Spartina densiflora in SW Iberian Peninsula: Ongoing Ecological Research and Applications for Salt Marsh Restoration
Humboldt Bay – June 2010 ‘Conrades on Spartina densiflora’ CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB FIGHTING SPARTINA INVASIONS!!!
(However in some places we have a long way to walk…)
(… and in other places we need to start walking…) S. densiflora x foliosa in SF Bay, CA, USA S. densiflora x maritima in SW Iberian Peninsula Spartina densiflora in Andalusia: a species with a wide ecological range.
!
Guadalquivir Marshes, Cádiz, SW Iberian Peninsula Plant communities invaded by Spartina densiflora in SW Iberian Peninsula.
Leñosas de marisma alta
Mares de Spartina densiflora
Quenopodiáceas y otras leñosas
Spartina densiflora Pastizal de cubetas Elevation con quenopodiáceas hipersalinas
Cabecera de caños
Sarcocornia perennis y Halimione portulacoides en bordes de marisma
Spartina maritima sobre fangos no consolidados - + Flooding period The most affected plants by Spartina densiflora invasion in Andalusia are rare middle marsh species.
Middle marsh in Piedras Marshes, Huelva, SW Iberian Peninsula Inula crithmoides
Artemisia chritmfolia Suaeda maritima Triglochin barrelieri
Aster tripolium
Limonium sp.
Frankenia sp. Puccinelia sp. Middle marsh in Humboldt Bay, California, USA Perennial population
Biennial population (ecotypes or phenotipyc plasticity??)
Lower distribution limit of Spartina densiflora Spartina densiflora –> 1.46 m SHZ
Spartina maritima –> 1.41 m / 1.57 m SHZ
Transplant experiment in Odiel Marshes, SW Spain Spartina densiflora along North America West Coast: a narrower ecological range than in the Iberian Peninsula?
?
Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor, Washington, USA A key-point to fight Spartina densiflora invasion: well-conservated native salt marsh communities.
Distichlis spicata
Spartina densiflora
High marsh in Humboldt Bay, California, USA Spartina maritima in Odiel Marshes, SW Iberian Peninsula Experiment of competition between Spartina densiflora and S. maritima in Odiel Marshes, SW Iberian Peninsula Salt marshes and Global Warming
Zostera noltii transplant Removing Spartina densiflora Spartina maritima as a biotool
Microhabitats diversification after S. densiflora removal (terrestrialization) Impacts of S. densiflora invasion on animal communities
MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates
H' Hmax J 2,0 a D a
1,5 b a a
1,0 b a a a a a 0,5 a
0,0 Marisma restaurada Marisma degradada Marisma conservada Regional/national erradication
? Spartina densiflora along West Huelva Coast Spartina densiflora in Guadiana estuary Early detection networks: brackish, middle and sandy marshes closed by river and bay mouths, and disburted marshes, at least every two years.
Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor, Washington, USA Spartina densiflora establishment.
Some very fresh results. Seed bank?
Germination in darkness.
Spartina densiflora growing together with Atriplex portulacoides in a middle marsh in SW Iberian Peninsula
Sand burrial and S. densiflora establishment
120
100
80
60
40
20 Seedling emergence(%) Seedling 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 Germination rate (%) 140
120
100
80
60
40
20 Seedling suvivorship (%) suvivorship Seedling 0
40
30
20
10 Days to fist emergence fist to Days
0 Spartina densiflora 40 Atriplex portulacoides
30
20
10 Germination rate (%) rate Germination
0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor, Washington, USA Depth (cm) Permanent flooding and S. densiflora establishment
Sánchez Marsh, San Francisco Bay, CA, USA Permanent flooding and S. densiflora establishment
80 Germ.% Emer.%
60
% 40
20
0 0 2 4 6 8 Depth (cm) Wrack burrial and S. densiflora establishment
Humboldt Bay, CA, USA Wrack burrial and S. densiflora establishment
120
Germination rate Emergence rate 100
80
% 60
40
20
0 0 2 4 6 8 80 First dormancy Second dormancy
60
% 40
20
0 0 2 4 6 8 Depth
Allelopathic effects??? Glicophytes and S. densiflora establishment
Humboldt Bay, CA, USA Experiment of competition between Spartina densiflora and the glycophytes Phragmites australis and Typha dominguensis. How do ‘Spartina densiflora seas’ develop??
How can we erradicate them???
Guadiana Marshes, Huelva, SW Iberian Peninsula ‘Spartina seas’ formation:
Gradual or fast process??
Disturbances: fires, river runoffs, human-mediated disturbances, etc.
Tinto Marshes, Huelva, SW Iberian Peninsula Fighting ‘Spartina seas’
Flooding, re-burning, cattle, herbicides and/or moving…
Odiel Marshes, Huelva, SW Iberian Peninsula ¡GRACIAS!
Volunteers fighting S. densiflora in Odiel Marshes