Weeds The Cancer of Our Land

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WeedsThe Cancer of Our Land
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Why Care?

• The spread of noxious weeds may signal the
  decline of entire ecological watersheds. They
  severely impact the beauty and biodiversity of
  natural areas and cause widespread economic
  losses. Weeds are problems for urban as well as
  rural areas, and for private, state, and federal
  lands. Noxious weed species spare no segment of
  societyrancher, fisher, and cycler alikeand
  when unmanaged, they spread rapidly, unceasingly,
  and silently. Noxious weeds pose a serious threat
  to all Idahoans and to the land we call home.
• Patrick A.Takasugi, Director Idaho Department of
  Agriculture

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Why Care?

• Several scientists who focus on the ecological
  effects of global change consider invasive
  species the most serious threat, more serious
  than global warming or ozone depletion. While
  global warming and ozone depletion have serious
  implications, they are reversible. Once a noxious
  weed species is widely distributed it is
  virtually impossible to remove it, making their
  effect on the environment permanent.

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What is a Native Species?

• Native/Indigenous occurs in a particular place
  without the help of humans
• Home range is influenced by
• Climate
• Soils
• Topography
• Hydrology
• Biological interactions
• Natural Dispersal

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What is an Exotic or Non-native Species?

• Exotic An organism occurring outside of its
  natural home range.
• Other names include alien, foreign,
  non-indigenous
• Introduced by humans

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How did Non-Native Species Get Here?

• Humans introduced non-native plants as
• Grains and food crops
• Seeds in Ship Ballast
• Ornamentals
• Plants for erosion control
• Plants with higher forage value
• Accidental
• Introductions of exotics continues today!!

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What is an Invasive Species?

• Invasive species An organism that spreads and
  establishes over large areas and persists
• Invasive Species Website http//www.invasivespe
  ciesinfo.gov/

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When is a Guest a Pest?

• Invasive Species are
• Often non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem
• Important! Not all non-natives are invasive!
• Have growth characteristics that will allow it to
  dominate the ecosystem
• Whose introduction causes or is likely to cause
  economic or environmental harm or harm to human
  health.

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Characteristics of Invasive Plants

• Abundant seed producers
• Rapid population establishment
• Long-term survival of seeds
• Occupy disturbed sites
• Competitive
• Lack of natural enemies

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How Bad are Invasive Species?

• Impact native plants, animals, and natural
  ecosystems by
• Reducing biological diversity
• Altering hydrologic conditions
• Altering soil characteristics
• Altering fire intensity and frequency
• Interfering with natural sucession
• Competing for native pollinators
• Replacing complex communities with monocultures
• Displacing rare plant species

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What are Noxious Weeds?

• Noxious plant species that have been designated
  noxious by law.
• The word noxious simply means deleterious
• Weeds are declared noxious by states or counties.
  
• In Idaho, hundreds of weed species exist.
  However, only 36 are designated noxious by Idaho
  law.

http//info.ag.uidaho.edu/pdf/BUL/BUL816.pdf
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Weed Management

• Maintain healthy natural plant communities

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Weed Management

• Prevention
• Consider vectors of introduction
• Develop plans to minimize introduction
• Minimize disturbances that may favor weeds
• Early Detection
• Develop strategy for early detection
• Eradicate when possible

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Weed Management

• Weed Survey
• Collect information about weed biology and
  ecology.
• Document growth requirements
• Identify sites susceptible to invasion
• Evaluate progress of weed management plan

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Weed Management

• Weed Mapping
• Delineate extent
• Document control activities
• Monitor spread over time

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Weed Management

• Integrated Weed Management

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Integrated Weed Management Example in Idaho

• Yellow starthistle control in Hells Canyon
• courtesy of Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign

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Integrated Weed Management

• Video Followup
• What types of control are they implementing?
• Chemical, biological (bugs)
• What is their management goal or conservation
  target?
• To maintain good native bunchgrass communities
• What are some challenges to control?
• Terrain, degree of infestation

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Weed Management

• Coordinated Weed Management Groups
• Develop plans across land ownerships
• Leverage resources
• Time
• Equipment
• Money
• Expertise
• Apply for state and federal funds

Video Courtesy of Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign
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Weed Management

• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Was weed population adequately suppressed?
• Was cost of suppression acceptable?
• What were non-target effects?
• Should treatment be repeated or modified?
• Were land management goals met?

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Its not only about the Weed Its about the Land