Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Invasive ...

Chapter 4: Spartina Control and Management<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Third</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Invasive Spartinaavoids opening up <strong>the</strong> habitat that is most favorable forseedlings.For <strong>the</strong> control <strong>of</strong> solid meadows without outlyingpatches (i.e. after outliers have been controlled), treatmentshould begin with ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> lower edge or, slightly better,one end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> meadow. Again, this more rapidly cuts down<strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> growing edge and avoids opening a newedge in <strong>the</strong> upper zone.An assumption behind <strong>the</strong>se results is that <strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong>control per unit area is similar in different parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> invasion.This may or may not be true depending on what toolsare available to <strong>the</strong> control crew. It is anticipated that landmanagers will consider <strong>the</strong> results <strong>of</strong> this study in combinationwith <strong>the</strong>ir own costs <strong>of</strong> control for different sections <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> S. alterniflora invasion.Seed suppression alone is not likely to be effective, especiallywhen <strong>the</strong> invasion is already widespread. This isbecause <strong>the</strong> established plants will continue to spread vegetatively.Seed suppression may be warranted if used in combinationwith control <strong>of</strong> vegetative spread and when it can bedone completely and economically.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis work was inspired by discussions with state andfederal agency Spartina control coordinators in Willapa Bay,including Todd Brownlee, Blaine Reeves, Kyle Murphy,Charlie Stenvall, Brady Scott, Wendy Brown, Lester Holcum,Dave Heimer, and Kim Patten. Photographs used inparameterizing <strong>the</strong> model were made available by WendyBrown and Janie Civille <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Washington Department <strong>of</strong>Natural Resources. Financial support was provided by <strong>the</strong>National Sea Grant Program and <strong>the</strong> U.S. Department <strong>of</strong>Fish and Wildlife.REFERENCESFeist, B.E. 1999. Spatio-temporal analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> environmentaland climatic factors controlling <strong>the</strong> expansion <strong>of</strong> Spartina alterniflorain Willapa Bay, Washington. PhD <strong>the</strong>sis. University <strong>of</strong>Washington.Grevstad, F.S. 2005. Strategies for controlling a spatially structuredplant invasion: Spartina alterniflora in Pacific Coast estuaries.Biological Invasions 7: 665-667.Moody, M.E. and R.N. Mack. 1988. Controlling <strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> plantinvasions: <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> nascent foci. J Appl Ecol 25:1009-1021.Murphy K.C. 2003. Report to <strong>the</strong> Legislature: Progress <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Spartina Eradication and Control Programs. Olympia, WA:Washington State Department <strong>of</strong> Agriculture.Taylor, C.M., A. Hastings, H.G. Davis, J.C. Civille, and F.S.Grevstad. Modeling <strong>the</strong> spread and control <strong>of</strong> Spartina alterniflorain Willapa Bay. In: Ayres, D.R., D.W. Kerr, S.D. Ericsonand P.R. Ol<strong>of</strong>son, eds. <strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Third</strong> <strong>International</strong><strong>Conference</strong> on Invasive Spartina, 2004 Nov 8-10, SanFrancisco, CA, USA. San Francisco Estuary Invasive SpartinaProject <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> California State Coastal Conservancy: Oakland,CA. (this volume).- 206 -