Status of Phragmites australis in Chequamegon Bay

Miles Falck, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Comission, Odanah, WI
Presentation at the Chequamegon Bay Research Symposium, April 14, 2015

Transcript

1. Status of Phragmites australis in Chequamegon Bay Miles Falck, Wildlife Biologist Dara Unglaube, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
6. Phragmites australis ssp australis • Invasive Perenial Grass • Native to Europe • Dense Monocultures • Up to 20 ft. tall • Habitat • Full Sun • Wet Areas • Up to 1m Deep • Floating Mats • Marshes • Shorelines • Wet Meadows • Ditches
7. Native vs. Non-Native Native Non-Native Name ssp. americanus ssp. australis Stems Red, smooth, shiny Tan, dull, slightly ridged Leaf Sheath Falls off easily Clings to stem Ligule Width Wide, 0.4-1mm Narrow, 0.1-0.4mm Inflorescence Sparse, breaks down Dense, persistent Growth Scattered, mixed Dense, monoculture Height Up to 6.5 feet Up to 20 feet Phenology Blooms Aug - Sep Blooms Sep - Oct http://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/phragmites/phragmites-native-non-native.pdf Brochure:
8. Stems
9. Leaf Sheaths
10. Ligules
11. Growth
12. • Reduces Biodiversity – Displaces Native Vegetation – Reduces Structural Diversity • Alters Ecological Function – Increased Sedimentation Rate – Accumulation of Organic Matter – Drier Hydrology – Greater Fire Potential • Limits Access – Recreation – Wildlife • Reduces Property Values – Reduced Visibility of Lakeshores Negative Impacts
13. Negative Impacts
14. Negative Impacts
15. Negative Impacts
16. Floating Roots & Rhizomes Seeds Stolons Dispersal Vectors
17. Washburn, WI April 2013
21. Source Populations WWTP Reed Bed - Washburn, WI
22. • Dispersal Vectors • Seed • Windblown over snow & ice • Settling pond discharge • ATV trail • Vehicle traffic • Stolon & Rhizome • Shoreline populations Source Populations Phragmites Escapees from WWTP
23. Regional Perspective
24. • Threatens Coastal Wetlands & Wild Rice • WWTPs = Source Population • Pioneer Stage of Infestation • Vigilance Required to Detect Escapees • Abundant Native Phragmites • Data Sharing: • http://invasives.glifwc.org/phragmites • Report Sightings: • miles@glifwc.org • dara@glifwc.org Status of Phragmites in Chequamegon Bay