A multi‐site assessment of the effectiveness ofPteridium aquilinumcontrol in Great Britain

Abstract

Questions: The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of Pteridium aquilinum (bracken) control treatments, at the national scale, and the impact of restoration practices, at the local scale, on P. aquilinum performance. Hypotheses: 1. Geographical location (locally between and within sites) affects the control of P. aquilinum through time. 2. Are the P. aquilinum control treatments successful at all sites, and if so which ones? 3. The treatments applied at the individual site level to restore vegetation influences the performance of P. aquilinum through time. Location: Four geographically distinct acid grassland and heathland sites infested with P. aquilinum across Great Britain. Methods: Six main‐plot, bracken control treatments were applied to all sites with site‐specific vegetation restoration treatments. Response variables (P. aquilinum cover, frond length and density) were monitored twice yearly, in June and August between 1993 and 2003. Results: Between‐ and within‐site spatial variation was found, although impact is perhaps less than suggested from shorter‐term data. Despite local variation all sites responded similarly to bracken control treatments; asulam treatment resulted in a rapid reduction in frond performance followed by a continued recovery taking approximately ten years to return to untreated values. Cutting treatments tended to have a slower impact at the start but an increasing one over time, especially cutting twice per year. Restoration treatments had a limited impact; the only significant effect in August was grass seeding on frond length at Sourhope. In June only, the plots where sheep were fenced out showed a significant reduction in P. aquilinum cover at Peak. Conclusions: Long‐term control of Pteridium aquilinum at all sites and on all measures was best achieved using a continuous cutting treatment, preferably twice per year.

Agronomic methods for mountain grassland habitat restoration for faunistic purposes in a protected area of the northern Apennines (Italy)

“…Our data were highly consistent with the results of a study carried out in central Italy (Tuscany), by Messeri et al (2010), who report the presence of an average number of legume species that is three times higher in improved areas as compared to natural ones. Furthermore, the long-run effect of the cutting regime applied on the specific contribution of forbs followed the same trends reported by Cox et al (2007), who demonstrated that cutting treatments had a weak effects at the beginning, but that their impact increased during the following period, especially by cutting twice a year. In general, to enhance the botanical composition of the sward, we observed that it should be mowed twice.…”

“…In addition, the replacement of open areas by woody species has a remarkable impact on the homogeneity of territory, in terms of fragmentation of such habitats (Laiolo et al 2004, Lengyel et al 2008. For these reasons, conservation actions are often planned and implemented in order to restore the grassland ecosystems (Cox et al 2007, Stewart et al 2008, particularly in susceptible environments such as upland regions or protected areas (Genghini & Capizzi 2005).…”

Overcoming resistance and resilience of an invaded community is necessary for effective restoration: a multi‐site bracken control study

“…Previous analyses of data from these experiments have assessed the effectiveness of the control treatments on P. aquilinum performance (Cox et al . ; Stewart et al . ) and on the developing understorey flora at the individual species level (Cox et al .…”

“…The key question was how do the different plant communities invaded by P. aquilinum respond to 'one-off' and 'repeated' treatments? Previous analyses of data from these experiments have assessed the effectiveness of the control treatments on P. aquilinum performance (Cox et al 2007;Stewart et al 2008) and on the developing understorey flora at the individual species level . Here, we focus on the effects of the Pteridium control treatments on the developing plant community composition and its diversity, with the aim of providing a national view of the impact of Pteridium control treatments on the changing plant communities.…”

Woody vegetation structure of Brazilian Cerrado invaded by Pteridium arachnoideum (Kaulf.) Maxon (Dennstaedtiaceae)

“…There are two potential approaches of control, herbicide use and mechanical treatments. The most commonly used herbicides are asulam and glyphosate (Cox et al, 2007;Marrs and Watt, 2006). Asulam is usually preferred because it is selective and can be sprayed from the air.…”