Native Plants

Multiple disturbances to ecosystems can influence community structure by modifying resistance to and recovery from invasion by non-native species. Predicting how invasibility responds to multiple anthropogenic impacts is particularly challenging due to the variety of potential stressors and complex responses. Using manipulative field experiments, we examined the relative impact of perturbations that primarily change abiotic or biotic factors to promote invasion in coastal salt marsh plant communities. Specifically we test the hypotheses that nitrogen enrichment and human trampling facilitate invasion of upland weeds into salt marsh, and that the ability of salt marsh communities to resist and/or recover from invasion is modified by hydrological conditions. Nitrogen enrichment affected invasion of non-native upland plants at only one of six sites, and increased aboveground native marsh biomass at only two sites. Percent cover of native marsh plants declined with trampling at all sites, but recovered earlier at tidally flushed sites than at tidally restricted sites. Synergistic interactions between trampling and restricting tidal flow resulted in significantly higher cover of non-native upland plants in trampled plots at tidally restricted sites. Percent cover of non-native plants recovered to pre-trampling levels in fully tidal sites, but remained higher in tidally restricted sites after 22 months. Thus, perturbations that reduce biotic resistance interact with perturbations that alter abiotic conditions to promote invasion. This suggests that to effectively conserve or restore native biodiversity in altered systems, one must consider impacts of multiple human disturbances, and the interactions between them.

Plant litter may play an important role in herbaceous plant communities by limiting primary production and influencing plant species richness. However, it is not known how the effect of litter interacts with fertilization. We tested for the role of litter and fertilization in a large-scale experiment to investigate effects on diversity and biomass of plant species, growth forms, native vs. non-native groups, and abiotic ecosystem components (e.g., soil moisture, PAR). We manipulated plant litter (removed vs. left in situ) and nutrient availability (NPK-fertilized vs. unfertilized) for 4 years in 314-m2 plots, replicated six times, in an old-field grassland. While many of our species-level results supported previously published studies and theory, our plant group results generally did not. Specifically, grass species richness and forb biomass was not affected by either fertilization or plant litter. Moreover, plant litter removal significantly increased non-native plant species richness. Relative to native plant species, all of our experimental manipulations significantly increased both the biomass and the species richness of non-native plant species. Thus, this grassland system was sensitive to management treatments through the facilitation of non-native plant species. We coupled biotic and abiotic components within a nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) analysis to investigate treatment effects, which revealed that specific treatments altered ecosystem development. These results suggest that fertilization and plant litter may have larger impacts on plant communities and on ecosystem properties than previously understood, underscoring the need for larger-scale and longer-term experiments.

In this chapter, we review empirical evidence for stronger allelopathic effects of exotic European invaders on North American natives than on other European species. We argue that this evidence provides critical insights into the impor- tance of coevolutionary relationships within plant communities. We discuss how the disruption of these and other biochemical coevolutionary relation- ships may lead to the success

The islands of the Mediterranean Basin probably represent some of the ecosystems globally most at risk from invasive species. Compared to neighbouring mainland areas, island floras have a significantly higher proportion of alien plant species. Yet the circumstances that have led to this situation and the subsequent consequences of plant invasions remain poorly understood. This knowledge deficit is addressed in this paper through a comprehensive review of recent research findings. Most alien plants occurring on Mediterranean islands have been introduced intentionally for economic purposes although there still exists a sizeable proportion that arrives by accident. A wide range of alien plant functional types have colonized Mediterranean islands. While certain traits appear important, e.g. reproductive strategies, species characteristics are closely allied to the habitats invaded. Large-scale biogeographic studies have highlighted a strong correlation between local and regional abundan...

This research work evaluates the impact of stormwater infiltration on the removal of organics, solids, nitrogen and phosphorus in a LECA-based horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland. Stormwater runoff for the period between January 2008 and June 2010 (30 months) was estimated for the drainage basin of the Vila Fernando wastewater treatment plant (constructed wetland system) and it was observed proportionality between the increase in surface runoff and the infiltration flow rate that reached the plant. The average stormwater infiltration rate that reached the plant was 67.4 m(3) d(-1) (77% of the influent flow rate into the plant). The 30 month monitoring campaign set up at one of the reed beds showed that stormwater infiltration led to a high variation of the hydraulic loading rate (HLR) throughout the bed, which affected its performance in the removal of organic matter, suspended solids and nitrogen. For a HLR below 20 cm d-1 the removal efficiencies for BOD5, COD and TSS doubled. The removal of nitrogen was too low and was associated with the weak development of nitrifying biofilm and the poor growth of reeds. However, it was observed a good relationship between the applied and removed loads for most of the parameters, which seems to indicate that the organic, solid, nitrogen and phosphorus loading rates influenced the respective removal rates. The use of a bed material with high specific surface area, such as LECA, can only improve the treatment capacity of horizontal subsurface flow systems if the organic and solid loading rates, as well as the HLR, can be effectively controlled.

Reclaimed water from small wastewater treatment facilities in the rural areas of the Beira Interior region (Portugal) may constitute an alternative water source for aquifer recharge. A 21-month monitoring period in a constructed wetland treatment system has shown that 21,500 m3 year−1 of treated wastewater
(reclaimed water) could be used for aquifer recharge. A GIS-based multi-criteria analysis was performed, combining ten thematic maps and economic, environmental and technical criteria, in order to produce a suitability map for the location of sites for reclaimed water infiltration. The areas chosen for aquifer
recharge with infiltration basins are mainly composed of anthrosol with more than 1 m deep and fine sand texture, which allows an average infiltration velocity of up to 1 m d−1. These characteristics will provide a final polishing treatment of the reclaimed water after infiltration (soil aquifer treatment (SAT)),
suitable for the removal of the residual load (trace organics, nutrients, heavy metals and pathogens).
The risk of groundwater contamination is low since the water table in the anthrosol areas ranges from 10 m to 50 m. On the other hand, these depths allow a guaranteed unsaturated area suitable for SAT. An area of 13,944 ha was selected for study, but only 1607 ha are suitable for reclaimed water infiltration.
Approximately 1280 m2 were considered enough to set up 4 infiltration basins to work in flooding and
drying cycles.

A list of Endemic + Endangered Plants & Animals in the Philippines with photos and short descriptions.

Collection of 12 nos. - ENDEMIC Philippine Plants/ Flora & 12 nos. - ENDEMIC Philippine Animals/Fauna. (4 pages)

Collection of 12 nos. - ENDANGERED Philippine Plants/ Flora & 12 nos. - ENDANGERED Philippine Animals/Fauna. (4 pages)

This research is compiled/ updated as of Sept. 2020. Please send me a message for word/.doc file.

Abstract.  1. Despite increasing interest in gardening for wildlife, experiments testing the conservation value of garden alterations are scarce, particularly in heavily urbanised landscapes.2. In this paper, we assess the ability of discrete additions of native wildflowers (70 plants of seven plant species added and subsequently monitored for 2 years) to augment species richness of beneficial insects including bees, butterflies and predatory wasps in New York City community gardens. We also evaluate the overall use of native and introduced flowers by these insect groups in the urban garden study sites.3. Bayesian analyses failed to find a strong influence of the native plant additions on beneficial insect richness, after correcting for prior floral abundance.4. In addition, butterflies and megachilid (leaf-cutter) bees were found to heavily utilise introduced ornamental and crop flowers in these gardens, even when native flowers were present.5. Our results suggest that exotic garden plants are utilised by, and important in maintaining richness of, beneficial insects in urbanised landscapes. Furthermore, garden manipulations need to be more substantial than often recommended, if they are to significantly influence the richness of beneficial insects in urban gardens.

Van Devender T., Espinosa-García, F.J., Harper-Lore, B.L. and Hubbard, T. (Eds.) 2009. Invasive Plants on the Move. Controlling them in North America. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum  Press, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A. 424 pp. ISBN 1886679282, 9781886679283


I  INTRODUCTION
Preface
Bonnie L. Harper-Lore
Weeds Across Borders – A History of Weed Awareness in North America

Overview
Francisco J. Espinosa-García and Thomas R. Van Devender
Cooperation among North American Countries Dealing with Weeds: Advances and Challenges.

II  NATIONAL STATUS ON INVASIVE PLANTS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

1. Allison, Kenneth
Canada: National Invasive Alien Plant Regulations and Initiatives


2. Tasker, Alan V.
United States: Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service Plant importation Regulations and Initiatives

3. Espinosa-García, Francisco J., and Heike Vibrans
Mexico: The Need of a National Weed Management Strategy

4. Arriaga, Laura
Mexico: Current Policy Response to the he Invasive Species

5. Espinosa-García, Francisco J., José L. Villaseñor, and Heike Vibrans.
Mexico: Biodiversity, Distribution, and Possible Impacts of Exotic Weeds

6. Grosse, Andrea, Silvia Ziller, and Elizabeth Sellers
The Americas: Invasive Species Information Management and Exchange. The IABIN Invasives Information Network (I3N)

III INVASIVE SPECIES ACCOUNTS AND FLORISTICS

7. Prasad, Raj, Jordon Brenner, and Satish Bundel
British Columbia: Invasive Exotic Weeds on Federal Lands in and Management Tools

8. Ali, Shaffeek
Alberta: Weed Issues and Initiatives

9. Solomeshch, Ayzik, Sharon N. Long, Michael G. Barbour, and Alison M. Berry. 
California: Floristic Composition of Roadside Grasslands inYolo County

10. Van Devender, Thomas R., Richard S. Felger, Ana Lilia Reina-Guerrero, and J. Jesús Sánchez-Escalante
Sonora: Non-native and Invasive Plants

11. León de la Luz, José L., M. Domínguez-L., R. Domínguez-C., and Thomas R. Van Devender
Baja California Sur: Invasive Weeds

12. González-Elizondo, M. Socorro, M. González-Elizondo, J. A. Tena-Flores, Irma L. López-Enriquez, and Jeffrey R. Bacon
Durango: Invasive Alien Plants

13. Serrano-Cárdenas, Valentina, P. Balderas-Aguilar and Ricardo Pelz-Marín
Querétaro: Invasive Weeds in Natural Semidesert


IV INVASIVE SPECIES, DISTURBANCE AND LOCAL DIVERSITY

14. Smith, Derald G., and Cheryl M. Pearce
Increased Saltcedar (Tamarix) Seed Production and Regional Invasion from Large Reservoirs During Severe Droughts in the Northern Great Plains

15. Kennedy, Sheilah, and Bob Parsons
Binational Efforts to Control Invasive Species in Washington and British Columbia

16. Corral-Díaz, Rafael, and Helvia Pelayo
Non-native Plants and Vegetation and along the Río Grande in Urban Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua

17. Martínez-Díaz, Gerardo, and J. Jiménez-León
Weeds in Agricultural Crops in La Costa de Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

18. Alfaro-Rodríguez, Lucía, and Laura Arriaga
Weeds and Disturbed Habitats of the Cape Region of Baja California Sur, Mexico

V  INVASIVE SPECIES DISTRIBUTION AND IMPACTS

19. Darbyshire, Stephen, and Kenneth Allison
Dispersal of Weeds through Marine Transport Disaster

20. Pearce, Cheryl M., and Derald G. Smith
Rivers as Conduits for Long-Distance Dispersal of Introduced Weeds: Example of Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) in the northern Great Plains of North America

21. Dimmitt, Mark A., and Thomas R. Van Devender
Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii): A New, Serious Threat to Low Desert Ecosystems in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

22. Lyons, Kelly G., Baruk G. Maldonado-Leal, and Gigi Owen
Community and Ecosystem Impacts of the non-indigenous C4 Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) in the Sonoran Desert, Sonora, Mexico

23. Nagler, Pamela L., Edward P. Glenn, Kim A. Franklin, Derrick Lampkin, and Alfredo R. Huete
Remote Sensing Methods to Monitor Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) and Native Ecosystem Productivity in the Plains of Sonora, Mexico

VI  INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL

24. Dudley, Tom L.
Biological Control of Saltcedar in North America

25. Fletcher, April
Invasive Plant Species on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuges in the Southwestern United States

26. Ford, Cathy
Integrated Vegetation Management for Roadsides in Idaho

27. Renz, Mark J., Curtis Deuser, B. Hamilton, C. Nelson, María Ryan, and J. F. Makk
Management of Camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum) along Riparian Corridors in Nevada.

28. Best, Christopher F.
Fighting Weeds with Weeds: Battling Invasive Grasses in the Río Grande Delta of Texas

29. Langeland, K. A., A. P. Ferriter, C. S. Silvers, and P. D. Pratt
TAME Melaleuca  - an Areawide Pest Management Initiative in Florida

VI  SOCIETAL INVOLVEMENT IN PLANT MANAGEMENT

30. Westbrooks, Randall G., and Robert Eplee
Evolution of Early Detection and Rapid Response as a Preferred Management strategy for New and Emerging Invasive Plants in the United States

31. Ericson, Jenny A., Tani Hubbard, Marilyn Hanson, Dave Barnett, and Giselle Block.
Engaging Volunteers in Invasive Species Management in the United States

32. Darin, Gina, and Steve Schoenig
Combining Formal Weed Eradication Programs with Local Weed Management Areas for Early Detection and Rapid Response of Invasive Weeds in California

33. Marilyn Hanson, Doug Siegel, Barb Skye Siegel, Carianne Funicelli, and Aaryn Olsson
Sonoran Desert Weedwackers: A Model for Controlling the Spread of Invasive Grasses

34. Rutman, Sue
Managing Invasive Plants on the Dry Border, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona

35. Ibarra-F., Fernando A., Martha H. Martín-R., F. G., Denogean-B., and R. Aguirre-M.
Buffelgrass, Cattle, and the Sonoran Desert

36. Franklin, Kim A., Edward P. Glenn, Kelly G. Lyons, Pamela L. Nagler, Francisco Molina-Freaner, and Theresa Markow
Rates of Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) Land Conversion in the Plains of Sonora, Mexico

Four states contain over 401 species of bees, about which little is known except for a few common species. Forests of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont were largely cleared in colonial times, then trees grew back as of the 1870s. Canopy closure, urbanization, and intensive agriculture have led to reduced habitats for bees. Managed and wild bees of the region are found especially in forest openings. Many visit flowers across different plant species, though an estimated 15% visit only one or a few plant taxa. Because bee life histories, population dynamics, and host plant relations are incompletely known, an emphasis on habitat is appropriate because the environment can be manipulated. We list 15 bee habitats with natural and anthropogenic features, and suggest 40 plant taxa that may be effective in plantings for bees. Pollination systems in two native crops, lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) and cranberry (V. macrocarpon), are better-studied than most crops; from these we developed an economic perspective on altering habitat to support bees. Threats to bees include habitat loss, pests and pathogens, pesticides, and climate change. We consider practical aspects for improving pollinator habitats. The adoption of suggested habitat improvements will help meet goals in bee conservation and pollination security, and could aid in protecting pollination of the native flora. We identify gaps in knowledge to help prioritize future research directions.