Japanese Hedge Parsley Ecology and Use of Mowing as a ...

Japanese Hedge Parsley Ecologyand Use of Mowing as aManagement ToolMenyon Heflin, Dr. Mark J. RenzDepartment of AgronomyUniversity of Wisconsin -Madison

Japanese Hedge Parsley• New and problematic invader• Rapidly spreading• Diverse array of habitats

Japanese Hedge Parsley DistributionU.S. and Canada Distribution ofJapanese Hedge ParsleyKnown Wisconsin JapaneseHedge Parsley Distributionhttp://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TOJAhttp://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/invasive_species/torjap01.htm

Legal Context for ManagementWI DNR Chapter NR 40Invasive Species Identification, Classification,and Control- Penalizes the intentional spread of seed- Requires management in some areasImage fromhttp://www.tnj.com/images/page_image/Gavels.jp

Legal Context: NR 40 SpeciesClassificationProhibited Species• Not present in an area or present insmall populations only• DNR may order controlRestricted Species• Too widespread/populations too large tocompletely eradicateImage fromhttp://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/supps/1999/oct99/time.htm• Control is highly encouraged, but not legallyrequired

NR40 Classification in WIRed = ProhibitedOrange = RestrictedImage from http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/

Mowing- Can be an effective management tool- However, timing MUST be correctImage from http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/toro-model-20071-65-ph-22-inch-mower.jpg

Objectives• To determine whether mowing can effectivelycontrol Japanese hedge parsleyHypothesis: Yes, it can.• To determine the proper time to mow to preventthe production & spread of viable seedHypothesis: Flower bud to floweringstage

MethodsSampling Site DescriptionsSite Name Site Location ExperimentalDesignBike PathPleasant ValleySpring GreenMadison, DaneCounty, WITown ofVermont, DaneCounty, WISpring Green,Iowa County,WISamples perTreatmentSiteDescriptionCRD 20 Popular urbanbike/pedestrianpathCRD 20 Wooded hilltopoverlookingprairie/savannaat natureconservancyRCBD 55 Alongfirebreakseither in forestor borderingrestored prairie

General Methods• Sampled 5 timesthroughout the summer• Plants were randomlysampled along atransect.• Individuals were cut at 3in.• All biomass above 3 in.was removed.Pleasant Valley, Spring 2011Bike Path, Spring 2011

Measurements & AnalysesData Collected:• Phenology• Number of seedsproduced• SurvivalStatistical Analyses:• Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon1-sample, & Wilcoxonrank-sum tests for seedproduction• Kruskal-Wallis rank-sumfor survival dataSpring Green, Various Blocks, Spring 2011

• No plants at any site resprouted in the spring of 2011.Objective 1: Can mowing effectively controlJapanese hedge parsley?Survival ResultsPercentage of Plants with Additional Growth in Fall 2010Bike Path Pleasant Valley Spring GreenEarly July 0 0 2Mid-July 0 0 0Early August 0 0 0Mid-August 0 0 4Late August/EarlySeptember5 0 0• There was no significant difference between sites or treatment times in thepercentageof plants that had resprouted in the fall of 2010.

Percent of Sampled Plants with FruitsObjective 2: What is the proper time to mow toprevent the production & spread of viable seed?Phenology Results1009080706050403020100Percent of Plants with Fruit Present at Each Sampling TimeEarly July Mid-July Early August Mid-August LateAugust/EarlySeptemberSampling TimeSampling SiteBike PathPleasant ValleySpring Green

Mean Number of SeedsObjective 2: What is the proper time to mow toprevent the production & spread of viable seed?Seed Production Results – Pleasant Valley700600500Mean Number of Seeds per Sampling TimePleasant ValleyCCC4003002001000BAEarly July Mid-July Early August Mid-August Early SeptemberSampling TimeDifferent letters indicate a significantly different mean number of seeds (p < 0.005).

Objective 2: What is the proper time to mow toprevent the production & spread of viable seed?Mean Number of SeedsSeed Production Results – Spring Green1200Mean Number of Seeds Per Sampling TimeSpring Green10008006004002000Early July Mid-July Early August Mid-August Late AugustSampling Time

Conclusions• To determine whether mowing can effectivelycontrol Japanese hedge parsley- Yes, mowing can kill Japanese hedgeparsley.• To determine the proper time to mow toprevent the production & spread of viable seed- Plants should be mowed in the flowerbud to flowering stage.

Implications• Phenology varies among urban and rural sites.- Urban sites exhibit earlier phenology.• Seed viability may vary among samplingtimes.• Microhabitat may also influence plantphenology, growth, and reproductive success.

Acknowledgements• My advisor: Dr. Mark Renz• Cooperating Land Managers/Owners: Tom & KathyBrock (Pleasant Valley), Doug Lloyd & Laurie Derse(Spring Green), City of Madison, WI (Bike Path)• Undergraduate Students: Michelle Dobbratz , AsmaEasa, Brittney Janke, Lanette Martell• Other Field Assistance: Ryan DeRegnier, NoelleHarden, Mark Sieffert, Chris Stillion• Laboratory technicians: John Albright & BrendonPanke• CALS Lab Statistical Consulting: Nick Keuler• Funding: Science & Medicine Graduate ResearchScholars Community Advanced OpportunityFellowship, UW - Madison Dept. of Agronomy