Urospermum Picroides on the Move 4 the Cost of Inaction 6 State Funding to Local Projects 7 New Planning Guide 7 2019 Cal-Ipc

Newsletter of the California Invasive Plant Council

Urospermum picroides on the move 4 The cost of inaction 6 State funding to local projects 7 New planning guide 7 2019 Cal-IPC Symposium in photos 8 Herbicide effects on soil 10 Indigenous land management 12

Volume 27 Number 3 WINTER 2019/2020 From the Director’s Desk On the train

By Executive Director Doug Johnson

mtrak’s Capitol Corridor is my ride a thriving botanic gallery, native and 1442-A Walnut Street, #462 from Berkeley to Sacramento. non-native alike, toyon next to fennel, Berkeley, CA 94709 Usually I’m headed there to all testaments to the opportunism and ph (510) 843-3902 fax (510) 217-3500 A cal‑ipc.org info@cal‑ipc.org advocate for county Weed Management vitality of vegetation in our disturbed Area (WMA) funding. But now we have landscape. Then we cut east across Protecting California’s environment and WMA funding and I’m getting off the Suisun Marsh (“largest brackish water economy from invasive plants train in Vacaville for a meeting of the marsh on the west coast” according to STAFF Solano County WMA. Recent weeks Wikipedia), bringing visions of a Central Doug Johnson, Executive Director have also taken me to meetings of the Valley before dams, when the Sierra Jutta Burger, Science Program Director San Mateo and San Francisco county spilled its snowmelt freely into wetlands Agustín Luna, Director of Finance, Operations & Administration WMAs and it’s satisfying to see partners supporting vast clouds of waterfowl. Bertha McKinley, Program Assistant reconvene with purpose. Not everyone looks at the California Claire F. Meyler, Communications & Marketing Manager Along the East Bay shoreline between around them and sees what it was only a Dana Morawitz, Conservation Program Manager Richmond and Martinez we pass few centuries ago. “Nature’s doing OK,” Alene Spindel, Training Program Associate mudflats barely visible through the early someone said to me recently. (This was BOARD OF DIRECTORS morning fog. We’re paced by a squadron part of their rationale for why it was not President: Laura Pavliscak, Santa Clara River Conservancy Vice-President: Drew Kerr, Invasive Spartina Project of cormorants; didn’t know they could important to use herbicides as part of an Treasurer: Jason Giessow, Dendra, Inc. fly that fast. The sunrise breaks through IPM approach for controlling invasive Secretary: Julia Parish, American Conservation Experience under the Carquinez Straits bridge. I plants.) We need to remind our friends, Past President: Gina Darin, Cal. Dept. of Water Resources Doug Gibson, Nature Collective think of the hardy Invasive Spartina family and colleagues that there is a Sarah Godfrey, Center for Natural Land Management Project team that heads out before dawn global biodiversity crisis and we are Marla Knight, Klamath National Forest (retired) to catch the right tide for cordgrass responsible for caring for one of Earth’s Tanya Meyer, Yolo County Resource Conservation District treatment or Ridgeway’s Rail counts. biodiversity hotspots. LeeAnne Mila, El Dorado Co. Ag. Dept. Julia Parish, American Conservation Experience They see the bay up close and personal Next stop, Fairfield/Vacaville. Time to Juli Matos, National Park Service in a way few of us do. get off the train and go be inspired by Steve Schoenig, Schoenig Consulting The railroad right-of-way presents another WMA group! Baldeo Singh, Sacramento Conservation Corps Amanda Swanson, Newport Bay Conservancy Marcos Trinidad, Audubon Center at Debs Park On the cover: swampers cutting and removing debris, and two Crews from Sage Environmental Group removed applicators treating stumps with herbicide (diluted STUDENT LIAISON Canary Island St. Johnswort (Hypericum Garlon 4 Ultra with a penetrant applied with Katherine Brafford, UC Davis canariense) on City of Laguna Beach property handheld Birchmeier spray bottles). An electric Robert Fitch, UC Santa Barbara with match funding from the Natural chainsaw reduced noise, creating less disturbance Clarissa Rodriguez, UC Riverside Communities Coalition through the Laguna for nearby residents and allowing work during Noah Teller, UC Riverside Canyon Foundation. the city’s quiet Affiliations for identification purposes only. The Orange County hours. A climbing Chapter of the rope was run from Cal‑IPC Dispatch California Native temporary anchors Winter 2019/2020 – Vol. 27, No. 3 Plant Society (our to aid movement on Editor: Doug Johnson 2019 Organization of the steep slope. The Associate Editor: Claire F. Meyler inset photo shows Designed by Melanie Haage the Year) identified and prioritized the a partially treated Published by the California Invasive Plant Council. Articles spreading population, stand. Follow-up may be reprinted with permission. Previous issues are treatment the next archived at cal‑ipc.org. Mention of commercial products making this an does not imply endorsement by Cal‑IPC. Submissions are excellent example of year controlled welcome. We reserve the right to edit content. collaborative early new seedlings, detection and rapid occasional crown response. Crews sprouts, and missed Follow us: included a sawyer, Photos courtesy of Sage Environmental Group and plants. followed by two Laguna Canyon Foundation.

2 Winter 2019/2020 | Dispatch cal-ipc.org Wildland Weed News

Cal‑IPC Updates expanding species that track human- the induced environmental change” in “Saving 2019 Cal-IPC Symposium – More than BioScience, addressing the conservation America’s Biodi- 350 attendees came to Riverside to share status of native species that expand their versity and the Wildlife the latest in ecology and management. range into new areas because of Corridors Conservation Act” is Presentations are now online at cal-ipc. anthropogenic disturbance. intended to facilitate designation org/symposiaarchive. Article page 8. of wildlife corridors and fund their Community science – The Audubon Jones by Ryan Illustration Statewide WMA meeting – Reps from Society avoids using the term “citizen conservation. Both bills build on the 23 WMAs attended the statewide meeting science” as part of their effort to make 2019 report on biodiversity decline by the before the Symposium. We are working the conservation field more inclusive. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform with WMAs as they prepare for a new www.audubon.org/about/equity- on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. round of grants. The California Dept. of diversity-and-inclusion-audubon. Wetland weeds – A University of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) plans to release Illinois study examined two decades of the first round of new grants in early 2020. Tansy Games – In the first annual contest Del Norte County named Craig data on dominant wetland plants, both New planning guide – Cal-IPC and the Strong its winner for bringing in 1,540 native and non-native, finding that US Fish & Wildlife Service released a guide pounds of tansy ragwort. Overall, 16 non-native plants reduced biodiversity on planning your organization’s invasive teams brought in nearly 10,000 pounds more. Ecology Letters. plant management. Article page 7. for free disposal by Spartina partner – Cal-IPC is now a the county. funded partner in moving the Coastal Delta Symposium Conservancy’s Invasive Spartina Project – Videos of talks are forward, working to remove stands of available online for hybrid cordgrass from San Francisco Bay the 2019 Delta tidal marshes. Invasive Species Symposium focusing Cape-ivy biocontrol – After years of this year on remote study and permitting, USDA ARS research- sensing applications ers are beginning to see evidence (new for management. field galls) that the South African Cape-ivy galling fly is becoming established at Change is hard several locations where it’s been released – New Zealand along California’s coast. Another Cape-ivy professor Edy biocontrol agent, a leaf-mining moth, is MacDonald spoke in still in the federal permitting process. Sacramento as part of the California Riparian workshop – Cal-IPC spon- Dept. of Fish & Congratulations to the 2019 Cal-IPC Photo Contest Winner, Julia Parish, for sored the riparian restoration workshop her picture of an American Conservation Experience worker hauling Arundo. Wildlife’s Take pictures now for the 2020 contest! held by RiversEdge West in Palm Desert, Conservation their first in California. Presentations are Lecture Series, The campaign to posted on their website. discussing the role of behavioral science Habitatittude – address pet-owner awareness of invasive in stopping biodiversity declines. A video Other News species, has been re-launched with Tree pest threat – A study from Purdue of the talk can be found on CDFW’s YouTube channel. support from the pet industry and federal University and the US Forest Service wildlife agencies. estimates that 41% of the live forest Forb restoration – An online book at biomass in the US is at risk of future loss greatbasinfirescience.org has profiles on Your Membership from 15 top nonnative insects and diseases. 18 forbs (with plans for five times that Thank you for keeping your (“Biomass losses resulting from insect and many) describing their use in restoration. membership current. Note that your disease invasions in US forests” in Proceed- A “revegetation catalog” is also available. ings of the National Academy of Sciences.) expiration date is shown on the mailing Federal wildlife bills – The “Recover- label of this newsletter. Cal-IPC’s Neonatives – An international team of ing America’s Wildlife Act” will increase success in meeting its mission depends invasive species researchers published federal funding to states for implementa- on your vital support. “A conceptual framework for range- tion of their wildlife action plans, while

cal-ipc.org Dispatch | Winter 2019/2020 3 A weed on the move: Community scientists use iNaturalist to map the distribution of Urospermum picroides

C. Matt Guilliams, Kristen Hasenstab-Lehman, and Adam J. Searcy, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Department of Conservation and Research

n 2019, the non-native plant Superficial similarity to these Urospermum picroides (L.) F.W. species may have served to mask ISchmidt (Asteraceae), com- the spread of U. picroides, but two monly known as prickly golden- sets of morphological characters fleece, went from here-and-there can be used in the field to easily to everywhere in the City of Santa distinguish U. picroides from all Barbara. Although localized other Asteraceae in western North expansion in Santa Barbara has America (and in fact, the world). been documented since the 1970s, Identifying Urospermum in the species appears to have rapidly the field expanded its non-native range in Urospermum Scop. is a distinctive western North America as well as genus of only two species in the deepened its foothold in areas Lateral view of heads of (left) Urospermum picroides showing single Tribe Cichorieae. The two species where it already occurred. When row of phyllaries and swollen receptacle and (right) of Sonchus — U. dalechampii Scop. and U. this seemingly sudden shift in oleraceus, showing multiple rows of phyllaries. Photos: Adam Searcy picroides — are native to the range and density was detected Mediterranean Region. The former in early 2019, a community science data colleagues began to take note of the is a perennial herb with reportedly narrow gathering project was launched through species in Santa Barbara in 2017. Between habitat requirements; it has not expanded the iNaturalist platform to document the 2017 and 2018, we found the plant beyond its native range in historical times species’ current distribution and to sporadically occurring in low densities, (except in Tasmania). The latter is an increase public awareness of this hereto- often in disturbed settings such as road- annual herb with somewhat broad habitat fore mild-mannered plant of the Mediter- sides, vacant lots, and occasionally requirements and weedy tendencies; ranean region. trailsides near busy trailheads. In our outside of its native range, it has been experience, the species often co-occurred History of U. picroides detected in North America, South Ameri- with other non-native Asteraceae like The earliest documentation of U. picroides ca, South Africa, and Australia. Both common sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus), in North America is an herbarium specimen Urospermum species are distinctive in bristly oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioi- gathered on the campus of the University having liguliflorous heads (heads of des), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), and of California, Berkeley in 1915 by Harvey flowers with 5-lobed, “strap-shaped” rough cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris radicata). Monroe Hall (s.n.; Carter 1960). The same corollas) and only a single series of population was later collected by Herbert phyllaries (reduced leaf-like structures that Mason (s.n.) in 1943 and by Annetta form one or more whorls immediately Carter in 1960 (4109). A second center of below a flower head) that are fused at distribution in California was documented their bases and are of approximately the with a collection by Clifton Smith (8655) in same length. Santa Barbara in 1965. A third center of There are a few differences in the distribution was documented in Butte flowerheads of U. picroides and its local County with collections by Lowell Ahart weedy look-alike, common sowthistle, beginning in 1985. In 2008, this species Sonchus oleraceus. Urospermum has a was highlighted in a Cal-IPC Weed Alert conspicuous, single row of phyllaries and a presentation as a potential species of somewhat swollen receptacle, or flower concern. Cal-IPC subsequently reviewed head base. The flower head is typically the species but did not include in the armed with thick hairs but can also be Inventory because of insufficient informa- Lateral view of fruits of Urospermum picroides hairless. Sonchus oleraceus has multiple tion about its invasiveness and spread. showing ‘tails’ at fruit apex above flattened fruit series of phyllaries that are unfused and of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden staff and body. Photo: Matt Guilliams uneven lengths. These differences in the

4 Winter 2019/2020 | Dispatch cal-ipc.org Maps from iNaturalist showing observations of Urospermum picroides prior to (left) and after (right) project initiation. phyllaries alone are sufficient to distin- observations, a 4 to 5-fold increase in the patches. With greater awareness in future guish between Urospermum and nearly all number of georeferenced data points for years, it will be possible to re-evaluate other weedy Cichorieae in California. this species. As we suspected, the North prevalence and rates of spread to more A second character pertains to the fruits American range of U. picroides was not accurately assess the potential invasive- and is unique to Urospermum in the accurately represented by herbarium ness of this species. Finally, while speci- Asteraceae globally. A hint is embedded in specimens. mens in natural history collections such as the name Urospermum, which derives Through the iNaturalist project, users herbaria remain the gold standard of from the Greek ‘uro-’ meaning tail, and have documented many dozens of new documentation, we are excited about new ‘-sperma’ meaning seed. The fruits of localities, two new county records (Marin tools like iNaturalist and Calflora that can both species have a hollow ‘tail’ at the and San Luis Obispo counties), and one greatly accelerate data acquisition and fruit tip. This distinctive tail is walled off new country record (México). Potential accessibility. Stay tuned for the iNaturalist from the chamber containing the seed. range expansion aside, iNaturalist users 2020 California Urospermum Challenge! Combining the phyllary and fruit charac- also documented what appears to be ters, the genus Urospermum can be increased densities within the known Reference confidently identified anywhere on earth. range of the species, both in the San Carter A. 1960. News and Notes. Madroño 15(7); 222-224. Francisco Bay Area and Santa Present-day distribution Barbara/Ventura counties. Urosper- We detected an increase in prevalence of mum picroides has not been U. picroides in Santa Barbara in early documented in Butte County since spring 2019 and launched an iNaturalist 2003, so it is not possible to know if project to better understand its current the species’ range is expanding distribution and to increase public aware- there or if it has disappeared. ness (www.inaturalist.org/projects/2019- While U. picroides appears to be california-urospermum-challenge). When becoming more common in western the project was initiated, the species’ North America, it is still not yet clear North American range could be inferred whether the species will become a from only 48 unique collection events in problematic weed here. We ob- herbaria and 25 observations on iNatural- served some roadside locations with ist. Between March 2019 and the present, high plant densities, but in many High-density roadside population of Urospermum 51 iNaturalist users have made 335 new locations, plants remain in isolated picroides in Santa Barbara. Photo: Matt Guilliams

cal-ipc.org Dispatch | Winter 2019/2020 5 The cost of inaction: An example from the Toutle River

raditionally, funding The modeling can also help programs for weed estimate the financial ben- Tmanagement have efits of acting quickly when a used “acres of weeds small infestation has potential treated” as a quantitative to spread. For instance, the gauge of benefits. There are Toutle River, which drains multiple problems with this from Mt. St. Helens, has a as a metric when used relatively small infestation of outside an agricultural knotweed. WSDA estimates setting. It assumes that that it would cost about more area treated is better $3,400 to control now, but if and that treatment itself is it is allowed to spread to an end goal. nearby suitable habitat in the The goal of a wildland watershed costs jump to weed management is to $150,000. cost-effectively reduce Increased cost can be a environmental impacts from proxy for increased impacts, MaxEnt modeling output shows potential knotweed expansion in the Toutle invasive plants. While River watershed. Map from WSDA. and dollars make a useful certain sites may require metric given that environ- yearly maintenance efforts mental benefits are difficult to protect valuable conservation targets One approach can be to quantify the to quantify. Ideally, one has access to (for instance, habitat for a listed species), cost of inaction. This can also be framed economic impact figures as well. In 2017, projects with a start and an end aim to as “acres protected from future weed the State of Washington released an reach a new stable situation. The goal spread.” Here is an example from the assessment of the economic impact of may be to remove invasive plants from Pacific Northwest. invasive species, estimating direct and an area and have native vegetation fill in indirect impacts at $1.3 billion annually the gaps. Or the goal may be to remove Knotweed on the Toutle River based on 23 species, including $4.5 a population of an invasive plant species Salmon recovery is a big focus in the million from knotweed. (The report is before it spreads. Funding programs region, for both environmental and available on the website of the Washing- need to develop appropriate metrics for economic reasons. Invasive knotweed is ton Invasive Species Council. See also better gauging the benefits of such a threat to riparian habitat restoration Greg Haubrich’s 2018 presentation in the projects. for salmon recovery. Controlling knot- Symposium archives on our website.) weed across the state is led by the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture Being strategic (WSDA). Land managers need strong approaches WSDA used MaxEnt modeling soft- to assessing the effectiveness and ware to predict places where knotweed benefits of projects. How strategic is the is likely to thrive. The model uses current project? How does it leverage resources knotweed locations plus data on envi- to achieve sustainable conservation ronmental factors such as elevation, outcomes? Laying out the rationale for rainfall, and soils. This helps them invasive plant removal in terms of finite determine locations where knotweed is investment to achieve long-term benefits most likely to spread aggressively and to wildlife, water, recreation, fire safety impact salmon habitat restoration sites. or agricultural production is essential for These locations can be prioritized as a demonstrating the value of such work to focus for using their limited resources for decision-makers and funders. Dense stems of invasive knotweed. Photo WSDA. controlling knotweed.

6 Winter 2019/2020 | Dispatch cal-ipc.org New state funding flows to county projects

tate grants, 31 in all, have been sesbania (Sesbania punicea), Ward’s weed (Carichterra annua), made to counties for invasive Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis Splant management projects pes-caprae), jubatagrass (Cortaderia jubata), puncturevine (Tribu- using $2 million dollars in funding lus terrestris), perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), and secured by Cal-IPC in 2018 via AB2470 common reed (Phragmites australis). (Grayson). Funding came through the The new funding also allowed CDFA to provide a grant to the California Dept. of Food & Agriculture California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CDFA). Projects cover 22 of California’s (CANGC) to manage the PlantRight partnership over the 58 counties. Recipients included 11 County next two years. PlantRight works to prevent the spread Agricultural Commissioners’ offices (CACs), of invasive plants through horticulture. CANGC will seven Resource Conservation Districts be taking over for the San Francisco-based (RCDs), and two park districts (some entities nonprofit Sustainable Conservation, which received multiple grants). The map shows how stewarded the program since 2015. many grants were awarded to each county. Cal-IPC’s advocacy this year was Most projects are treatment-based, but many also successful in securing additional include mapping and inventory. One focuses on using a funding for weed management. drone for treating invasive plants in hard-to-reach marsh The state’s 2019 budget, which areas. Some of the species targeted include purple starthis- began July 1, puts $3 million into tle (Centaurea calcitrapa), artichoke thistle (Cynara carduncu- CDFA’s Noxious Weed Manage- lus), giant reed (Arundo donax), goatsrue (Galega officinalis), ment Account. This will be used knotweed (Fallopia japonica), tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima), primarily to support county desert knapweed (Volutaria tubuliflora), spotted knapweed Weed Management Areas (Centaurea maculosa), barb goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis), red (WMAs). Grants should be coming from CDFA in the spring. Help is here for developing an invasive plant management plan

Jutta C. Burger, Cal-IPC Science Program Director nyone who has worked for very If all that sounds so overwhelming that ment and the public, properly documenting long in the field of invasive plant it makes you want to throw in the baseline conditions and monitoring change, Amanagement knows first-hand that proverbial towel (or in this case, tool), and clearly identifying the goals and the successful management is much more help is here. Cal-IPC recently teamed up spatial scope of your plan. A template difficult than simply donning a pair of boots with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service outline is provided to get you started, as and setting out to wage war on the nearest and a panel of experts in the field to well as a list of existing plans to refer to as weedy species. It is a complex process that publish the Land Manager’s Guide to examples (posted on the Cal-IPC website). is affected by many factors, including the Developing an Invasive Plant Manage- The guide highlights the importance of unique landscape-level distribution and ment Plan to help land managers develop thoughtfully determining which species to biology of each targeted species, local an effective plan for their organization. address, why you are addressing them, ecology and spatial parameters, human The guide lays out a step-by-step process where you are addressing them, and what disturbance, year-by-year effectiveness of for completing a plan, highlighting key are the underlying objectives of your control measures, shifting external issues that should be addressed along program. By assessing existing information management priorities, and fluctuations in the way. It is available for free download on each invasive plant’s distribution and capacity and funding that, in turn, can through the Library section on Cal-IPC’s potential impact, you can prioritize appro- impact previously set priorities. Our worst website cal-ipc.org/BMPplanning. priate types of management (prevention, weeds further complicate matters with By using the guide, we hope that you eradication, containment, and asset-based high reproductive rates, long-lived propa- will be able to jump-start developing (or protection) for different species and gules and dispersal over long distances. As updating) your plan and include important locations in a transparent manner. a result, our strategies need to be thor- elements that are often overlooked, such To support adoption of the guide’s ough, well-documented, and adapted as: engaging stakeholders, creating a principles, Cal-IPC conducted a well- over time in order to be effective. communication plan for upper manage- (Continued on page 14)

cal-ipc.org Dispatch | Winter 2019/2020 7 2019 Symposium in photos

n mid-October, more than 350 land managers, researchers, and volunteers gathered in Riverside for the 28th annual ICal-IPC Symposium. Our theme, “Evolving management perspectives in a changing world,” featured plenary sessions exploring how ecological science continues to inform land management practice. Over four days, attendees shared the latest in invasive plant biology and management with talks, posters, training, discussion groups, and field trips. Here are some highlights!

Mark your 2020 calendars: Next year the Symposium will be Conservation corps members from several units in the region attended the at Chico State University, October 27-30! Symposium, including a special lunchtime panel on careers in conservation. Photo: Claire F. Meyler

Dr. Arlee Montalvo of the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District received the Golden Weed Sunny Sameer (right), Lab Manager at the UC Riverside Dept. of Plant Biology, discussed studies at Wrench Award for her years of dedicated work the Motte Rimrock Reserve evaluating the ecological effects of stinknet (Oncosiphon piluliferum) and bringing research to bear on land management management options for control. One study found that federally endangered Stevens kangaroo rats practice, especially revegetation with site- do not create their mounded burrows under the thickly matted stinknet plants and do not eat stinknet appropriate native plants. Photo: Claire F. Meyler seeds. Photo: Claire F. Meyler

Attendees consider their options at the Auction & Raffle fundraiser. Thanks to Benjamin Lambrechtsen from B&J Trading promotes the use of a new truck- our generous donors and guests, we raised $5,000 for Cal-IPC’s work. Photo: mounted steam unit. More than fifty sponsoring organizations provided crucial Claire F. Meyler support to the 2019 Symposium while reaching a broad cross-section of the land management community. Photo: Bill Hoyer

8 Winter 2019/2020 | Dispatch cal-ipc.org (Continued on page 14)

Fabiàn Garcia, Director of the US Forest Service’s Southern California Consortium, poses with his Aaron Echols (in black cap), from the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District, leads a field trip daughters after accepting the Ryan Jones Catalyst along Mill Creek, a major tributary of the Santa Ana River. The canyon cut by Mill Creek runs through Award. He coordinates a program that provides some of the tallest peaks in southern California and is surrounded by steep mountain ridges on both environmental education and community outreach sides. Active watershed-wide control efforts are targeting tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), Spanish to connect underserved communities to nature broom (Spartium junceum) and giant reed (Arundo donax) using physical and chemical approaches. and conservation work. Photo: Claire F. Meyler Photo: Dana Morawitz Other award winners: Joan Miller, volunteer extraordinaire with Orange “We can all be mentors.” County Parks, was our Volunteer of the Year. —Fabiàn Garcia in his acceptance speech for the 2019 Catalyst Award, speaking about the The Orange County Chapter of CNPS was our importance of taking action to usher new people into the conservation field. Wildland Stewardship Organization of the Year for their exemplary role in local invasive plant detection, management, and policy.

Clarissa Rodriguez (right), from the Botany and Plant Sciences Department David Garmon (left) accepted the Wildland Stewardship Policy Award on at UC Riverside, won first place in the student poster contest for her work behalf of the Tubb Canyon Desert Conservancy for their work advocating comparing effectiveness of pre-emergent vs. post-emergent herbicides to for federal funding for biocontrol research to control Sahara mustard. David control the spread of stinknet (Oncosiphon piluliferum). First place in the Bakke (right), recently retired from the USDA Forest Service, State and Private student oral presentation contest went to David Banuelas of UC Irvine for his Forestry, received the Jake Sigg Award for Vision and Dedicated Service. He study of Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle) soil effects on native understory has been instrumental in supporting effective Integrated Pest Management plants. Photo: Claire F. Meyler (IPM) practices and in guiding efforts like the development of CalWeedMapper. Photo: Claire F. Meyler

cal-ipc.org Dispatch | Winter 2019/2020 9 Mind the microbes: Below-ground effects of herbicides used for managing invasive plants

V. Montellano1, N. Rodriguez2, L. Garcia2, M.R. Maltz2, E.L. Aronson2

Editor’s Note: In recent years, the proper growth presenters at the Symposium stage. These have shared studies on the herbicides include impacts of invasive plant broad-spectrum species to soil properties and post-emergent organisms, and such impacts synthetic herbicides are part of the rating system such as those based used for Cal-IPC’s Inventory. on the active (Well-known examples are ingredient glypho- saltcedar increasing soil sate. Glyphosate is salinity and brooms increas- one of the most ing soil nitrogen.) Impacts studied herbicides, of invasive plant manage- and we know a fair ment are critical to amount about its understand as well and fate in the environ- we will continue exploring ment. As glyphosate that topic at the Sympo- breaks down within sium and in Dispatch. the ecosystem, it can produce he belowground aminomethyl Components of soil ecosystems that can be affected by herbicide. Schematic world of soil of herbicide effects, including plant and microbial parameters, on soil ecosystems. Herbicide may phosphonic acid Tmicrobes is differentially influence soil ecosystems based on the concentration rates, types of herbicide, application (AMPA) in both soil inextricably linked to methods, and the duration or frequency of exposure. Plant features (outlined in green) such as life and water, which aboveground commu- history traits, functional types, community structure, activity, and mycorrhizal host status may determine has been shown to the effectiveness of herbicide treatments, as well as impacts to soil biota. Soil edaphic factors and nities (Wardle et al. have some level of microbial communities (brown boxes) may experience shifts in community composition, functional 2004) and researchers attributes, abundance, depending on direct or indirect effects of herbicides on either biotic dynamics or toxicity to both are increasingly examin- abiotic inputs. (Modified from Edwards and Pimental (1989) Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 8.) macro- and micro- ing the relationship organisms. Al- between the two. Controlling invasive to adjust the use of herbicides in wild- though the acute effects of glyphosate and plants involves a combination of methods lands, this is a critical subject for land AMPA toxicity on mammals are minimal, including manual removal, mowing, managers to track. recent studies suggest that chronic expo- cultivation, grazing, burning, and herbi- Herbicides vary greatly in their mode of sure to ultra-low doses can secondarily cides, all of which can have an impact on action, their specificity, and their effective- influence soil edaphic factors (physical, the soils. Throughout the process land ness, yet they all accomplish a similar chemical, and biological), the proliferation managers work to take non-target goal: the destruction of plant tissue. of plant and animal pathogens, and the impacts into account. A growing number Herbicides can have a large effect on soil composition of the soil microbial commu- of studies are focusing on effects on microbes at the plant-root interface (the nity (Van Bruggen et al. 2017). belowground organisms, such as mycor- rhizosphere) because they often not only Soil microbes perform a variety of rhizal fungi. desiccate plant tissues above and below- ecosystem services (van der Heijden This article focuses on the impacts of ground and alter a microbes’ associations 1998), such as improving the establish- chemical control methods — herbicide with their plant-hosts, but may also affect ment and success of native grasses and application — and provides an overview of the soil biota by altering their chemical shrubs (Augé 2001) in degraded environ- research on this subject. Though no clear environment. ments (Maltz and Treseder 2015). Weed recommendations have emerged for ways The most effective herbicides are control methods that desiccate plant systemic — they move from their point of tissues may directly affect microbes or 1 Chapman University, Orange, California entry in the plant to other parts of the indirectly impact root-associated mutual- 2 University of California, Riverside plant, including the roots, when applied at ists, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

10 Winter 2019/2020 | Dispatch cal-ipc.org (AMF), by killing AMF have demonstrated host plants. Previous negative effects of high studies have shown that doses of post-emergent glyphosate applications synthetic herbicides on that reduce non-native soil invertebrates, as plant cover correspond well as varied responses with lower AMF spore to a range of glypho- and fungal biomass sate formulations. In (Zaller et al. 2014). Yet, contrast, glyphosate use when invasive plant has been shown to management is com- have no effect on bined with active collembolans, nema- revegetation that Treatment impacts on mycorrhizal fungi in the soil. The graphs show (left) cover todes (Dennis et al incorporates functionally of Brassica nigra (black mustard) on a ground area basis and (right) fungal hyphal length of 2018), or earthworms arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) within mustard control experimental plots at the UC Irvine redundant native plant Ecological Preserve. Mowing treatments are indicated by white bars, herbicide treatments by (Santos et al. 2012, species as superior AMF shaded bars, and untreated controls by black bars. Treatment affected black mus¬tard cover House et al. 1987). hosts (Johnson et al. (calculated from presence/absence data from 84 random locations within each plot) as well Although herbicide 1993), these indirect as AMF hyphal length calculated via microscopic analysis of stained hyphae. Bars are means often adds desiccated effects could likely be +1SE of 2 UCI plots. Treatments with different let¬ters are significantly different from one plant tissue into ecosys- another within sites (p < 0.05); whereas treatments with two letter are statistically equivalent ameliorated. to treatments labeled with any one of the shared letter (p > 0.05). (Modified from Maltz et al. tems, decomposition by When degraded sites (2016) Ecological Restoration 34:209-215.) microarthropods may be are invaded by plants limited by increased that do not rely on AMF (i.e., inferior bacterial and archaeal diversity (Dennis et herbicide exposure in some situations. AMF-hosts or non-mycorrhizal plants), al. 2018), or may even increase microbial Zaller et al. (2014) showed that glypho- synthetic herbicide applications may biomass, ostensibly due to their ability to sate can interfere with earthworm-AMF positively influence AMF by opening up mineralize and use herbicide break-down interactions with leguminous forbs; these niche space for mycorrhizal-dependent products as an energy source (Kunch et herbicide-driven effects may disrupt native plant hosts. For instance, grow-kill al. 1985). Some studies have also shown complex interactions throughout the soil management of Brassica nigra, a non- that fungal pathogens may use herbicide food web. Responses to herbicide are mycorrhizal invasive plant, with one as a fuel source. However, others suggest context and dosage dependent and the annual glyphosate application following that herbicide exposure reduces patho- setting and duration of exposure yield germination, reduced B. nigra cover and genic fungal growth (Rodriguez-Kabana different consequences for belowground increased overall AMF fungal abundance et al. 1966, Leach et al. 1991). Spore community interactions with soil fauna. relative to mowed treatments and germination and vegetative growth of a untreated controls (Maltz et al. 2016). variety of microbes, including plant Organic herbicides However, in the same study, a portion of pathogen proliferation, can be affected, Post-emergent non-synthetic (i.e., fungal taxa which were abundant in the and may lead to increased disease organic) herbicides are often acidic or AMF community found in control or incidence in cropland systems in some oil-based contact herbicides which could mowed plots were absent in glyphosate- situations (Sanyal and Shrestha 2008). affect soil physicochemical properties, treated plots (Maltz et al. unpublished Taken together, these studies indicate herbicide persistence, chemical solubility, data). These findings suggest that glypho- that the outcome of herbicide application nutrient availability, and organic matter sate treatment can affect not only the may either stimulate or depress the decomposition (McCauley et al. 2009). abundance of AMF found in degraded growth rate of microbial populations or Although organic herbicides are per- ecosystems, but may also exert an affect fungal diversity, depending on the ceived as safer than synthetic herbicides influence on soil microbial community type, formulation, or concentrations of for use in public places, they may pose structure. It is still unclear whether their chemicals, modes of application, and envi- risks to applicators and have largely effect is indirect, by affecting their AMF ronmental conditions, as well as the unknown environmental effects. plant hosts, or direct, through chemical specific microbial groups of interest. Beyond a few studies in agricultural interaction with the fungal community. In addition to soil fungi and bacteria, systems (DiTomaso et al. 2017), we have In addition to influencing AMF, previ- herbicides may also influence soil fauna, limited knowledge of the belowground ous work indicates that herbicides can which play important roles in organic effects of organic post-emergent herbicides affect other microbial groups. Single matter breakdown and nutrient cycling in natural systems. A recent study examin- doses of synthetic post-emergent (Edwards and Pimental 1989, Deyn et al. ing the effects of organic herbicides on herbicides may have no effect on soil 2003, Niemeyer et al. 2018). Some studies (Continued on page 13)

cal-ipc.org Dispatch | Winter 2019/2020 11 Reinvigorating indigenous land management: Amah Mutsun Land Trust and the Native Stewardship Corps

Alene Spindel, Cal-IPC Training Program Associate

he indigenous Awaswas and the cradle of those yet to come. They are Mutsun speaking peoples have lived sacred to us. Protecting their ability to Tin and cared for the abundant sustain future generations is central to coastal region called Popeloutchom for the mission of the Tribe.” thousands of years prior to contact with AMLT has developed programs to the Spanish in the 1700s (known today as re-engage tribal members in stewarding modern counties of San Benito, Mon- lands, relearning culture and language, terey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San and inviting the rest of the California Mateo). Today, the Mutsun and Awaswas community to be a part of this revitaliza- speakers are represented by the Amah tion. The Native Stewardship Corps (the Mutsun Tribal Band. Stewards) is a program engaging young Mutsun and Awaswas villages spread adult tribal members (18 years and older) across abundant lands of the San Juan Stewards spend two weeks per month working on in research, conservation, and cultural Valley known as Tratrah and shared in land management projects and engaging in cultural education to reconnect tribal members tribal traditions and cultural practices. learning. Photo courtesy Amah Mutsun Land Trust to traditional ecological knowledge, build Ancestors of Amah Mutsun are collec- professional skills for the field, and all life. To reconnect and reestablish tively referred to by most as “Ohlone,” reinvigorate indigenous stewardship. relationships to traditional territories and though the Mutsun and Awaswas The Stewards program gathers 9 tribal culture, the Tribal Band formed the Amah languages are distinctly unique within the members for two-week sessions of Mutsun Land Trust (AMLT) in 2013, Ohlone language family, as are their intensive land stewardship projects. Some which became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit territories, religious practices, methods of of the Stewards are traveling from as far organization in 2015. AMLT has reawak- fishing and hunting, ceremonial dress, as Las Vegas and the Central Valley to ened tribal land tenure and developed craftsmanship, and shelter structures. work on projects on traditional lands. In partnerships with local state agencies For thousands of years, the tribes cared order to reinstate indigenous stewardship and nonprofits to protect and steward for all living things in Popeloutchom as a on tribal territory, AMLT has developed tribal territories for the first time in right and responsibilty to the Creator. partnerships with educational institutions, hundreds of years. The mission statement These rights and responsbilities were agencies, and nonprofits. declares, “These lands are the resting stripped from the Amah Mutsun during Sara French, Director of Programs and place of those that came before us and three periods of brutal colonization Development, says that ally support from known as the Spanish Mission period, conservation organizations and agencies Mexican Period, and American period. are crucial to their success. Partnering Today’s Amah Mutsun Tribal Band with the Stewards through the Resource members are direct descendants of tribal Conservation District, California State groups who were removed from their Parks provides consistent work and territory and subjected to the Spanish at housing on-site, as well as hours of Mission San Juan Bautista (Mutsun training in tool-handling, maintenance, people) and Mission Santa Cruz (Awas- and even sawyer certification. State Parks was people). After three centuries of has also provided program funding and colonization and repression, today the mentorship for participants. Amah Mutsun Tribal Band (Tribal Band) The Stewards are now Red Card- has a mandated Tribal Constitution, Tribal trained firefighters. One of the future Council, and a resilient community of goals of the Native Stewards program is more than 800 active tribal members. to increase fire work and restore cultural In 2005, under direction of tribal burning. Historical evidence shows that The stewards are certified sawyers, seen elders, the Amah Mutsun began seeking here cutting down encroaching Douglas fir the Amah Mutsun have carefully tended to return to Popeloutchoum to fulfill (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees. Photo courtesy landscapes, particularly the coastal their obligation to the Creator to care for Amah Mutsun Land Trust prairie, with controlled burning as a land

12 Winter 2019/2020 | Dispatch cal-ipc.org fir trees, jubata grass (Cortaderia jubata) and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) each year. The larger goal is to restore regular burning to this area. Current steps include creating shaded fuel breaks, burn piles, making space for native grasses, and tending ethnobotanical species at the location. The tribe hopes to expand the Stew- ards’ capacity broadly in coastal resource stewardship. French wants land managers in the central-coastal region to know that the Stewards can be hired for land management work, and that, by doing so, organizations can help bring indigenous knowledge and leadership back to the land. Says Chairman Lopez, “We have been This map, generated by the Amah Mustun Land Trust, identifies ancestral territories and the footprint of relearning and reestablishing that land stewarded by AMLT projects. relationship with Mother Earth. We are management practice. “These practices thousands of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga restoring that Indigenous knowledge and date back hundreds, if not a thousand menziesii) trees to reduce fuel loads, caring for the landscapes as our ancestors generations,” says Amah Mutsun Tribal placing trees in burn piles. Once the did. It gives us great pride and joy to Band Chairman Valentin Lopez. Chairman winter rains start, they will burn them return to that path, to honor our ances- Lopez explained that the land manage- safely with State Parks supervision. tors, and to fulfill our obligation. Our ment community today calls them Chairman Lopez explains, “We teach the tribe is exceptionally proud of our Native “prescribed burns” but the tribe knows stewards how important these burns are Stewards. There is a waitlist of people them as “cultural fires.” to care for the fungi, the native plants, wanting to be Stewards and follow this As of fall 2019, the Stewards are and the native animals — four-legged, path of our ancestors. It is wonderful to working on an ongoing project within invertebrates, and winged.” see and is bringing healing to our Stew- Año Nuevo State Park in what was once French explains that this is all part of the ards and tribal members.” an extensive coastal prairie. The Stewards first phase of restoring this land. Stewards Learn more at amahmutsun.org and are working in the valley cutting down have been removing encroaching Douglas amahmutsunlandtrust.org

tems; and chemical vs. non-chemical De Deyn GB, Raaijmakers CE, Zoomer HR, Berg MP, Mind the microbes approaches. Such studies could use Ruiter PCD, Verhoef HA, van der Putten WH (2003) (Continued from page 11) Soil invertebrate fauna enhances grassland biomarkers and molecular sequencing succession and diversity. Nature. 422:711–713. non-native annual grasses and soil bacteria approaches to characterize the microbial Dennis PG, Kukulies T, Forstner C, Orton TG, Pattison showed that organic herbicide treatments community structure and function. AB (2018). The effects of glyphosate, glufosinate, had no effect on soil bacterial community paraquat and paraquat-diquat on soil microbial Additionally, this could be coupled with activity and bacterial, archaeal and nematode composition (Maltz et al. unpublished data) microscopic analyses of percent root diversity. Science Reports. 8 :2119. relative to mowed and untreated controls. length colonized by mycorrhizal fungi for DiTomaso JM, Kyser GB, Lewis DJ, Roncoroni JA (2017) Unfortunately, the herbicides tested also gauging belowground impacts. Such Conventional and organic options for the control of woolly distaff thistle (Carthamus lantus). Invasive did not significantly reduce the cover of studies will be essential for better Plant Science and Management. 1:72-79. mature seed heads of two weedy grasses informing the restoration work of land Edwards CA and Pimentel D (1989) Impact of being targeted, Avena fatua or Bromus managers. herbicides on soil ecosystems. Critical Reviews in diandrus (Swanson et al. unpublished Plant Sciences. 8:221-257. House G, Worsham A, Sheets T, Stinner R (1987) data). Effects on soil or root-associated References Augé RM (2001) Water relations, drought and Herbicide effects on soil arthropod dynamics and fungi, such as AMF, are not yet known. vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. wheat straw decomposition in a North Carolina Future studies on soil impacts in Mycorrhiza. 11:3- 42. no-tillage agroecosystem. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 4:109 -114. natural systems will be valuable for Baboo M, Pasayat M, Samal A, Kujur M, Maharana JK, Patel AK (2013) Effect of four herbicides on soil Johnson NC (1993) Can fertilization of soil select less comparing: organic vs. synthetic herbi- organic carbon, microbial biomass-C, enzyme mutualistic mycorrhizae? Ecological Applications. cides; pre-emergent vs. post-emergent activity and microbial populations in agricultural soil. 4:749 –757. herbicides; invaded vs. restored ecosys- Indian Journal of Agricultural Research. 52:300-304. (Continued on page 14)

cal-ipc.org Dispatch | Winter 2019/2020 13 New planning guide Mind the microbes (Continued from page 7) (Continued from page 13) received training for using the guide at the 2019 Cal-IPC Kunch F,Tichy P, Vancura V (1985) 2,4-dichlorophexoxy acetic acid in the soil: Symposium in Riverside. We hope the guide — and trainings Mineralization and changes in the counts of bacteria decomposers. Versailles ed., INRA. based on the guide — will give land management professionals Leach SS, Murdoch CW, Gordon C (1991) Response of selected soilborne fungi and one more critical tool for their toolbelt to accomplish more bacteria to herbicides utilized in potato crop management systems in Maine. effective invasive plant management and successful American Potato Journal. 68:269–278. Maltz MR, Bell CE, Mitrovich MJ, Iyer AR, Treseder KK (2016) Invasive plant conservation outcomes into the future. management techniques alter arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. 34:209-215. This work was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife McCauley A, Jones C, Jacobsen, J (2003) Soil pH and organic matter. MSU Refuge System, Pacific Southwest Region, Inventory and Monitoring Extension: Nutrient Management Module No. 8:1–12. Initiative, Sacramento, CA, and by the Western Center for Integrated Pest Niemeyer JC, de Santo FB, Guerra N, Ricardo FAM, Pech TM (2018) Do recommended Management. Special thanks to G. Block, J. Giessow, B. Johnson, J. Knapp, doses of glyphosate-based herbicides affect soil invertebrates? Field and laboratory T. Reyes, S. Schoenig, A. Williams for training support. screen tests to risk assessment. Chemosphere. 198:154-160. Pickett B, Maltz MR, Aronson EL (2018). Impacts on Invasive Plants on Soil Fungi and Implications for Restoration. Invasive Plants. Rodriguez-Kabana R, Curl EA, Funderburk JH Jr. (1966). Effect of four herbicides on growth of Rhizoctonia solani. Phytopathology 56:1332–1333. Santos MJG, Morgado R, Ferreira NGC, Soares AM, Loureiro S (2011). Evaluation of the joint effect of glyphosate and dimethoate using a small-scale terrestrial ecosystem. Ecotoxicol Environm Safety 74:1994–2001 Sanyal D and Shrestha A (2008). Direct effect of herbicides on plant pathogens and disease development in various cropping systems. Weed Science. 56:155-160. Van Bruggen AHC, He MM, Shin K, Mai V, Jeong KC, Finckh MR, Morris JG Jr. (2018). Environmental and health effects of the herbicide glyphosate. Science of the Total Environment. 616:255-268. van der Heijden MGA, Klironomos JN, Ursic M, Moutoglis P, Streitwolf-Engel R, Boller T, Wiemken A, IR Sanders (1998) Mycorrhizal fungal diversity determines plant biodiversity, ecosystem variability and productivity. Nature. 396:69-72. Wardle DA, Bardgett RD, Klironomos JN, Setala H, van der Putten WH, Wall DH (2004) Ecological linkages between aboveground and belowground biota. Science. 304:1629–1633. Landscape-level management strategies include: prevention (keeping out Wolfe BE and Klironomos JN (2005) Breaking new ground: Soil communities and new infestations); eradication (fully removing all infestations in an area); exotic plant invasion, BioScience. 55:477–487. containment (stopping the spread of a species); and asset protection (keeping Zaller JG, Heigl F, Ruess L, Grabmaier, A (2014) Glyphosate herbicide affects a widespread weed out of a valued area). (Adopted from a diagram produced belowground interactions between earthworms and symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi by Agriculture Victoria.) in a model ecosystem. Scientific Reports. 4:5634.

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Wildland Weed Calendar “The overwhelming evidence of the IPBES Global Assessment, from a wide Northern California Botanists California Trails & Greenways range of different fields of knowledge, Symposium Conference presents an ominous picture. The health January 13-14, Chico, CA April 21-23, Modesto, CA of ecosystems on which we and all norcalbotanists.org/symposia.htm parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24151 other species depend is deteriorating California Rangeland Summit SERCAL Conference January 14, Stockton, CA more rapidly than ever. We are eroding April 29-May 1, Carmel Valley, CA facebook.com/Rangelands the very foundations of our economies, sercal.org California Weed Science Society livelihoods, food security, health January 22-24, Monterey, CA California Native Grasslands and quality of life worldwide. …[It] cwss.org/events Association Field Day is not too late to make a difference, April 17, Winters, CA Riparian Restoration Conference but only if we start now at every cnga.org/Events February 4-6, Grand Junction, CO level from local to global. Through riversedgewest.org Society for Ecological Restoration, ‘transformative change’, nature can Public Lands Alliance Convention & North American Conference still be conserved, restored and used Trade Show June 7-11, Quebec, Canada sustainably... By transformative change, March 1-5, Arlington, VA ser.org/page/RegionalConferences publiclandsalliance.org we mean a fundamental, system-wide NEOBIOTA reorganization across technological, Western Society of Weed Science September 15-18, Vodice, Croatia March 2-5, Maui, HI economic and social factors, including neobiota.eu/ wsweedscience.org/annual-meeting paradigms, goals, and values.” Cal-IPC Volunteer Trainings Cal-IPC Symposium — Sir Robert Watson, Chair of the United Spring & Summer dates TBD October 27-30, Chico, CA Nations’ Intergovernmental Science-Policy cal-ipc.org/wvn cal-ipc.org/symposium Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), on their Global Assessment released in May.