When misconceptions impede best practices: evidence supports biological control of invasive Phragmites

Blossey, Bernd; Endriss, Stacy B.; Casagrande, Richard A.; Häfliger, Patrick; Hinz, H. L.; Dávalos, Andrea; Brown‐Lima, Carrie; Tewksbury, Lisa; Bourchier, Robert S.

doi:10.1007/s10530-019-02166-8

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 60 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, we caution against this interpretation for several reasons. First, releasing a control agent for the invasive lineage (Blossey et al ) has a high probability of spillover to the native lineage (Bhattarai et al , Cronin et al , Kiviat et al ). Although our study suggests that the native lineage may be able to tolerate moderate levels of damage if biocontrol agents spillover, spillover from typically much larger invasive stands to less resistant native stands may be substantial.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lineage and latitudinal variation in Phragmites australis tolerance to herbivory: implications for invasion success

Croy

Meyerson

Allen

et al. 2020

Oikos

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Herbivores play a critical role in plant invasions either by facilitating or inhibiting species establishment and spread. However, relatively few studies with invasive plant species have focused on the role of plant tolerance and how it varies geographically to influence invasion success. We conducted a common garden study using two lineages (native and invasive) of the grass Phragmites australis that are prevalent in North American wetlands. Using 31 populations collected across a broad geographic range, we tested five predictions: 1) the invasive lineage is more tolerant to simulated folivory than the native lineage, 2) tolerance to herbivory decreases with increasing latitude of origin of the populations, 3) estimates of tolerance are correlated with putative tolerance traits and plasticity in those traits, 4) a tradeoff exists between tolerance and resistance to herbivory and 5) tolerance has a fitness cost. Response to folivory varied substantially among populations of P. australis, ranging from intolerance to overcompensation. Our model selection procedure deemed lineage to be an important predictor of tolerance but, contrary to our prediction, the native lineage was 19% more tolerant to folivory than the invasive lineage. Tolerance for both lineages exhibited a u‐shaped relationship with latitude. A tolerance–resistance tradeoff was evident within the invasive but not the native lineage. Also, tolerance was positively correlated with belowground biomass allocation, leaf silica concentrations, specific leaf area and plasticity in stem density, and negatively correlated with the relative growth rate of the population and plasticity in putative resistance traits. Lastly, although we did not detect costs of tolerance, our results highlight that fast growth rates can maintain high fitness in the presence of herbivory. Herbivory and plant defense strategies for P. australis lineages in North America exhibit complex biogeographic patterns that cause substantial heterogeneity in enemy release and biotic resistance and, consequently, invasion success.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lineage and latitudinal variation in Phragmites australis tolerance to herbivory: implications for invasion success

Croy

Meyerson

Allen

et al. 2020

Oikos

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…americanus is significant because this subspecies is a taxon of conservation concern in North America [ 43 , 60 ]. Efforts to implement biocontrol for the introduced P. australis haplotype are delayed owing to concerns over potential unintended impacts to native common reed populations [ 61 ], particularly in western North America where the native lineage is increasingly rare and threatened by hybridization [ 42 , 43 ]. In studies at two field sites along the Rio Grande in Texas, the scale is well-established on Ar.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology of an Adventive Population of the Armored Scale Rhizaspidiotus donacis, a Biological Control Agent of Arundo donax in California

Braman

Lambert

Özsoy

et al. 2021

Insects

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Arundo donax (giant reed) is invasive in Mediterranean, sub-, and tropical riparian systems worldwide. The armored scale Rhizaspidiotus donacis is approved for biocontrol in North America, but an adventive population was recently discovered in southern California. We documented this population’s distribution, phylogeny, phenology, potential host spillover to Phragmites spp., and potential for parasitism by a common biocontrol parasitoid of citrus scale. The adventive scale was found within a single watershed and is genetically closest to Iberian scale genotypes. Rhizaspidiotus donacis developed on Phragmites haplotypes but at much lower densities than Arundo. The adventive population is univoltine, producing crawlers from March-June. Aphytis melinus parasitoids exhibited sustained interest in R. donacis during choice and no-choice trials and oviposition resulted in a small second generation. Rhizaspidiotus donacis appears limited in distribution by its univoltinism and sessile adult females. This presents challenges for broad biocontrol implementation but allows for targeted application. The genetic differentiation between imported biocontrol samples and adventive populations presents an opportunity for exploring benefits of hybrids and/or alternative genotypes where establishment has been difficult. While unlikely to occur in situ, spillover to vulnerable endemic Phragmites or deleterious parasitoid effects on scale biocontrol agents warrants consideration when planning use of R. donacis.

show abstract

“…For example, P. australis has dispersed across much of eastern North America, becoming common in both PAs and landscape corridors (natural and anthropogenic). Despite emergent bio-control options for P. australis management (Blossey et al 2020) and the existence of inter-organizational and inter-national task forces (Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative n.d.), it is most likely the case that P. australis will remain a significant challenge for ecosystem managers well into the future (Quirion et al 2018). In this case, faced with a triage scenario, ecosystem and PA managers across the region are prioritizing the conservation of threatened species habitat (Markle et al 2018).…”

Section: Assessing Ecological Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrative adaptive management to address interactions between biological invasions and protected area connectivity: a Canadian perspective

Livingstone,

Hughes,

Pither

et al. 2023

FACETS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Expanding and creating protected area networks has become a central pillar of global conservation planning. In the management and design of protected area networks, we must consider not only the positive aspects of landscape connectivity but also how that connectivity may facilitate the spread of invasive species, a challenge that has become known as the connectivity conundrum. Here, we review key considerations for landscape connectivity planning for protected area networks, focusing on interactions between network connectivity and the management of invasive species. We propose an integrative adaptive management framework for protected area network planning with five main elements, including monitoring, budgeting considerations, risk assessment, inter-organizational coordination, and local engagement. Protected area planners can address the dynamic aspects of the connectivity conundrum through collaborative and integrative adaptive management planning.

show abstract

When misconceptions impede best practices: evidence supports biological control of invasive Phragmites

Abstract: Development of a biological control program for invasive Phagmites australis australis in North America required 20 years of careful research, and consideration of management alternatives. A recent paper by Kiviat et al. (Biol Invasions

Cited by 10 publications

References 60 publications

Lineage and latitudinal variation in Phragmites australis tolerance to herbivory: implications for invasion success

Lineage and latitudinal variation in Phragmites australis tolerance to herbivory: implications for invasion success

Biology of an Adventive Population of the Armored Scale Rhizaspidiotus donacis, a Biological Control Agent of Arundo donax in California

Integrative adaptive management to address interactions between biological invasions and protected area connectivity: a Canadian perspective

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About