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62 Chapter 5 Broadleaf Herbs, Sedges and Succulents Case Studies Case study 5.2 Preventing further spread of a recent invader – Holly-leafed Senecio (Senecio glastifolius) Holly-leafed Senecio, a tall perennial herb from the daisy family, occurs naturally in the Cape Region of South Africa. It was first recorded as naturalised in Western Australia in 1986 (Western Australian Herbarium 1998). Collected from the Mt Adelaide and Mt Clarence Nature Reserves in the south west town of Albany, Holly-leafed Senecio was apparently an escapee from a garden adjoining the reserve. A series of fires facilitated rapid expansion of the original infestation and slashing of fire breaks contributed to further spread of seed. Holly-leafed Senecio now occurs throughout much of the 260 hectares of Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), Albany Blackbutt (Eucalyptus staeri), and Marri (Eucalyptus calophylla) woodlands, as well as Allocasuarina open woodland, in the reserves. In recent years infestations have also been found growing on coastal sands and loams up to 20 kilometres from the original infestation (Western Australian Herbarium 1998). Hollyleafed Senecio has the potential to become a major weed of natural areas around much of the south coast of Western Australia (Keighery 1999c). Senecio glastifolius (photograph Greg Keighery) Why is it such a successful weed? • Produces prolific amounts of viable, wind dispersed seed. • Some evidence of persistent soil seedbank. • Fire is a major mechanism for establishment and facilitates spread. • Soil disturbance also facilitates spread and establishment. (from Williams et al. 1999) Management The Mt Adelaide and Mt Clarence Nature Reserves are vested in the City of Albany. Until very recently few resources have been available for weed management in the Reserves. Although the original infestation of Holly-leafed Senecio threatened natural areas from Augusta to Albany and possibly beyond, it was never clear who was responsible for its eradication. Community volunteers initiated the first control programs. The following report comes from Karin Baker, Friends of Mt Adelaide and Mt Clarence Nature Reserves • 1998: Fire followed by good rains led to prolific germination of Holly-leafed Senecio on the north face of the saddle between Mt Adelaide and Mt Clarence. Many people who used the reserves for their daily walks started hand-pulling the plants and leaving them in the Reserves. (It was not known at this stage that they could form seeds after being pulled). Three community volunteers started a hand-removal program in a Casuarina open woodland area, where the thickest infestations occurred. • 1999: Holly-leafed Senecio was hand-removed from dense thickets of Acacia pulchella up to 700 mm high. Hand-pulling in this area required thick gloves and trousers. Some of the Hollyleafed Senecio removed was two and a half metres tall. This time the plants were removed from the site. We were learning! • John Moore and Dale Baker, a board member of the first CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) for Weed Management Systems ran a series of herbicide trials. Lontrel at 500 mL/ha applied from a backpack mister in spring was found to be effective on the Holly-leafed Senecio and caused little damage to the native species in the area. • The CRC for Weeds and the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia held the state launch of ‘Weedbuster Week’ at the Mt Adelaide and Mt Clarence Reserves in October. Over 100 people turned up to hand-pull Hollyleafed Senecio and the ‘Friends of Mt Adelaide & Mt Clarence Reserves’ was formed. The following year the Bushcarers Group, an umbrella group for all the Friends groups that were starting up around the city was formed. • Following on from the work day, populations were sprayed with Lontrel (500 mL/ha).
Chapter 5 Broadleaf Herbs, Sedges and Succulents Case Studies • Further spot fires in the following years have produced a germination of Holly-leafed Senecio. These have been dealt with as quickly as time and labour allow. Green Corps teams have been used but are not usually available at the time they are most needed. • Outcome: Areas where there is a good cover of natural vegetation have had very little Holly-leafed Senecio growing in the following years. However, along slashed firebreaks and under power lines, germination occurs every year. Outbreaks should be sprayed or hand - pulled in the first year following fire, to stop the spread of seed. • Being wind dispersed, there is probably seed all over the reserves, and any fire will result in further outbreaks. Case study 5.3 As well as 260 hectares of the nature reserves to deal with, outlying populations also needed to be covered as a priority and resources were limited. In 2000, Holly-leafed Senecio was placed on the ‘Alert List for Environmental Weeds’ – weeds identified by Environment Australia as likely to be a significant threat to biodiversity. Grants to undertake onground actions to manage/control isolated populations of weeds listed became available. The objective was to prevent further establishment and expansion of listed weeds. The Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, City of Albany and Albany Bushcarers jointly applied for funding to have the current distribution of the Hollyleafed Senecio mapped and to implement a carefully targeted control program. They were successful and work will begin in spring 2002. The case study is an example of community, federal, state and local government working together to acquire resources and to implement effective on-ground management of weeds invading natural areas. With any one of the parties not present, the work would not be possible. It also highlights, again, the importance of early intervention and eradication of small infestations of new weeds. Source: Information for the case study was provided by Karin Baker, (Friend of Mt Adelaide & Mt Clarence Reserves), Greg Keighery (DCLM), John Moore (Western Australian Department of Agriculture, Albany) and Ryan Munro (City of Albany). Geraldton Carnation Weed (Euphorbia terracina) – managing the spread of a serious invader Geraldton Carnation Weed has been slowly spreading south and east over the last 60 years and habitats at risk include bushlands of the offshore islands and calcareous (limestone) plant communities throughout southern Western Australia (Keighery and Keighery 2000). Reproductive biology, dispersal and spread • Short-lived perennial herb to one metre. • Loses leaves and dies back to a stem in summer, reshooting with the first autumn rains. • Often but not always killed by fire. • Regenerates from soil-stored seed. Seed remains viable in the soil for at least 3-5 years. Bulk of seed germinates with onset of autumn rains but will germinate after good summer rains. • Seed released explosively from fruits. • Water, soil movement, birds (particularly feral doves), and possibly ants play a role in dispersal. Often introduced into bushland with crushed limestone material brought in for paths. • Is increasing on roadsides and highways. Soil movement and road maintenance machinery are one of the major mechanisms for long distance dispersal. (Source: Keighery and Keighery 2000, Randall and Brooks 2000, Parsons and Cuthbertson 2001). Impacts In Western Australia Geraldton Carnation Weed can be found invading natural ecosystems from Geraldton to Cape Arid. It has been recorded in coastal dune heath, limestone heath, Tuart woodland, Banksia woodland and ephemeral wetlands. Once established it is able to invade relatively undisturbed bushland. It is a particularly serious weed of Tuart woodlands and one of the few serious weeds of coastal heath in south west Western Australia (Keighery and Keighery 2000). Control and Management in Kings Park Geraldton Carnation Weed is invading Kings Park Banksia woodlands in four main locations. Management has effectively focused on preventing spread through the identification and eradication of new outbreaks. • Volunteers and contractors are able to accurately identify the weed and new outbreaks are mapped as soon as located. • Large infestations are initially spot sprayed with herbicide Brush-off ® (1 g/150 L) or Brush-off ® + glyphosate. Follow-up includes regular inspection of the site and hand-removal of remaining plants. This continues for at least five years. Note: The entire plant must be removed. Plants as young as three weeks will resprout from any root material left behind. 63
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Bushland Weeds A practical guide to
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Acknowledgments This manual is the
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iv Introduction The Banksia, Tuart
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2 Chapter 1 The Project Blue Gum La
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4 Chapter 1 The Project Both Arum L
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6 Chapter 2 Managing Weeds in Bushl
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8 Chapter 2 Managing Weeds in Bushl
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10 Chapter 3 Grass Weeds Many grass
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Page 106 and 107: 100 Final Note In the end, environm
Page 108 and 109: 102 References 1 Aarssen, L.W., Hal
Page 110 and 111: 104 References 101 Dixon, B. (2002)
Page 112 and 113: 106 References 204 Mann, R. (1998)
Page 114: 108 307 The Nature Conservancy (200
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