New Distribution of the Tamarisk Beetle in the Lower Colorado River Basin and Implications for Future Riparian Restoration Ben Bloodworth Program Coordinator Society for Ecological Restoration - Southwest Las Vegas, Nevada November 9, 2016 Tamarisk Beetle - Diorhabda spp. Biological Control herbivore added Biological control results in an equilibrium between plant and herbivores Beetles will not eradicate Tamarix An ecological relationship is established between the herbivore and the plant Beetles will shift ecological relationships Biology of Biology of Tamarix Diorhabda biotic and abiotic ecosystem components Beetles and larvae defoliating tamarisk Courtesy of Dr. Dan Bean, Palisade Insectary 2007 pre-beetle Stan Young ranch along East Salt Creek in Mesa County before and after beetles released. 2010 post-beetle Larvae hatch OW/F 1 Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River Larval feeding leads to F defoliation!! 1 Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River Larvae hatch and begin to feed F1/F 2 Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River Larvae hatch OW/F 1 Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River Larval feeding leads to F defoliation!! 1 Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River Larvae defoliate new F zone 2 Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River Larvae defoliate new F zone 2 Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River Larvae hatch and begin to feed F1/F 2 Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River F Defoliation continues, refoliation is new refugia 3 Refoliation Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River F Next generation of larvae are established 3 Refoliation Marble Canyon River km Lee’s Ferry Supai narrows Redwall narrows Little Colorado begin begin River Marble Canyon Marble Canyon River km The distribution of beetles in the fall is predictive of where they’ll start the following year. Colorado River near Moab, Utah Plant’s carbon budget is a balance between sources and sinks Carbon source: photosynthesis Carbon sinks: Carbon sinks: growth, metabolite storage, reproduction defense Hultine hypothesizes that faster growing trees are killed more quickly by repeated defoliation. Growth vs carbon storage Impact Rapid & Dramatic 2003 Humboldt R, NV But: Re-growth fast, Dieback gradual & Mortality slow 2007 Colorado River, UT First Defoliation 100 90 80 June 11 June 22 June 26 July 9 70 60 Survival 50 40 30 20 10 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Change in Green Tamarisk Volume at Monitored Sites in Western Colorado, 2008 and 2013 120 100 Green canopy measured in 2008 80 Green canopy measured in 60 2013 Mean Volume in Cubic Meters Meters Cubic in Volume Mean 40 20 0 Tamarisk Mortality in Western Colorado 2010-2013 100 90 80 70 60 52 50 2010 40 Percent Mortality 40 32 2011 28 30 24 20 2012 20 8 2013 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 Salt Creek Williams Gunnison Douglas Gateway HorsethiefSY Burned Salt Creek Bedrock SY Knowles Flume 1 Creek 2 Unburned Tamarisk Mortality in Western Colorado 2010-2013 100 90 80 70 60 52 50 2010 40 Percent Mortality 40 32 2011 28 30 24 20 2012 20 8 2013 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 Salt Creek Williams Gunnison Douglas Gateway HorsethiefSY Burned Salt Creek Bedrock SY Knowles Flume 1 Creek 2 Unburned Decline in flowering/seed production Stan Young Unburned Site 100 90 80 0-3% 70 60 10-30% 50 40-60% 40 30 70-90% 20 Percent of Monitoring Trees 10 0 2008 2009 2010 Year A marked tree representing the 40- 60% flowering class Mortality of tamarisk due to defoliation Drastic reduction to cessation of flowering Branch versus plant mortality Site conditions Topography Management techniques Drought Salinity Origins of the Biological Control Monitoring Program Colorado Department of Agriculture Palisade Insectary wanted to expand monitoring outside of CO 2007 TC worked with CDAPI and UC Santa Barbara to develop landscape scale monitoring program Focused on the Colorado River Basin Utah Colorado The genus Diorhabda comprises five tamarisk feeding species, four of which are now found in NA Diorhabda carinulata Diorhabda sublineata Diorhabda elongata Diorhabda carinata Tunisia Crete Uzbekistan Chilik, Fukang, Turpan The genus Diorhabda comprises five tamarisk feeding species, four of which are now found in NA Three of them can readily interbreed Diorhabda carinulata Diorhabda sublineata Diorhabda elongata Diorhabda carinata Tunisia Crete Uzbekistan Chilik, Fukang, Turpan Four Old World Diorhabda spp. tamarisk beetles introduced into western North America from 2001–2009 5mm Northern TB Mediterranean TB Larger TB Subtropical TB D. carinulata D. elongata D. carinata D. sublineata E. (ex: CN, KZ) (ex: GR) (ex: UZ) (ex: TN) 2001-NV, UT, WY, 2004-CA, TX 2007-TX 2009-TX CO, AZ, NM, CA SW Willow Flycatcher & tamarisk beetle ranges- 2014 Northern Larger Mediterranean Subtropical Expert Panel Report Project decision tree Project decision tree Project decision tree Project decision tree Project decision tree Project decision tree Expert Panel Report Tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda spp.) in the Colorado River basin: synthesis of an expert panel forum. Bloodworth, B.R., P.B. Shafroth, A.A. Sher, R.B. Manners, D.W. Bean, M.J. Johnson, and O. Hinojosa-Huerta. http://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/ Contact Information Ben Bloodworth [email protected] 970.256.7400 www.tamariskcoalition.org.