initially focus on removing existing plants, it is equally impor- tant to reduce the exotic grass seed- banks on these sites for any hope of treatment longevity. We have observed 2 strategies that work well to address exotic grass seedbanks in addition to stan- dard disking treatments. One is adding moldboard plowing to the regime, which buries a large por- tion of the exotic grass seedbank to depths where it will not readily germinate. The second is killing emerging exotic grass seedlings fol- lowing several germination (rainfall) events after initial disking/plowing with well timed glyphosate herbicide Restored Native Pasture © Forrest Smith applications or shallow cultivations. A combination of these 2 treatments in many situations works best to sup- IMPROVING EXOTIC GRASS effective at promoting an immediate press the exotic grass seedbank and DOMINATED HABITATS seasonal response of native forbs, prevent quick reinvasion of these these efforts generally have poor sites by exotic grasses. by Forrest Smith longevity. Often, exotic grasses Beyond controlling exotic grass reinvade and again dominate these seedbanks, the second tenant of a Research at the CKWRI has sites within a few months to a year. successful strategy is to lengthen the consistently documented lower While eliminating exotic grasses native plant diversity in exotic grass and establishing native plant com- This Issue dominated habitats. Throughout munities in their place have proven Improving Grassland Habitats... 1 South Texas, disking exotic grass difficult with current management monocultures is commonly used options, our research indicates added By The Numbers....................... 2 to improve native plant abundance effort to standard disking applica- CKWRI News........................... 2 for wildlife. On some ranches, as tions will greatly increase treatment Did You Know?......................... 3 much as 5 to 20% of the acreage life and benefit wildlife. is annually disked. While usually Decades of exotic grass domi- Student Ecology Camp.............. 3 nance on many sites have resulted What Do They Eat?................... 4 Editor’s Note: Forrest Smith is Project Coordinator in considerable seedbanks of these for South Texas Natives and Texas Native Seeds at Advisory Board.......................... 4 the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. plants. While exotic grass control 1 By The Numbers CKWRI NEWS 10 number of Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners CKWRI Shines at the TCTWS Conference 2,700,000 number of wing beats a hummingbird makes when it flies nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico from the U.S. CKWRI was well represented to Mexico (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) at the 48th Annual Conference of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife productive window of strip disking, forb communities than do similarly Society (TCTWS) held February which centers on establishing native dense exotic grass stands. We 23–25 in Fort Worth, Texas. Of the plant cover that competes with rein- recommend that these competitive 150 scientific presentations at the vading exotic grasses. Often, this native grasses comprise more than conference, 49 (33%) were authored may require reseeding as seedbanks 50% of any seed mix being planted or coauthored by CKWRI scientists, in exotic grass dominated areas lack in areas formerly dominated by graduate students, and undergradu- sufficient densities of competitive exotic grasses. Other native grasses ate students. native plant seeds. In the course of and forbs should make up the bal- Two CKWRI scientists were conducting more than 40 planting ance of the seed mix. recognized for their professional experiments in South Texas over Improving exotic grass domi- accomplishments. Dr. David Hewitt the past few years, we have identi- nated areas for wildlife is not easy. fied several native grasses that have But, in a number of settings, we the ability to rapidly establish and have documented lasting benefits compete with reinvading exotic to plant diversity more than 5 years grasses. Slender grama, shortspike after application of these kinds of and hooded windmillgrasses, pink treatments. Considering the time, and whiplash pappusgrasses, and cost requirements, and the neces- Arizona cottontop demonstrate sity of annual re-disking to promote the best adaptations for this use. plant diversity without such efforts, Commercial seed releases of these adding exotic grass seedbank deple- TCTWS file photo grasses are now available. tion and reseeding to standard strip Dr. David Hewitt (right), CKWRI’s We have also seen strong evi- disking may also prove to be a cost- Stuart W. Stedman Chair for White- tailed Deer Research, being presented dence that stands of these native effective alternative to consider. ~ with the Outstanding Book Award by grasses support much greater native Alan Cain, President of the Texas Chap- ter of The Wildlife Society. received the Outstanding Book Award for his editorship of Biology and Management of White-tailed Deer, which was released in 2011 by CRC Press. Dr. Charles DeYoung received the prestigious Honorary Life Member Award in recognition of his lifelong service to the wildlife profession including his contribu- tions to teaching and research at Texas A&M University-Kingsville spanning several decades. The Outstanding Scientific Arti- cle Award was presented to Drs. Stephen DeMaso, Fidel Hernán- dez, Leonard Brennan, and Fred Bryant from CKWRI and Drs. © Forrest Smith William Grant, Nova Silvy, and X. Compare the native forb abundance of the restored, native grass dominated habitats Ben Wu from Texas A&M Univer- (left) with stands of exotic grasses on similar soils (right, top-bottom: Kleberg bluestem, sity, College Station for their article buffelgrass). Our research indicates that establishment of native grasses can help limit exotic grass reinvasion, while increasing forb abundance that will benefit wildlife. entitled A Population Model to 2 SHOULD Wii GO TO To determine if campers gained ECOLOGY CAMP? wildlife knowledge, they were given a pre-test before the camp, a post test by Scott E. Henke immediately at the conclusion of the camp, and again at 3 months after the Did you ever wonder how ani- camp ended. A total of 123 children mals got their names? Or how participated in the camps during the certain species got to the United summer of 2011. Prior to camp, kids States? What if you got lost in the had a cursory knowledge of their TCTWS file photo wilderness, could you find your way environment. Average overall score Alan Cain (left), President of the Texas home? If you came across tracks or on the pre-test was 35 out of 100. Chapter of The Wildlife Society, present- scat, could you identify the animal Overall score on the immediate post ing the Outstanding Scientific Article Award to (left-right) Drs. Fidel Hernán- that left them? test and 3-month post test improved dez, Leonard Brennan, Nova Silvy, and You could if you attended the to 90 and 76, respectively. Provid- Fred Bryant. Ecology Camp sponsored by Flint ing hands-on experience and fun Hills Resources (FHR) and the Texas stories was the catalyst required to Simulate Northern Bobwhite Popu- State Aquarium. Every summer for make kids enthusiastic about learn- lation Dynamics in Southern Texas, the past 5 years, I have conducted ing wildlife ecology. which was published in the Journal an ecology camp for youths on the Below are several examples of of Wildlife Management in 2011. Wildlife Preserve of FHR property what you would learn at the Ecology CKWRI graduate student Eric in Corpus Christi, Texas. The camp Camp. Try the quiz and test your Grahmann scored big, receiving the was developed to promote outdoor knowledge skills. Dan Boone Scholarship, 1st Place skills and environmental education. Award for best poster presentation, In the past, kids would roam in 1. How did this and 1st Place Best of Show in the the woods, climb trees, and explore bird come their environment. They would learn to live in the outdoor skills as a Boy Scout or go United States? camping. Unfortunately, the days Courtesy of Joseph Valks of hiking and exploring like in ‘Old Yeller’ seem to be a thing of the past. 2. How did this Today’s youth are more in tune with animal get technology and virtual reality than its common actual reality. name? As a way to offset the lack of out- © David Hewitt door education, 1-day ecology camps TCTWS file photo for junior high and high school-aged 3. What made this kids are conducted each week during track? Hint: the CKWRI graduate student Eric Grah- mann (left) receiving 1 of his 3 awards the summer. Participants learn track is about 1 from Alan Cain, President of the Texas about wildlife, habitat requirements, 1/4” wide x 1 Chapter of The Wildlife Society. animal behavior, animal sign, and 1/2” long. wildlife history. They also learn © Kim A. Cabrera photo and art contest. Graduate stu- orienteering, trapping, and animal Here are the answers. dents also recognized were Steven immobilization techniques. 1. The bird is a European Starling Goertz, who placed 2nd in the and was deliberately introduced Editor’s Note: Dr. Scott Henke is a Research graduate poster contest and William Scientist at CKWRI and Regents Professor and into the United States. You would Colson, who placed 2nd in the photo Department Chair of Animal, Rangeland, and think that because a species was Wildlife Sciences at Texas A&M University- and art contest in the work related Kingsville. intentionally introduced, there photo category. Our hats are off to those repre- Did You Know? senting CKWRI at the TCTWS con- Monarch butterflies migrate from the central and northeastern ference and congratulate those that United States and Canada to the fir forests in the central mountains were recognized for their efforts.
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