OLD WORLD CLIMBING FERN (Lygodium microphyllum) MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR FLORIDA Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Lygodium Task Force 2006 Second Edition i OLD WORLD CLIMBING FERN (Lygodium microphyllum) MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR FLORIDA Editors: Jeffrey Hutchinson, University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32611 Amy Ferriter, Boise State University, Environmental Science and Public Policy Research Institute, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725 Kristina Serbesoff-King, The Nature Conservancy, Blowing Rocks Preserve, 574 South Beach Road, Hobe Sound, FL 33455-2804 Ken Langeland, University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32611 LeRoy Rodgers, South Florida Water Management District, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33406 A Report from the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s Lygodium Task Force 2006 Second Edition The Second Edition of the Lygodium Management Plan for Florida has been revised to focus primarily on Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum), recognizing the need for a separate management plan for Japanese climbing fern, which is currently more problematic in northern and central Florida. Thus, this revised plan is designed to provide the most up-to-date information for integrated management of the highly invasive Old World climbing fern infesting natural areas in southern and central Florida. Management of this fern in Florida is still in the early to mid-stages of development of a landscape approach to control the fern, both on public conservation and private lands. The plan will be updated every five years to reflect changes in management philosophies. Mention of trade or product names does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the Lygodium Task Force or the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. There is no expressed or implied warranty as to the fitness of any product discussed. Any product name discussed is listed solely for the benefit of the reader, and not all products may be listed. i Contributors Mike Bodle Lauren Linares South Florida Water Management District Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, Roadway Maintenance Environmental Kathy Craddock Burks Florida Natural Areas Inventory Chris Lockhart Florida Natural Areas Inventory Jim Burney Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc. Philip Myers Florida Park Service Amy Ferriter Boise State University, Environmental Bob Pemberton Science and Public Policy Research United States Department of Agriculture Institute Agricultural Research Service Tom Fucigna R. Scott Penfield R.L. Weigt Environmental Consultants Department of Defense Avon Park Air Force Range George D. Gann The Institute for Regional Conservation Dick Roberts Florida Park Service Jim Goodwin South Florida Water Management District Kristina Serbesoff-King The Nature Conservancy John A. Goolsby United States Department of Agriculture Ken Snyder Agricultural Research Service St. Johns River Water Management District. Jeffrey Hutchinson University of Florida Jonathan Taylor Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants National Park Service Matt King Bill Thomas Palm Beach County United States Fish and Wildlife Service Environmental Resources Management John Volin Ken Langeland Florida Atlantic University University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants Tony Wright Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Drew Lesile Research Organization Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Upland Invasive Plants ii Table of Contents I.Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 II.Problem Statement ................................................................................................. 2 III.Goal ....................................................................................................................... 5 IV.Objectives.............................................................................................................. 5 V.Lygodium Task Force Recommendations .............................................................. 5 VI.Technical Background ........................................................................................... 7 Biology of Old World climbing fern ........................................................... 7 Robert Pemberton, John Volin, and Jeffrey Hutchinson Taxonomy..................................................................................... 7 Botanical Description.................................................................... 8 Related Species........................................................................... 8 Reproductive biology, phenology and growth............................... 9 Distribution, Ecology, and Economic Impacts .......................................... 11 Native Range................................................................................ 11 Native Distribution............................................................. 11 Robert Pemberton and Amy Ferriter Native Ecology.................................................................. 12 Robert Pemberton, John Volin and Kathy Burks Native Economic uses ...................................................... 12 Mike Bodle Florida........................................................................................... 13 Florida Distribution............................................................ 13 Amy Ferriter and Kathy Burks Florida Ecology ................................................................. 17 Robert Pemberton, John Volin, Kathy Burks and Jeffrey Hutchinson Economic Uses and Impacts ............................................ 20 George Gann and Amy Ferriter Management and Control Costs ....................................... 21 Jeffrey Hutchinson Proposed and Enacted Laws ................................................................... 23 Matt King and Tom Fucigna Federal ......................................................................................... 23 State ............................................................................................. 24 Local Governments...................................................................... 24 Other............................................................................................. 25 Management Techniques......................................................................... 25 iii Current Management.................................................................... 25 Jeffrey Hutchinson Biological Control.......................................................................... 26 Robert Pemberton, John Goolsby, and Tony Wright Herbicidal Control Technology Research ..................................... 33 Ken Langeland and Jeffrey Hutchinson Recommended Herbicides........................................................... 40 Ken Langeland and Jeffrey Hutchinson Monitoring..................................................................................... 41 Ken Langeland and Jeffrey Hutchinson Physical and mechanical removal ................................................ 43 Ken Langeland and Jeffrey Hutchinson Fire ............................................................................................... 44 Ken Langeland and Jeffrey Hutchinson Flooding........................................................................................ 46 Ken Langeland and Jeffrey Hutchinson Private Contractor Perspective..................................................... 46 Jim Burney Funding .................................................................................................... 51 Jeffrey Hutchinson and Matt King VII.Resource Management Approach........................................................................ 55 Kristina Serbesoff-King VIII.Lygodium on Private Lands ................................................................................. 62 Jeffrey Hutchinson IX.Spread of Spores by Herbicide Applicators........................................................... 64 Jeffrey Hutchinson and Ken Langeland X.Lygodium Strike Team (FDEP, Bureau of Invasive Plant Management)................ 66 Drew Leslie XI.Case Studies ......................................................................................................... 67 Everglades National Park............................................................................... 67 Jonathan Taylor Avon Park Air Force Range .......................................................................... 70 R. Scott Penfield ARM Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge .................................................. 73 iv Bill Thomas Bird Rookery CREW ...................................................................................... 79 Jim Goodwin Jonathan Dickinson State Park ...................................................................... 82 Phil Myers and Dick Roberts Blue Cypress Conservation Area ................................................................... 85 Ken Snyder and Jeffrey Hutchinson Florida Turnpike Enterprise............................................................................ 87 Lauren Linares XII.Summary .............................................................................................................. 89 XIII.Literature Cited .................................................................................................... 91 Appendices Appendix 1 ................................................................................................................