Tamarisk biocontrol in the western United States: ecological and societal implications

Hultine, Kevin R.; Belnap, Jayne; Riper, Charles van; Ehleringer, James R.; Dennison, Philip E.; Lee, Martha E.; Nagler, Pamela L.; Snyder, Keirith A.; Uselman, Shauna M.; West, Jason B.

doi:10.1890/090031

Cited by 86 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Tamarix is now the third most common woody plant in western US riparian areas (Friedman et al 2005), and is considered a noxious weed in most states west of the Mississippi River. Tamarisk dominance has led to alterations of riparian ecosystems including soil salinization, local reduction in water resources via excess transpiration (Sala et al 1996;Dahm et al 2002), changing erosion and sedimentation regimes (Graf 1978;Vincent et al 2009), and increasing the susceptibility of riparian areas to wildfire (Busch and Smith 1993;Dudley et al 2011) although the environmental impact of some of these factors has been questioned (Sogge et al 2008;Hultine et al 2010). Tamarix spp.…”

Section: Tamarix Biocontrol Program Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other worries were that defoliation also increased exposure of birds to predators and nest parasites, and even that the beetles themselves may be toxic. In some regions it was projected that stream conditions were too degraded to support reestablishment of native riparian plants, so Tamarix suppression might remove the only vegetation that tolerates anthropogenically damaged environments (Stromberg et al 2007;Sogge et al 2008;Hultine et al 2010). It is likely correct that altered hydrology and degraded conditions in such locations present major barriers to re-establishment of native vegetation.…”

Section: Tamarix Biocontrol Program Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tamarisk biocontrol, endangered species risk and resolution of conflict through riparian restoration

Dudley

Bean²

2011

BioControl

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A long-standing debate between wildlife agencies and biological control researchers and practitioners concerns Diorhabda carinulata Desbrochers (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) introduced to suppress invasive Tamarix spp. (Tamaricaceae), and potential impacts of Tamarix defoliation on endangered southwestern willow flycatchers using this non-native plant as nesting habitat in some western riparian ecosystems. The conflict and ensuing legal actions are currently centered on the presence of D. carinulata within the breeding range of the flycatcher in the Virgin River watershed, which has led to APHIS termination of permits supporting the biocontrol development program and has also affected other programs to develop biocontrol agents against environmental weeds. Central to concerns over wildlife is the lack of rehabilitation of native vegetation where biocontrol is expected, so there are current and planned efforts to promote restoration of native cottonwood-willow habitat to mitigate the anticipation decline in Tamarix cover. A strategic approach to riparian restoration is outlined which could facilitate sustainable, and scientifically documented recovery of this iconic habitat type. While the results of these efforts will not be known immediately, the process which is leading to riparian restoration has brought specialists from both sides of the debate together in search of resolution via collaboration, and if successful, may allow re-initiation of the Tamarix biocontrol program attendant with habitat enhancement for wildlife species of conservation concern.

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Section: Tamarix Biocontrol Program Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Tamarix Biocontrol Program Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Tamarisk biocontrol, endangered species risk and resolution of conflict through riparian restoration

Dudley

Bean²

2011

BioControl

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“…Diorhabda carinulata has been recently introduced into sites throughout the western USA to assist in saltcedar control (Lewis et al 2003;Hultine et al 2010a). To date, the results of preliminary studies of the beetle's impact on saltcedar water use have been equivocal (Dennison et al 2009;Hultine et al 2010b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early impacts of biological control on canopy cover and water use of the invasive saltcedar tree (Tamarix spp.) in western Nevada, USA

et al. 2010

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The success of biological control programs is rarely assessed beyond population level impacts on the target organism. The question of whether a biological control agent can either partially or completely restore ecosystem services independent of population level control is therefore still open to discussion. Using observational and experimental approaches, we investigated the ability of the saltcedar leaf beetle [Diorhabda carinulata (Brullé) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)] to reduce the water use of saltcedar trees (Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.) in two sites (Humboldt and Walker Rivers) in Nevada, USA. At these sites D. carinulata defoliated the majority of trees within 25 and 9 km, respectively, of the release location within 3 years. At the Humboldt site, D. carinulata reduced the canopy cover of trees adjacent to the release location by >90%. At a location 4 km away during the first year of defoliation, D. carinulata reduced peak (August) stem water use by 50-70% and stand transpiration (July to late September) by 75% (P = 0.052). There was, however, no reduction in stem water use and stand transpiration during the second year of defoliation due to reduced beetle abundances at that location. At the Walker site, we measured stand evapotranspiration (ET) in the center of a large saltcedar stand and found that ET was highest immediately prior to D. carinulata arrival, dropped dramatically with defoliation, and remained low through the subsequent 2 years of the study. In contrast, near the perimeter of the stand, D. carinulata did not reduce sap flow, partly because of low rates of defoliation but also because of increased water use per unit leaf area in response to defoliation. Taken together, our results provide evidence that in the early stages of population expansion D. carinulata can lead to substantial declines in saltcedar water use. The extent of these declines varies spatially and temporally and is dependent on saltcedar compensatory responses along with D. carinulata population dynamics and patterns of dispersal.

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“…It was also imperative for this study to differentiate between cottonwood-willow dominant and non-native dominant vegetation types. Non-native vegetation influences the social, ecological, and aesthetic value of the riparian ecosystem, which is a major concern within the SAR [42]. It is well researched that flow regimes and land use contribute to non-native vegetation expansion in Southwestern riparian areas [43].…”

Section: Land Cover Classification Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical Analysis of Riparian Vegetation Change in Response to Shifting Management Objectives on the Middle Rio Grande

Petrakis

Leeuwen

Villarreal

et al. 2017

Land

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Riparian ecosystems are valuable to the ecological and human communities that depend on them. Over the past century, they have been subject to shifting management practices to maximize human use and ecosystem services, creating a complex relationship between water policy, management, and the natural ecosystem. This has necessitated research on the spatial and temporal dynamics of riparian vegetation change. The San Acacia Reach of the Middle Rio Grande has experienced multiple management and river flow fluctuations, resulting in threats to its riparian and aquatic ecosystems. This research uses remote sensing data, GIS, a review of management decisions, and an assessment of climate to both quantify how riparian vegetation has been altered over time and provide interpretations of the relationships between riparian change and shifting climate and management objectives. This research focused on four management phases from 1935 to 2014, each highlighting different management practices and climate-driven river patterns, providing unique opportunities to observe a direct relationship between river management, climate, and riparian response. Overall, we believe that management practices coupled with reduced surface river-flows with limited overbank flooding influenced the compositional and spatial patterns of vegetation, including possibly increasing non-native vegetation coverage. However, recent restoration efforts have begun to reduce non-native vegetation coverage.

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Tamarisk biocontrol in the western United States: ecological and societal implications

Cited by 86 publications

References 42 publications

Tamarisk biocontrol, endangered species risk and resolution of conflict through riparian restoration

Tamarisk biocontrol, endangered species risk and resolution of conflict through riparian restoration

Early impacts of biological control on canopy cover and water use of the invasive saltcedar tree (Tamarix spp.) in western Nevada, USA

Historical Analysis of Riparian Vegetation Change in Response to Shifting Management Objectives on the Middle Rio Grande

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