Wavyleaf Basketgrass Ecology and Control Dr. Vanessa B. Beauchamp Department of Biological Sciences Towson University [email protected] Wavyleaf Basketgrass • Taxonomy/Identification • Invasion origins • Habitats • Seed dispersal • Competition • Food web impacts • Control Oplismenus undulatifolius (Ard.) P. Beauv. (finally!) What it’s not Oplismenus undulatifolius Microstegium vimineum [Dichanthelium clandestinum Arthraxon hispidus An introduction to Oplismenus undulatifolius • First discovered in Patapsco Valley State Park and near Liberty Reservoir – Edward Uebel in 1996 Origin of the Invasion • Data from Sharon Talley and Craig Ramsey at USDA APHIS show that our wavyleaf is morphologically and genetically different from the variegated form. Oplismenus undulatifolius Data indicate that the potential source of the population in the US is the Krasnodarskiy (Caucasus Mountains) region in Russia. So why do we care? So why do we care? • Characteristics of successful invasive plants – Tolerate a variety of habitat conditions – Grow and reproduce rapidly • Efficient method of seed dispersal, germinates easily • Able to reproduce sexually - by seed - or asexually by sending out aboveground or belowground “runners” (stolons and rhizomes) – Compete aggressively for resources – Lack natural enemies or pests in the new ecosystem • Resistant to grazing. Habitats NASA Observational Data and Habitat Suitability Modeling for Wavyleaf Basketgrass Seed Dispersal Seed production, dispersal and germination • Seed is available for dispersal in August (possibly earlier) – remains on plant until senescence in winter. • 900 – 6000 seeds per square meter • + 80% germination when collected in October and planted the following spring Seed production, germination and dispersal Dispersal by people Total Seeds Adhered after 30 seconds 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 Number Number of seeds 300 200 100 0 Denim Fleece Nylon Twill Seed production, germination and dispersal How long does it stay stuck? 80 70 60 50 Denim 40 adhered seed adhered lost Fleece Nylon 30 Twill 20 Percentage of Percentage 10 0 0 hours 1 hour 24 hours 48 hours 7 days Seed production, dispersal and germination Hydrochory 12 10 8 6 4 # germinated seeds 2 0 0 1 2 3 4 6 8 11 14 17 20 Weeks Submerged in Water Competition for Resources 100 90 80 70 60 50 M. vimineum 40 O. hirtellus Grass cover (%) cover Grass 30 20 10 0 1 2 3 - 5 6 - 10 11 - 20 Species richenss How competitive is it? • Oplismenus undulatifolius • Microstegium vimineum • Native Mix – Agrostis perennans (autumn bentgrass) – Elymus virginicus (Virginia wildrye) – Dichanthelium clandestinum (deertongue dichanthelium) • Grown in monoculture and in competition in sun and shade • March – October 2012 How competitive is it? How competitive is it? 2.5 8 ) a Shade ) 2.0 Sun 6 1.5 ac competition abc 4 competition /B 1.0 /B abc 2 0.5 b bc monoculture monoculture 0.0 0 ln(B ln(B -0.5 MIX_JS JS_MIX WLBG_JSWLBG_MIX JS_WLBGMIX_WLBG WLBGseed_JSWLBGseed_MIX Natural Enemies Leafhopper (Tylozygus geometricus) on wavy leaf Courtesy of Richard Orr Mid-Atlantic Invertebrate Field Studies What lives in it? Pitfall Traps by Family 1.0 Cave crickets, crickets, scarab beetles 0.8 and fungus gnats indicators of Rhaphidophordae Gryllidae uninvaded plots 0.6 Sciaridae 0.4 Formicidae 0.2 Empididae 0.0 Blattidae Axis 2 Axis -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 Staphylinidae -0.8 Uninvaded -1.0 Invaded Cockroaches, rove beetles and ground -1.2 beetles indicators of invaded plots -2.0 -1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 Axis 1 So why do we care? • Characteristics of successful invasive plants – Tolerate a variety of habitat conditions – Grow and reproduce rapidly • Efficient method of seed dispersal, germinates easily • Able to reproduce sexually - by seed - or asexually by sending out aboveground or belowground “runners” (stolons and rhizomes) – Compete aggressively for resources – Lack natural enemies or pests in the new ecosystem • Resistant to grazing. What kills it? • Two sites at Patapsco Valley State Park • Envoy Plus 16, 20 and 24; Roundup WM 9, 14, 18, 36, handweeding, control • Three blocks per site • Surveyed June 2014, treated July 2014, re- surveyed Oct 2014, June 2015 and Oct 2015 What kills it? What kills it? 40 a 20 a ab ab 0 -20 -40 ab -60 ab b ab Relative % change in cover in change % Relative b -80 -100 Control EnvovyPlusEnvoyPlus20 16 EnvoyPlus24HandweedingRoundupWM09RoundupWM14RoundupWM18RoundupWM36 Richness June14_June15 both sites 200 What else gets killed? 150 100 50 Relative change in richness change Relative 0 -50 Control EnvovyPlusEnvoyPlus20 16 EnvoyPlus24HandweedingRoundupWM09RoundupWM14RoundupWM18RoundupWM36 Best Practices • Wear clothes that can be easily cleaned – Rain pants and rain boots • Have clothes and shoes exclusively for working in wavyleaf. • Remove seeds from clothes with duct-tape • Inspect boots and laces thoroughly – Budget at least 30 min for clean up after vistiting dense patches in seed. • Wrap seed covered tape in plastic bag and discard. What you can do • Report sightings • Increase awareness – Involve the public – Survey trails for sprouts • Treat as soon as possible.