| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Steers, Robert [1], Allen, Edith [1]. Exotic annual control and the competitive release of native forbs: An example from the northwest Sonoran Desert. THE purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of native forb species to the removal of exotic grasses and forbs. The exotic grasses Schismus barbatus and S. arabicus were removed from experimental plots using the grass-specific herbicide Fusilade II. The exotic forb Erodium cicutarium was removed by hand pulling. Herbicide and herbicide plus hand-weeding of E. cicutarium treatments were implemented in a creosote bush scrub community located in Coachella Valley, California. Treatments were implemented in the first year and the annual vegetation was measured in the first and second year. For interspace, first year results revealed that native forb species were only significantly greater than control in herbicide plus hand-weeding of E. cicutarium treatments. In understory, exotic forbs were uncommon and native forbs responded significantly to grass removal, with or without exotic forb removal. The positive response of native forbs to exotic annual removal was maintained in the same pattern through the second growing season as measured by % cover, density, and biomass. These results demonstrate a strong positive response of native forbs to both exotic grass and exotic forb removal.
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of California Riverside, Department of Botany & Plant Sciences, Riverside, California, 92521-0124, USA
Keywords:
Competition
creosote bush scrub
Schismus
Erodium cicutarium.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 35-12
Location: 266/Holt
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 11:15 AM
Abstract ID:799 |
