Palmetto
Bog Gardening with Carnivorous Plants ● The Struggle with Cogongrass ● Florida’s Ranchlands
Keynote Speakers
Announced for FNPS 29th Annual Conference
Florida Native Plant Society
29th Annual Conference
May 21-24, 2009
West Palm Beach Marriott
Wake Up and Plant the Natives!
Planting Today to Preserve Florida’s Tomorrow
See preliminary field trips and other information at www.fnps.org
Contact Stephanie Brown, Conference Chair with questions. scb17611@hotmail.com 561-575-3991
Hosted by the Palm Beach and Martin County Chapters
FNPS Conservation and Research Grant Applications Due March 6, 2009
The Florida Native Plant Society provides a maximum of three conservation grants and three research grants annually with up to $2,500 in funds available for each grant. Visit the FNPS Web site at www.fnps.org for requirements and to download a grant application.
Call for Scientific Papers and Posters
The Science Track of the 2009 Florida Native Plant Society Conference will include presented papers. Researchers are invited to submit abstracts of not more than 200 words related to native plants and plant communities of Florida on topics such as preservation, conservation, and restoration. Presentations will be 20 minutes in length. Submit an MS Word file by email to: Paul A. Schmalzer –paul.a.schmalzer@nasa.gov by February 15, 2009. Include title, affiliation, and address. Indicate whether you plan to present a paper or a poster.
Palmetto is in need of articles on native plant species and related conservation topics, as well as high-quality botanical illustrations and photographs. Contact the editor for guidelines, deadlines and other information at pucpuggy@bellsouth.net, or visit www.fnps.org and follow the links to Publications/Palmetto.
The purpose of the Florida Native Plant Society is to preserve, conserve, and restore the native plants and native plant communities of Florida.
Official definition of native plant: For most purposes, the phrase Florida native plant refers to those species occurring within the state boundaries prior to European contact, according to the best available scientific and historical documentation. More specifically, it includes those species understood as indigenous, occurring in natural associations in habitats that existed prior to significant human impacts and alterations of the landscape.
Organization: Members are organized into regional chapters throughout Florida. Each chapter elects a Chapter Representative who serves as a voting member of the Board of Directors and is responsible for advocating the chapter’s needs and objectives. See www.fnps.org
Board of Directors
Executive Officers
President – Eugene Kelly
Past President – Shirley Denton
Vice President,Admin. – Ann Redmond
Vice President,Finance – Steve Woodmansee
Treasurer – Susan Thompson
Secretary – Christina Uranowski
Committee Chairs
Communications – Cindy Liberton
Media Relations Sub-Committee – Terry Godts
Conference – Stephanie Brown
Conservation – Eugene Kelly
Conservation Vice Chair – Suzanne Kennedy
Development Sub-Committee – Ray Wunderlich III
Education – Kari Ruder
Policy & Legislation – Annie Schmidt
Policy & Legislation Vice Chair – Kim Zarillo
Landscape Awards – Jake Ingram
Landscape Awards Vice Chair – Scott Sager
Membership – Lynka Woodbury
Membership Vice Chair – Volunteer Needed
Public Lands Management
Sub-Committee – Anne Cox
Publications – Bob Egolf Science – Paul Schmalzer
Directors-at-large
Anne Birch (2007-2009) Sue Dingwell (2007-2009) Ray Jarrett (2007-2009) Lynne Flannery (2008-2010)
Rick Joyce (2008-2010) Fritz Wettstein(2008-2010)
To contact board members: Visit www.fnps.org or write care of:
FNPS – PO Box 278
Melbourne FL 32902-0278
To join or for inquiries:
Contact your local Chapter Representative, or call, write, or email FNPS, or visit our website.
Florida Native Plant Society PO Box 278
Melbourne FL 32902-0278
Phone: (321) 271-6702 info@fnps.org • www.fnps.org
Webmaster – Paul Rebmann
Contract Services
Executive Director – Karina Veaudry
Accounting Services – Joslin & Hershkowitz
Administrative Services – Cammie Donaldson
Editor, Palmetto – Marjorie Shropshire
Editor, Sabal Minor – Rosalind Rowe
Palmetto
Features
4Bog Gardening with Carnivorous Plants
If you like to dig in soggy soils and are fascinated with carnivorous plants, a bog garden may be a satisfying project. Gil Nelson provides tips on how to successfully create a thriving bog garden.
7Book Review
The book Pitcher Plants of the Americas may be the perfect companion for planning a bog garden. Review by Gil Nelson.
8When the Elephants Play, the Grass Suffers
Of all Florida’s many exotic weeds, cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is known to be among the worst, especially if you value native plants. Discover what action is being taken to control this serious pest. Article by Charles Cook.
11Nitrogen Leaching Study –A Critique
Richard Poole and Christine Brown examine a study which compares St. Augustine lawn with landscape plantings as a preventative for nitrogen runoff.
12Florida’s Ranchlands
Florida’s ranches preserve history and a sense of place for people, and also provide homes for many plant and animal species that could otherwise vanish or decline. Discover the richness of ranchlands in this article by Betsey Hermanson Boughton.
Departments
ON THE COVER:
The soft pinkish flowers of the Gulf pitcher plant (Sarracenia rosea) are a diagnostic field mark. Photo by Gil Nelson.
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Bog Gardening with Carnivorous Plants
By Gil Nelson
Top left: The little hooded pitcher plant (Sarracenia minor) is widespread in the Florida peninsula from about Lake Okeechobee northward to Jacksonville and the Big Bend. Top right: Yellow trumpet (S. flava) is one of the Panhandle’s more common and showy pitcher plants. Bottom left: White-top pitcher plant (S. leucophylla) is most common in the western Panhandle and is distinguished by its attractive two-toned leaves. Bottom right: This small garden is built in a shallow prefabricated pond about 12 inches deep. All photos by Gil Nelson.
A thorough reading of McPherson’s Pitcher Plants of the Americas* –especially the relatively short chapter on horticulture and cultivation –is likely to enamor at least some readers with the prospect of growing these plants in the garden. You know how gardeners are –especially those of us already fascinated with thematic and mini-habitat gardens, or who just like digging around in sloppy, soggy soils.
Carnivorous plants are best grown in in-ground bogs –small or large peat-filled depressionsthat remain reasonably wet but provide little in the way of nutrients. Inground bogs are easy to build, can be small or very large, and provide the perfect place to enjoy native carnivores and insectivores in residential landscapes. But be forewarned –there are about as many recipes for building a bog as there are people who build them. It seems that all active bog gardeners have at least one favorite formula; some have several.
At least five ingredients are common to most successful artificial bogs –peat, sand, plastic, water, and placement. Quality, type, proportion, and quantity of these ingredients are another matter.
Some bog gardeners use commercial mixes of Canadian sphagnum peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and other minor disease resistant ingredients as their source of peat. Promix is one option. Others prefer unblended Canadian sphagnum peat (not to be confused with sphagnum moss). Actually, sphagnum is the key here and just about any good commercially available sphagnum peat will work.
The preferred type of sand is also variable. Many agree that playground, sandbox, and beach sands are all too fine and should be avoided. However, Peter D’Amato, writing in The Savage Garden (another book every bog gardener should own), recommends “washed ‘play sand’ meant for use in children’s sandboxes” because it is clean and likely to contain no contaminating particles. River sand and builders’ sand are mentioned most often by successful bog gardeners, either of which is satisfactory as long as it is well washed and free of impurities. FNPS member Lee Norris recommends pool filter sand because it is uniform in grain size, lacks impurities, is chemically inert, does not contain clay, and is
See book review on page 7
Above: The Georgia Perimeter College Botanical Garden features several 24 inch deep inground bogs surrounded by stones to hide the top of the liner.
Above: Veteran bog builder Caroline Dean, of Opileka, Alabama, has learned that much more than carnivores grow well in an artificial bog. Several of our native pitcher plants, including the white-top (Sarracenia leucophylla) have red flowers.
BogGardeningwithCarnivorousPlants
readilyaccessible.Poolfiltersandissomewhatexpensiveand maybebestforsmallerbogs,butiseasilyobtainedfrom swimmingpoolsupplyoutletsandlargehardwarestores.
Theproportionofpeattosandalsovaries.Manygardeners usea50–50mixbutsomerecommendmuchhigherproportionsofpeat.GeorgeSanko,directoroftheGeorgiaPerimeter CollegeNativePlantGardeninAtlanta,recommends75-80% peat,pointingoutthatthemorepeatinyourmixture,theless quicklythebogwilldryoutinhotsummers.HalMassie,who hasbuiltnumerousbogsintheGeorgiaPiedmont,alsorecommendsslightlymorepeatthansand–2partspeatto1part sand–topreventthebogfromappearingunnaturallysandy. Afewboggardeners,suchasDarwinThomasofCullowhee, NorthCarolina,whobuildsverysuccessful2footdeepbogs, usespeatexclusivelywithnosandatall.Thomascautionsthat saturatingthismuchpeatischallengingandshouldbedone onethinlayeratatime.Otherwise,youarelikelytoendup withlotsofpeatfloatingon18inchesofwater.
Gardenpondliners,children’sswimmingpools,prefabricatedbackyardpondcontainers,orconcrete-mixingtubsserve wellasbelowgroundbogcontainers.Ifyouarefortunate enoughtohaveaconstantnaturalwatersupplyandpoor drainage,youmaynotneedaliner.Formostsituations, however,awater-holdingbarrierofsomesortisessential.
Whethertoprovideextradrainageforyourbogdepends largelyonsoiltypeandbogdepth.Somegardenersrecommend cuttingslitsorpunchingholesinthebottomofthelinerto allowfordrainage.Ifyourboghasaslopingbottom,theseslits orholescanbelocatedonthedownhillend.Othersrecommendpunchingholesinthesideofthecontainer,nearertothe groundsurface.Andstillothersrecommendnoholesatall.Hal Massie,forexample,whohasbuiltbogsinsuchwatertightcontainersasoldwheelbarrows,saysthatdrainageisnotneeded.
Decidingtoprovidedrainageslitsorholesmayalso dependuponthequalityofyourwater.Mineralizedwater mayleaveresiduesthatbuildupinthesoilwithevaporation. Drainagecanretard,butprobablynoteliminate,thisbuildup.
Shallowbogstendtodryoutrapidly,especiallywhen situatedinfullsun,andmayperformbetterifallowedtodry byevaporationratherthanbydrainageholes.Thisisespecially trueforsmallcontainergardens.Shadierbogs,ontheother hand,mayremaintoosoggywithoutextradrainage.Bogsbuilt overclayorpoorlydrainedsoilsmayrequiremoredrainage puncturesthanthosebuiltoverwell-drained,poroussoils.
Forthosewholacksufficientspace(orenergy)forabelowgroundbog,mostcarnivoresareeasilygrowninpeat-filled containers.Abovegroundorcontainerbogscanbefashioned fromavarietyofvessels–smallandlarge–rangingfromold dishpansandplastictubstowheelbarrows,oldwashtubs, concrete-mixingtubs,andsmallpre-formedpondliners. Theyshouldbecarefullyobservedovertimetodeterminehow
quicklytheydryandwhetheradditionaldrainageshould beprovided.
Waterisaboggarden’slifesource.Anaturalseepagewith acontinuousflowoffreshgroundwaterispreferredbutisnot possibleinmosthomelandscapes.Anartificialseepagewith atimedflowoftapwaterisalsopossible,butisoftencomplicated,expensive,andrequirescarefuladjustmenttoensure consistency.Intheabsenceofnaturalorartificialseepages andregularrain,mostboggardenersirrigatetheirbogsfrom abovewithstoredrainwaterortapwater,orwithasoaker hoseburiedafewinchesdeepontheupslopeendofthebog. Duringtheheartofahotdrysummer,small,shallowbogsmay needtobereplenishedonceperweekormore,whereasdeeper bogsmaydowellwithonlyoccasionalbackyardwatering.
Howdeepaningroundboggardenshouldbeisanopen question.Recommendeddepthsof18to24inchesaremost common.However,HalMassie,writingintheJuly2006issue of BotSocNews (thepublicationoftheGeorgiaBotanical Society),suggeststhatadepthof6to8inchesisadequate, notingthatbogplantsoften“thriveinshallowsoil,”and RobSacilotto,inanonlinearticle MakingaBogGarden (www.pitcherplant.com/bog making.html)recommends12 to14inches.Althoughadepthof24inchesisgenerally consideredmaximum,afewbogbuilderssuggestdepthsto nearlythreefeet.SomeofthebestbogsI’veseenare8to12 inchesdeep.Regardlessofthedepthyouchoose,thesidesof yourexcavationshouldbestraightoronlyslightlysloping.
Bogs18to24inchesdeepseemtobethenormforensuring adequatemoistureintheabsenceofexcessiveirrigation. AccordingtoGeorgiaNativePlantSocietymembersKathryn GableandPaulaReith,whomanagethebogsattheGeorgia PerimeterCollege(GPC)NativePlantGardeninAtlanta,bogs canbemuchdrierthanonemightthink.TheGPCbogsare irrigatedregularly,butonlyalongwiththegarden’snormal wateringregimen,andreceivenospecialirrigationtreatment. Thekeyfactor,accordingtoGable–thegarden’sundisputed “bogqueen”–isthecombinationofdepthandmethodof construction;shecautionsagainstoverwatering.
Gableprefersherin-groundbogstobeatleasttwofeet deep.Afterexcavation,shelinestheholewithalayerofsand topreventrootsandotherdebrisfrompuncturingtheliner frombelow.Thelinerisinstalledabovethisinitiallayerand filledtoadepthofabouteightinches(onethirdthedepthof thehole)withpuresand.Insomeofherbogs,Gablecutsfourinchhorizontalslitseverythreefeetorsoalongthesidesofthe liner,justabovethefirstlayerofsand.Thisallowsthesandto retainmoisturewhileensuringefficientdrainageofexcessrain andirrigation.Theremainingsandandpeataremixedand wateredthoroughlyinawheelbarrow,thenspreadoneloadat thetimeina2to3inchlayeracrossthesurfaceofthedevelopingbog.Eachlayeriscompactedtightlybyrepeatedstomping
(admittedlythemostenjoyablepartofbogbuildingforthose ofwholiketocomehomedirty!).“Youshouldstompuntil thewateroozesouttheside,”Kathrynsays,“toensurethat thecompositionismixedthoroughly,completelywet,and thesanddoesnotrisetothesurface.”
Siteselectioniscritical.Forbogstoperformbest,they shouldreceiveplentyofsunlight.Bestisawesternexposure withfullsunallday;5to6hoursoffullsunisprobably aminimum.Ifshadedpartoftheday,afternoonshadeis probablybestinmostFloridaenvironments.
Thebottomlineonbogbuildingisexperimentation. Buildabog,seehowitworks,andre-designtoaccommodatewhatyou’velearned.Mostbogsbegintolosevitality afterseveralyearsandplantscanbeeasilyremovedand re-planted.Diggingupyourbog,rejuvenatingthepeat, andre-installingtheplantswillgiveyouplentyof opportunitytotryoutnewideasandmakeyourbog gardeningexperienceanon-goingadventure.
BOOKREVIEW: PitcherPlantsoftheAmericas
ReviewbyGilNelson
PitcherPlantsoftheAmericas byStewartMcPherson McDonald&Woodward PublishingCompany, Blacksburg,VA 320pages. Harcover:$44.95 Softcover:$34.95
PitcherPlantsofthe Americas byStewartMcPherson isanexcellentexampleofan increasinglypopulargenreof naturebooksthattreatasmall groupofrelatedorganismsin greaterdetailthanpossible intheaveragefieldguide. Thebookfeatureshundredsofexcellent,highqualitypictures(withonlyafew exceptions),severaldetailedandveryhelpfulillustrationsofpitcherplant morphology,andanumberofrangemaps.Thecontentbeginswithanintroduction tothegenera,ecology,andworldwidedistributionsofpitcherplants,followedby aglobaloverviewofthegeneraofcarnivorousplantsandachapteronAmerican pitcherplantevolution.McPhersonthentreatsthefivepitcherplantgenerathat occurintheAmericasbeforeturningtoachapteronhabitatlossandthethreat ofextinction,andanotheroncultivationandhorticulture.Thechapteronpitcher plantshorticultureincludesrecommendedcarnivorousplantvendors,allof whichMcPhersonhashandselectedbecauseoftheirconservationethicand theirdedicationtocarnivorousplantpreservation.
McPhersontakesthebroadviewofpitcherplants,includingwithinhis circumscriptionanyplantwith“modifiedleavesthatformhollow,water-containing vesselsthatareadaptedtotrappinganddigestinganimalprey.”Thisisarather expansivedefinitionthatincorporatesgeneranotoftentaggedwiththepitcher plantmoniker.Floridaplantlovers,forexample,mightbesurprisedtofindour ownpowderystrapairplant(Catopsisberteroniana),anepiphytictankbromeliad oftropicalrocklandhammocksandbayheadsinsouthernFlorida,amongthe plantsinMcPherson’sspecieslist.McPhersonreportsthatthereare21species of Catopsis worldwideandthatthepowderystrapairplantistheonlyone definitivelyknowntorelyoncarnivoryforalargepartofitsnutrition.Although insectivoryissuspectedinotherspecies,McPhersonpointsoutthat Catopsis berteroniana trapsmorethan20timesthenumberofinsectsofothertank bromeliadsandderivesmuchofitssustenancefromtrappedprey.
Ofcourse,powderyairplant’sinsectivoroushabitisnotanewdiscovery. Itwasreportedintheliteratureinthelate1970sandwasextensivelydescribed byDanWardandDurlandFishin1978in RareandEndangeredBiotaofFlorida, Volume5,Plants.Nevertheless,itisnotaspeciesthattypicallyspringstomind withthementionofpitcherplants.McPherson’sdecisiontoincludeitunderscores thebreadthofhisbook.
Othergeneratreatedinclude Brocchinia,anothergroupoftankbromeliads fromSouthAmerica’sGuianaHighlands,theCalifornian Darlingtonia (similarin manywaystoourown Sarracenia),therelativelylargeandinterestinggenus Heliamphora,and,ofcourse, Sarracenia.
Impatientreadersmightbetemptedtohurrypastthenearly100pages detailingthefifteenspeciesof Heliamphora.ThisisamostlySouthAmerican genusthatgracesthesummitsofArgentineanandBrazilian tepuis,magnificent flat-toppedmesasthatrisehundredsofmetersabovethesurroundinglowlands. However,skippingthissectionrisksthelossofadelightfuladventure.Few Americanpitcherplantshaveamoreinterestingorbeautifulleafandamore fascinatingstructuraladaptationforensuringthattheystayuprightwhenfilled withrainwater.Onespecies– Heliamphorasarracenioides –isevennamedfor theresemblanceofitsleavestothoseofourown Sarracenia
Heliamphora leavesareequippedwithasmallporeorslitabouthalfwayup theirlength.Inrainyweatherthesetinyporesservetoreleaseexcessrainwater. Asrisingwaterintheleaf’sinteriorreachesthelevelofthepores,itdrainsoutthe sideoftheleaf,preventingtheleavesfrombecomingtopheavyandtopplingover.
Myparticularinterestwasthe Sarracenia chapter,duetothepreponderance of Sarracenia speciesintheEastGulfCoastalPlainandtheFloridapanhandlewhere Ibotanize.McPhersontreatsallofourtaxa,includingthenumerousvarieties,subspecies,andhorticulturalselections.Histreatmentofthe Sarracenia isoneofthe few,ifnottheonly,comprehensivesourcesofinformationaboutthenumerous formsnotedbyhorticulturistsandcarnivorousplantaficionados,anditwilllikely findaplaceamongmyfavoritereferencestothesoutheastern Sarracenia
Myonlydisappointmentinthissectionwastheomissionofourownlittle Gulfpurplepitcherplantunderitsmorerecentname, Sarraceniarosea.McPherson includesthetaxonaswellasaniceimageofit,butunderthename S.purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii.RobNacziofDelawareStateUniversityraisedtheplant tospecieslevelinthepagesof Sida in1999.McPherson’s2007copyrightdate wouldseemtoprovideplentyoftimetoincludeatleastareferencetoNaczi’s work,evenifhedidn’tacceptNaczi’sargument.
Nevertheless,McPherson’sbookgetsoutstandingmarksandisanexcellent read:detailedandrepletewithusefulinformation.Nocarnivorousplantenthusiast willwanttobewithoutit.
ThecoverofMcPherson’sbook featuresourownwhite-toppitcherplant (Sarracenialeucophylla).
Florida’sStrugglewithCogongrassandNativePlantConservation
“Whenthe elephantsplay, thegrasssuffers” (ChineseProverb)
Ofallthemanyexoticweeds, cogongrass(Imperatacylindrica)iswell knowntobeamongsttheworst,especially ifyouvaluenativeplants.Itisaplaingrass, abitcoarse,notsucculentordelicate.In factitseemstobeafiercecompetitorforcingoutdelicateplantsbytheacreuntilit alonecanbeseenacrossafield.Tall,brown, boring,monostandsofcogongrassstealthousandsofacresofnativewildlifehabitatfrom theplantswelovetoseeintheundisturbed woodlandsandgrasslands.
Cogongrasshasclearlysetupitsdominion intheFloridalandscape.Itcanbeseenfrom heretothehorizoninplaceswherethenative landscapehasvanished.Althoughcogongrass canout-competeandspreadevenwherethere isavegetationcover,initialestablishmentis mostoftenondisturbedground.Wewonder howmuchhogsandfireantscontributeto creatingdisturbedsitesforcogongrassinvasion Westruggletolearnofallthemechanismsthat enableittodominateaFloridalandscape.
ByCharlesCookwithcontributionsfromthe FDEPBureauofMineReclamationandtheFlorida InstituteofPhosphateResearch(FIPR).
WhytheStruggle?
Toworsenitsreputation,cogongrasshas fueledsomedisastrouswildfiresacrossthe Floridalandscape.Intense,fast-runningfires blazethroughexpansesofcogongrassscorchingthenativetreesandplantsthatremain withinit.Theresultismorecogongrassand fewerplantsandanimals.Nowondersociety hasascribedtocogongrassapositionamong theworld’sworstpestplants.Accordingtothe GlobalInvasiveSpeciesDatabank,itislistedas oneoftheworld’s100worstinvaders,another sourcelisteditasamongtheworld’s10worst weeds,andtheofficialrankinggivenbythe FloridaExoticPestPlantCouncil,is“Category One”pestplant.
Cogongrassinfestation.Photocourtesy
Whatmakescogongrasssoformidableis itsabilitytogrowinsomanydifferentconditions.Climateshotandcold,soilswetordry, softorhard,areasinpartshadeorfullsun. Cogongrasshasstiffpointedroottipsand growingbudsthatcanpunctureasphalt andhardplastic.Afewyearsagoablade ofcogongrasswasfoundgrowingthrough bothsidesofa2literplasticsodabottle.The burrowingrootsensureitsspreadevenafter thetopoftheplantisremovedordies.Its downywhiteseedgrowsalonganarrowtassel thatstandsamong,orabove,theyardlong leaves.Theseseedsmaybewindblown overgreatdistancestocolonizedisturbed ground.Inamatterofseveralyearsanew colonymaycompletelycoveranacre. Gettingenergyfromthesun,cogongrass seemstogrowbestinopensavannahs. Cutorburnedtotheground,abladeof cogongrasswillgrowbackatanextremely fastrate.Sixinchestallfromblackenedburnt fields,theyoungbladesprovideneeded
Above:
greenpasturetosomeFloridacattleinthewintermonths,sometimes asfastasfivedaysafterafire.
AroundseventyyearsagowhenitwasintroducedintotheUnited StatesfromSoutheastAsia,cogongrasswastriedasacattleforageand soilstabilizer.Thecattleshunnedthecoarsenessofthegrassandfound itpalatableonlyinitsearlystagesofgrowth.Itwashoweversuccessful erosioncontrolmaterialandwasusedbyroadbuilderstostabilize embankments.SinceitsreleaseintotheFloridaenvironmentitfound itswaytodisturbedroadsides,agriculturalfields,stripminesandutility easements.Ithasbeenfoundgrowingontopofofficebuildingsin CentralFlorida.
Source:2007MapfromU.S.ArmyCorpofEngineersWebsite
EnvironmentalAgenciesandPublic/PrivateInvolvement
Foryearsnow,astandardprescriptionhasbeenusedforthecontrol ofcogongrassinfestations.Themethodwasdevelopedbyascientist whostudiedtheknownwaysusedtoeradicateit,therebyvalidatinga recommendedprescription(FIPRPublication#03-107-140May1997, DonnG.Shilling,etal.).Thisinvolvestheuseofsomemechanical plowingandtheapplicationofherbicidesintherightamountsandat therighttimes.Althoughburningbyitselfwillnotcontrolcogongrass (infactburningreduceswoodycompetitionandencouragescogongrass spread),burningisalsoapreliminarypartoftheeradicationprogram thatD.G.Shillingdevelopedforcontrollingcogongrass,andhis prescriptionremainsthestandard.AccordingtoDr.SteveRichardson, DirectorofReclamationResearchfortheFloridaInstituteofPhosphate Research,burninginthelatesummertoremovethatchandstanding deadgrass,followedbyapplicationofglyphosate(Roundup)orimazapyr(Arsenal/Habitat)tothemore-lushandmore-herbicide-susceptible regrowthinthefall,isthemosteffectivetiming.Thisisbecausethe herbicidesarecarriedintotherhizomes(undergroundstems)asthe planttriestostorefood(carbohydrates)forthewinter.
Recently,ashashappenedonoccasioninpastyears,talksabout thetragedyofthecogongrassinfestationstookanupswing.Renewed interestinaddingtothevaluableresearchdonebyShillingstimulated researcherstolookagainatwhatwasbeingdonetopreservethe Floridalandscapefromthedreadfulweed.
InonecreativeefforttocontrolcogongrasstheFloridaDepartment ofEnvironmentalProtection,BureauofMineReclamationattempted tomashitdownwithagriculturalequipment.Thismashingwas followedbyapplicationsofherbicide,andthegrassbecameso depresseditallowedavarietyofweedstogrowoverit.Onedaya wildfirehitattheedgeofthemashedfieldofcogongrassandburned intotheunmashedportionsoftheadjacentarea.Amazingly,thefire traveledaboutatenthasquicklythroughthemashedcogongrassasit
Above: Cogongrassseedscaughtinbarbedwirefence. PhotocourtesyofJohnD.Byrd,MississippiStateUniversity,Bugwood.org
Below: Imperatacylindrica. PhotocourtesyofJamesH.Miller, USDAForestService,Bugwood.org
Continuedonpage10
Florida’sStrugglewithCogongrassandNativePlantConservation (frompage9)
didthroughthetallcogongrass.Thisledustoobservethepossible benefitsintreatingrampantgrowthbymashing–namely,fire suppression,soilmoistureandorganicmatterconservation,andthe conservationofecologicalreservesforwildlife.Mashingcogongrass seemstohavepotentialasafuturemethodofcontrol,andstudies arebeingconductedtoverifythishypothesis.Ofcoursethe mashingmethod,ortheburning/herbicidetreatment,aremainly applicabletosolidinfestationsofcogongrass.Wheremixedstands ofdesirableplantscontainsomeinvadingcogongrassyoucanspot treatindividualplantsorpatcheswithhighratesofglyphosateor imazapyror,asFIPRresearchershavebeenstudying,applybroadcast spraytreatmentsoflowerratesofimazapyrtogetselectivecontrol. Thisispossiblebecausesomenativeplantspeciessuchaspines, wiregrass,blazingstar,goldenasterandseverallegumesaremore tolerantofimazapyrthaniscogongrass.
ScientificStrugglesandEducationMatters
FIPRhasfoundthatadensecanopyoftreesandshrubscan shadeoutcogongrass(e.g.,liveoak,laureloak,waxmyrtle).The treesmayhelpcontrolcogongrass.Someresearchersareconsidering non-nativetreesthathavevalueforharvestingasanalternativefuel sourceorasanalternativetocypressformulch.Wemustconsider thewisdomofreplacingoneexoticwithanother.Whichisworse–afieldofsolidcogongrassorafieldofeucalyptustreeswhichmay havesomedesirableplantsintheunderstory?Currentevidence suggeststheeucalyptusspeciesplannedforplantationsarenot invasive.Nativetreescanbeplantedifthepublicandlandowners sodesire,buteucalyptusprovidesaquickerreturnoninvestment inacommercialplantation.Othernon-nativeplantspeciesare underconsiderationasalternativecovertocogongrass.
Itisimportanttopointoutthatresearchersandlandmanagers havefoundwaystokillcogongrass,althoughtreatmentsarerarely 100%effective.Buttotrulysucceedincontrollingcogongrass,a replacementcovermustbeinstalledandmustgrowtooutcompete thereinfestinginvaderforalongtime.Thisneedisoftenmetby developmentsthatinstallornamentalgrasses,farmerswhoplant tamepasturegrassessuchasbahiaandbermuda,orrestorationists whoplantavarietyofnativetrees,shrubs,andherbaceouscovers. Wearealsoconductingstudiestofindthebestnativeplantstoput outinthefieldsofmashedcogongrass.(Iuse“we”tomeanthose whoknowabouttheloveandchallengeofconservingandrestoring nativeplantcommunities).MembersoftheSierraClubandthe FloridaNativePlantSocietyhavecontributedsomegreatideas. TheAssociationofFloridaNativeNurserieshasalsogivensome greatadviceandencouragedtheuseofinnovationsandnew nativeplantmaterialsastheyarefound.
Easterngamagrass(Tripsacumdactyloides)wasintroducedto ourfieldsinthelastfewyearsanditseemstobeholdingitsown. Unfortunately,manynatives(e.g,.wiregrass)arenotvigorous enoughtocompetewellwithcogongrass.Thenativeplantsthat
work,likegamagrassandavigorouscultivarofmaidencane (Panicumhemitomon ),alsocalled‘Citrus’maidencane, switchgrass(Panicumvirgatum),bluemaidencane(Amphicarpum muhlenbergianum),andafewothers,havebeenthesubjectof studyformorethanadecadebytheNaturalResourceConservation Service,theBureauofMineReclamation,andFIPRalongwith severalUniversityrelatedforestryandreclamationprograms. (seewww.fl.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/flplantmaterials.html).
Additionalstudyisbeinggiventosomeperhapsoverlooked nativeplantsthathavethekeyattributesusefulinarestoration project:availability,transplantability,transportability,tenacious regrowthbyrhizomes,plantsthatarestructurallyequipped toarrestflyingcogongrassseeds,persistenceinthefield,and benefitstowildlife.
Amongthosecandidatesthatmightqualifyfitspeciesofgenera suchas Solidago,Euthamia,Aster andmanyothers.Giventhese attributes,andtheeffortsonthepartofotherstodevelopdonor fields,seedsources,betheypublicorprivate,commercialornotfor-profit,wecanworktowardeconomicallyharvesting,planting andwatchingthewarofplantsforspeciesdominationoftheFlorida landscape,withthehopethatonedayournativeswilltriumph.
Youmightstopbytoseetheseeffortsoneday,orinviteaspeaker toupdateyourgroupontheseimportantenvironmentalmatters. Thisissaidtoemphasizetheneedtoknow,because,whatweknow, welove,andwhatweloveweprotect.Truly,eachcitizenasanative plantenthusiastcancontributetothedefenseofourbeautifulnatural communities,orhelprestorethembylearning,andwantingtocare andkeepthemgoing...inthefieldorthebackyard.
References: Gaffney,J.F.1996.Ecophysiologicalandtechnologicalfactorsinfluencingthemanagement ofcogongrass(Imperatacylindrica).Ph.D.Dissertation.Univ.ofFlorida,Gainesville.114p. MacDonald,G.E.2004.Cogongrass(Imperatacylindrica)–biology,ecology,andcontrol. CriticalReviewsinPlantsciences23:367-380.
Richardson,S.G.,N.Bissett,C.Knott,K.Himel.2003.Weedcontrolanduplandnativeplant establishmentonphosphateminedlandsinFlorida.Presentedat30thAnnualConference onEcosystemsRestorationandCreation,Tampa,FL,October,2003.Sponsoredby HillsboroughCommunityCollege.
Shilling,D.G.,T.A.Bewick,J.F.Gafney,S.K.McDonald,C.A.ChaseandE.R.R.L.Johnson. 1997.Ecology,Physiology,andManagementofCogongrass(Imperatacylindrica) FinalReportFIPRProject93-07-107.136p.
Tanner,G.W.,J.M.WoodandS.A.Jones.1992.Cogongrass(Imperatacylindrica) control withglyphosate.FloridaScientist55:112-115.
Willard,T.R.,D.G.Shilling,J.F.GaffneyandW.L.Currey.1996.Mechanicalandchemical controlofcogongrass(Imperatacylindrica).WeedTechnology10:722-726.
MoreNitrogenLeachedfrom LandscapePlantingsthanLawns AcritiqueofaUniversityofFloridaexperiment
ByRichardPooleandChristineBrown
Nitrogen(N)isthemajorcomponent offertilizerappliedtolawnsandornamentalplants.Othermajorcomponents offertilizerarephosphorus(P)and potassium(K).Nitrogenleachesreadily fromthesoil,especiallythesandysoil thatcomprisesmuchofFlorida’slawns. Whennitrogenleavesthesoilitenters theaquifer,andstreamsandlakes, whereitfrequentlyproducesalgae bloomsandeutrophication.Phosphorus alsocontributestothedeclineofour waterways(PopeandMilligan,2002).
Tomaintainlushgreenlawnsdesired bymosthomeownersandrequiredby manyhomeownerassociations,large quantitiesofwaterandfertilizerare applied.Asaresult,harmfulfertilizers areaddedtoourwatersupply.
AUniversityofFloridastudy byEricksonet.al.,2001,statesthat morenitrogenisleachedfromground covers,shrubsandtreesthanlawns. Theirabstractstates:“Theresultsfrom thenewlyestablishedlandscapespresentedhereindicatedthatSt.Augustine grasswasmoreefficientatusing appliednitrogenandminimizing nitrogenleachingcomparedwith thealternativelandscape.”
Let’sexaminethe Materialsand Methods sectionofthepaper.The experimentwasconductedatthe UniversityofFlorida’sFortLauderdale ResearchandEducationCenter.Plants chosenwereapproximatelyhalfFlorida nativeplantsandhalfexoticplants commonlyusedinFloridalandscapes. Acomparisonwasmadebetweenplots completelycoveredwithSt.Augustine andplotswith71plantswhoseroots initiallycoveredabout5%ofthetest plots.Therootzonemixusedtogrow theplantswasamediumfinesandwith relativelyhighinfiltrationrate.Therate ofirrigationusedwasuniformacrossall
plotsforfivemonths.Nitrogenwas appliedattherateofapproximately 44poundsperacreperapplication, amoderateamountforsouthFlorida. Grassreceivedtwiceasmuchfertilizer asthelandscapeplants.
Guidelinesfornativeplantmaintenancerecommendthataninitialdose ofdilutefertilizertogettheplantsoff toagoodstartissometimesbeneficial, butroutinefertilizingofnativeplantsis notrecommended(Osorio,2001).Once establishedawater-conservingyard mayrequireonlymoderateamountsof supplementalfertilizer.Over-fertilizing aggravatespestproblems,stimulates excessivegrowthandrequiresfrequent watering.Fertilizerscarriedbyirrigation waterorraincanleachintoground waterandourwaterways(Waterwise, 2003).Othersourcessuggestrequirementsforsoil,lightandtemperaturebut makenosuggestionsforfertilizerapplication(Huegel,nodate;Traas1999).
SaintJohn’sRiverWaterManagement Districtpromotes‘ThinkTwo’–watering twiceaweekforSt.Augustinegrass. However,onceestablished,native plantsdonotrequireirrigation,and exoticornamentalswillthrivewithless thantwiceweeklyirrigation.
Intheexperiment,initialplotsof grasshad100%vegetationcoverage, whereastheinitialplotsofmixedplants hadapproximately5%coverage.Much ofthefertilizerinthemixedplotswas appliedtomediumfinesandwithno vegetationcoverage.
Morewaterwasappliedtothe mixedplantsbyEricksonet.al.than necessary.Morefertilizerwasapplied thanneededbythemixedplantingand muchofthefertilizerwasappliedto sandwithnovegetativecoverorroots. Ericksonet.al.suggest“itispossible thattoomuchfertilizerwasappliedto
themixedspecieslandscapeplants.” Undertheconditionsoftheexperiment nitrogenleachatewouldbeexpected tobegreaterforthemixedplants.
Theabstractshouldhaveread: ResultsfromthenewlyestablishedlandscapespresentedhereindicatedthatSt. Augustinegrasswasmore efficientatusingappliednitrogen andminimizingnitrogenleaching comparedwiththealternativelandscape whenexcessiveamountsofnitrogen andwaterareappliedtolandscape plantsandsand.
Toproperlyevaluatenitrogen leachateofnativeandlandscape plants,fertilizerornofertilizershould beappliedtotheplantrootzones. Watershouldbeappliedlessthan twiceaweek.
Theexperimentalplotsas designedbyEricksonet.al.totest nitrogenleachatefromgrassand landscapeplantsfavorslawns.
LiteratureCited:
Erickson,J.E.,J.L.Cisar,J.C.Volin&G.H.Snyder. ComparingNrunoffandleachingbetweennewly establishedSt.Augustinegrassturfandan alternativeresidentiallandscape.CropSci.41: 1889-1895.2001.
Florida’sWaterManagementDistricts.Waterwise, FloridaLandscapes.2003.
Huegel,C.N.NativePlantsthatAttractWildlife: CentralFlorida.UniversityofFlorida.SS-WIS-09.
Osorio,R.AGardener’sGuidetoFlorida’s NativePlants.UniversityPressofFlorida, Gainesville.2001.
Pope,L.M.andC.R.Milligan.Sourcesand ConcentrationsofPhosphorusintheCheney ReservoirWatershed,South-CentralKansasU.S. GeologicalSurvey.FactSheet010-02.2002.
Traas,P.F.GardeningforFlorida’sButterflies. GreatOutdoorsPublishingCompany,St.Petersburg, Florida.1999.
Floridaranchlands
Areasofconservationvalue andopportunitiesforrestoration
byBetseyHermansonBoughton,UniversityofCentralFlorida
Cloudsloomoverhead,theskyrumblesandcabbagepalms rustleloudly.TheanticipationofastormissostrongthatIcannot ignoreitanylonger;Idecidetostopworkingandheadindoors. Asafieldbiologist,I’velearnedtoheedthesignsoftheFloridasky. NowhereelseinFloridabutonopenrangelanddoestheskyseem sohugeandhavesomanyfaces.Astormcanproduceswirling colorsofdarkblue,gray,andgreenwhilesunsetsconsistofvaried combinationsofredandorangeinterruptedbythedarksilhouettes ofpalms.UnderthisvastCentralFloridasky,cattlegrazeona mosaicofhabitatswhichalsohousemanynativespecies.The roleofcattleranchesinprotectingnaturalresourcesandFlorida ecosystemsissignificantbutoftenunrecognized.
RanchlandoccupiesmostoftheterrainsurroundingLake Okeechobee,especiallynorthoftheLake(Swainetal.2007). RanchesinsouthernFloridaarevaluableinmanyways.They providejobsandsupportruraleconomies.ManynativeFloridians grewuponoraroundranchesandassociateranchlandwiththe “real”Florida.Unfortunatelymanyoftheseranchesarethreatened bydevelopment.Thelossofranchesresultsnotonlyinthelossof historyandasenseofplaceformanypeoplebutitalsomeansthat manyplantandanimalspeciesthatmaketheirhomesonranches couldvanishordecline.BurrowingOwls,CrestedCaracaras, EasternMeadowlarks,andBobwhiteQuailrelyonopenranchland ashabitat.Also,oneofthesecretsofFloridaranchesisthatthey containextensivenaturalareassuchasprairies,marshes,andhammocksthathavenotbeenhighlyalteredfromtheiroriginalstate.
Floridaranchesconsistofacombinationofimprovedpasture (fertilized,bahiagrass),unimprovedorsemi-nativepasture (unfertilized,amixtureofnativeandexoticgrasses)andnative rangeland.Becausemanyranchescontainsubstantialnativeareas,
theyareextremelyimportantforincreasingandmaintainingthe biodiversityoftheFloridalandscape(Swainetal.2007).InFlorida andotherplacesintheUS,apivotalconservationstrategyisto workwithrancherstokeeplargeparcelsofprivateranchland frombeingdeveloped(Maestasetal.2003).Nativeandsemi-native rangelands(unfertilizedandunplowedgrasslandsorprairies) arealsoimportantareasofbiodiversityinmanyEuropeancountries,includingSweden,Finland,TheNetherlands,Germany, andEngland,andthedeclineofsemi-naturalgrasslandsisone ofthemajorthreatstoEuropeanfloraandfauna(Fuller1987).
Florida’ssemi-nativeranchlandscontainseveralrarehabitat typesincludingwetprairie,dryprairie,calcareousprairiesand cabbagepalmsavannas.Expertbotanists,EdwinBridgesand SteveOrzell(AvonParkAirForceRange),studyprairiesthroughoutFloridaandhavefoundcalcareousprairiestohaveoneofthe highestincidencesofvascularplantspeciesdiversityeverrecorded inNorthAmerica,withupto171speciesin1000m2 (Orzelland Bridges2006).Becauseoftheirrarityandextremelyimpressive biodiversity,disturbedorremnantcalcareousprairiesshouldbe protectedandrestored.Unfortunately,thereareseveralstrong threatstoFloridasemi-nativerangelands,includingsuburban development,intenseagriculturalusessuchassodandvegetable farmingandconversiontoimprovedpasturesdominatedbyexotic foragegrassesandmoreintensemanagementpractices.
BuckIslandRanchandtheIndianPrairie
OneprimeexampleofaFloridaranchisBuckIslandRanch, thelocationofMacArthurAgro-EcologyResearchCenter(MAERC; adivisionofArchboldBiologicalStation).Thisranchiscomposed of51%improvedpastureand49%semi-nativerangeland.Buck
IslandRanchisalargeranch(10,500acres),andprofessional cowboysheadedbyranchmanagerGeneLollis,manage3,000 headofcattlewhichincludeBrahmancrosscowsbredtoAngusor Charolaisbulls.Over2,300calvesareraisedannuallymakingBuck IslandRanchamongthetop20producersofcow-calvesinFlorida. Huntingprovidesfurtherrevenuefortheranchastherearemany deer,hogs,alligatorsandturkeys.Dr.PatrickBohlendirectsecologicalresearchatMAERC.Onemajorfocusoftheresearchprogram istodeterminetheimpactofranchingonwaterqualityandthe capacityforranchestostorewaterandpreventphosphorusrunoff fromreachingdownstreamwaterways,andultimatelyLake Okeechobee,theheadwaterstotheEverglades.Highphosphorus loadinghasseverelyimpairedLakeOkeechobeeandisathreat totheEvergladesrestorationefforts.Anotherfocusoftheranch researchprogramistounderstandthebasicecologyofranch systems,andtoprovideinformationabouttheecologicalvalue ofranchestothebroaderscientificcommunity,ranchersandthe public.ResearchersatMAERCcollaboratewiththeUniversityof FloridaIFAS,SouthFloridaWaterManagementDistrict,theFlorida DepartmentofAgricultureandConsumerServices,TheFlorida Cattlemen’sAssociation,theFloridaDepartmentofEnvironmental Protection,theUSDANaturalResourceConservationService (NRCS)andAgriculturalResearchService,andtheWorldWildlife Fund,aswellasother privateranchesinthe LakeOkeechobeewatershed.Goalsinclude determininghowagriculturallandcanbeutilized tominimizephosphorus flowandtomaximize wildlifehabitatand ecosystemserviceswhile remainingeconomically viable.BuckIsland Ranchissituatedinan areahistoricallyknown asthe“IndianPrairie”a250-squaremilearea insouth-centralFlorida,extendingfromLake IstokpogatoLakeOkeechobee(Kushlan1990). RemnantsoftheoriginalIndianPrairiecanbe foundintheNRCSWetlandReserveProgramSite onBuckIslandRanch(BridgesandOrzell2005), withintheFisheatingCreekbasin,AvonPark BombingRange,andKissimmeePrairiePreserve (Tanneretal.1982).TheIndianPrairieregion historicallyconsistedofwetpalmsavannasand wetlands,interspersedwithdryprairieislands (Davis1943,Meshaka1997).Calcareousprairies, whicharerareinsouth-centralFloridaandmore commoninsouthFlorida,existwithintheIndian
Prairie,andsupportauniqueflora.Thecalcareousprairieis oftendominatedbymuhlygrass, Muhlenbergiacapillaris var. filipes (Photo1),andlovegrasses(Eragrostis spp.)bothofwhich displaystrikingpurpleinflorescencesinfall(BridgesandOrzell 2005,OrzellandBridges2006),andarepresentinthesemi-native pasturesofBuckIslandRanch.InasurveyconductedonBuck IslandRanchin2005,inadditiontofindingwetandcalcareous prairietypes,BridgesandOrzellfoundtwotypesoflittledisturbed, IndianPrairiesavanna;including Sabalpalmetto/Spartinabakeri wet savannaand Sabalpalmetto/Cladiumjamaicense wetsavanna.Other speciesfoundintheprairiesatBuckIslandRanchinclude Mecardoniaacuminata var. peninsularis (endemic topeninsularFL), Sacoilalanceolata var. lanceolata (Photo2), Polygalagrandiflora var. angustifolia, Aristida palustris,Aristidapatula (endemic),and Euthamiagraminifolia var. hirtipes (themost extensiveinlandpopulationeverobservedby BridgesandOrzell (2005);(Photo3). Lightormoderate grazingonsemi-native pasturesornativerange, bothofwhichareused aswinterpastureson manyranches,maintains adiverseprairiecommunity,includingthemore sensitivespecies(Duever 1986).Thestrongthreat ofconvertingsemi-native pasturestoimprovedpasturesin ordertosupportmorecattleorto convertthemintosubdivisions threatensthefutureofthesevaluable prairieandsavannaremnantsin Florida.Thereareonlyafewprotected prairiereserves,includingPaynes PrairienearGainesvilleandKissimmee PrairienearOkeechobee,making prairieremnantsonranchlands extremelyimportantasintermediate habitatandbuffersprovidinghabitat continuityandconnectivitywith publicprairiepreserves.
Continuedonpage14
Photo1: Muhlenbergiacapillaris var. filipes
Photo2: Sacoilalanceolatavar.lanceolata
Photo3: Euthamiagraminifolia var. hirtipes
Floridaranchlands
MarshesandWetlandsonRanchland:
RefugesforNativePlants
MarshesandwetlandsonBuckIslandRanchserveasrefuges fornativeplantsinadrainedlandscape.Thereare628smallisolated wetlandsonthepropertyandthesewetlandsharborconsiderable nativediversity.Inasurveyof40wetlandsontheranch,20 improvedand20semi-native,wefound154species,ofwhich ninewereexotic.Endemic speciesincludealarge populationofthefederally endangered Hypericum edisonianum (Photo4). Anotherendemic, Aristida patula,isfoundcommonly withinthesemi-nativepasture wetlands,andmuhlygrass, whichisnearlyendemicwith calcareousaffinities,isfound alongthebordersofmany ofthesemi-nativewetlands.
Somecommonlyfound speciesinclude: Amphicarpum muhlenbergianum, Cephalanthusoccidentalis, Cladiumjamaicense, Fuirena scirpoidea, Hypericum fasciculatum, Ipomoeasagittata, Oxypolisfiliformis, Polygala cymosa, Rhynchosporafilifolia, R.inundata, R.tracyi, Sabatia grandiflora, Sagittarialatifolia, and Utriculariafoliosa
RestorationofNaturalCommunitiesonWorkingRanches
Semi-nativepasturesareeasiertargetsforrestorationthan improvedpasturesandcouldserveasvaluablemitigationland. Semi-nativepasturestypicallyhaveneverbeenfertilizedorlimed andthereforesoilsinthesepasturesandwetlandstendtohave muchlowerphosphorouscontentsandthesoilsanddetritallayers arelessdisturbed.Becausesemi-nativepastureshaven’tbeen plowed,itislikelythatanativeseedbankstillexistsandmany nativespeciesarestillpresent.Forrestorationofprairieremnants, ashorthydroperiodisrequired,withapproximatelyfourmonths ofshallowflooding(OrzellandBridges2006).Fireregimeis extremelyimportantforprairiespeciesandanaturalspring burningregimeisneededtoincreasethenumberofplantspecies foundintheseareasandalsoincreasefloweringofexisting species(MainandBarry2002,BridgesandOrzell2005).
Grazingshouldbelowintensityandareasshouldbeclosely monitoredforanyproblemscausedbyexoticspecies.
Inmarshes,restorationofalongerhydroperiodisimportant forwetlandplantsthatthriveindeeperwaterconditions,such
as Cladiumjamaicense, Rhynchosporainundata,Panicumhemitomon, Saccharumgiganteum, Cephalanthusoccidentalis,and Paspalidium geminatum.Afluctuatingwaterregimewouldbestmimicthe historicalhydrologyasmanyspeciesareadaptedtoaperiodof bothwetanddryperiods.Forexample,maidencane(Panicum hemitomon)candieoutifthereisprolongedfloodingandis replacedbyemergentvegetationsuchaspickerelweed(Pontederia cordata)orcattail(Typhalatifolia)(Kushlan1990).Therearealso manyshallowmarshspeciesatBuckIslandRanchsuchasspider lily(Hymenocallislatifolia)and Cannaflaccida whichwouldbenefit fromafluctuatingwaterregime.Resuminganaturalfireregime (earlygrowingseason)wouldalsobeintegraltorestoringmarshes andwetlandsonranchlandswheremostfiresusuallyoccurinthe winter.Fireplaysacrucialroleinmarshesaffectingbothspecies compositionandnutrientdynamics,andmostdeepwatermarshes historicallyburnedeverythreetofiveyearswhileshallow marshesburnedeveryonetothreeyears(Kushlan1990).
Inadditiontorestoringhydroperiodinranchwetlands,some ofthemoreintenselygrazedwetlandsmayrequiremorework thanjustsimplyremovingcattle.AtBuckIslandRanch,intensely grazedwetlandsaredominatedby Juncuseffusus subsp. solutus,plant diversityisreduced,andnutrientlevelsarehigher.Theeffectof Juncus onotherplantspeciesmaybeofimportanceforgrazed wetlandrestoration(seethe“CloserLook”sidebar).Howwetlands respondtocompleteremovalofgrazingisunknownandhistorical successionaltrajectoriesmaybealtered.Forexample,inherbaceoussedgemeadowsinWisconsin,removalofcattleresulted inadominanceofshrubs(Middleton2002).Apossiblesolution couldbelightormoderategrazingthatallowsforrecoveryof nativespecieswhileinhibitingestablishmentofundesirableshrub species.Managementofvegetationthroughmechanicalchopping orthroughprescribedfireareotherpossiblealternatives.Anew experimentatBuckIslandRanch,fundedbytheUSDA,inwhich 20entirewetlands(10improvedpasturewetlandsand10 semi-nativepasturewetlands)arefenced(establishedinspring 2007)willdeterminehowcompleteremovalofgrazinginfluences plantspeciescompositionandspreadofexoticspecies.
RanchesorSuburbs?
ThedevelopmentofFloridaranchesintosubdivisionsormore intensiveagriculturalactivitiesthreatensaspectaculararrayof naturalcommunities(Hiscocketal.2003;Swainetal.2007). Florida’sranchlandscontainareasthathavebeenrelativelylittle disturbedwithimpressiveexamplesofnaturalcommunities; justoneexamplearetheprairiesandsavannasfoundonBuck IslandRanch.Ranchlandsalsoprovideabufferformorenatural conservedareas.Attemptsshouldbemadetoconserveand restorethesepreciousareasandtocreateincentivesforranchers tomaintainandrestorenaturalcommunitieslocatedontheir ranches.FloridaranchesprovidewindowsofwhatFlorida lookedlikeinthepastandcontributegreatlytothecurrent beautyandbiodiversityoftheFloridalandscape.
Photo4: Hypericumedisonianum
ACLOSERLOOK:
Theroleof Juncuseffusus ingrazedwetlands
Theedgesofimprovedpasturewetlandsaredominatedbysoftrush, Juncus effusus subsp. solutus,whichcreatesalargetussock.Cattleavoid Juncus, presumably duetotheplant’stoughspikyculms.AtBuckIslandRanch,Iaminvestigatingtherole of Juncus inprotectingnativewetlandplantsfrombeingeradicatedbycattleingrazed wetlands.Itappearsthat Juncus tussockspreventmanyspeciesfrombeingeaten andthatplantsgrowingwithinornextto Juncus areprotectedfromgrazing.Mydata showthatnativeplantssuchasmaidencane(Panicumhemitomon),regaindominance whencattleareremoved(Photo5).
OthernativeplantsthatIhaveobservedgrowingwithinthe Juncus clumpinclude Justiciaovata var. ovata, Ipomoeasagittata, Centellaasiatica, Galiumtinctorium and Diodiavirginiana.Thissuggeststhatplantcommunitiesingrazedwetlandscanbe restoredbecausetheystillcontainnativediversity.Additionally,oncegrazingisremoved, wehavefoundthat Juncus declines.
Inmanygrazedecosystems,unpalatableplantssuchas Juncus areseenaspests andranchmanagershavefocusedoncontrollingtheseplants.Howevernumerous studieshaveshownthatunpalatableplantsprotectsubstantialnativeplantpopulations, beneficialforbothagriculturalandconservationinterests(Callawayetal.2005,Rebollo etal.2005).Adown-sideisthatexoticplantsalsobenefit.Ihavefoundthat Juncus seemstoprovideprotectiontolimpograss(Hemarthriaaltissima;(FLEPPC2007,Cat.II); alligatorweed(Alternantheraphiloxeroides;FLEPPCCat.II)andtorpedograss(Panicum repens;FLEPPCCat.I).Experimentalgrazingexclosuresbuiltinwetlandswithlimpo grass,anexoticforagegrassfromAfrica,resultsinacompletemonocultureofthis mat-formingexotic.Theranchermayprefertoseethisexoticspeciesproliferate becauseofitsvalueasaforagespecies.Torpedograssandalligatorweeddonotform monoculturesintheseseasonalwetlandswhengrazingisremovedbutlong-termdata ontheresponseofthesespeciesarelacking.
Researchontheecologicalrelationshipsinmanagedecosystems,suchas ranchland,isimportanttoelucidatemechanismsthatmightaidinrestorationofthese areasaswellascontroltheproliferationofexoticspecies.
Photo5: AtypicalimprovedpasturewetlandonBuckIslandRanch.Ontheleftisafenced areathathasbeenprotectedfromcattleforfouryearsandisdominatedby Panicumhemitomon and Sacciolepisstriata Juncus isdeclining.Pastureontherightsideofthefenceshowsanarea dominatedby Juncus thathasbeenseverelygrazed.
References
Bridges,E.,andS.Orzell.2005.VegetationMonitoring andSamplingProtocolforUSDA-NRCSWetlandReserve ProgramSites,atMacArthurAgro-EcologyResearch Center,HighlandsCty,Florida.BotanicalandEcological Consultant,Sebring,FL.
Callaway,R.M.,D.Kikodze,M.Chiboshvili,andL. Khetsuriani.2005.Unpalatableplantsprotectneighbors fromgrazingandincreaseplantcommunitydiversity. Ecology86:1856-1862.
Davis,J.H.1943.Thenaturalfeaturesofsouthern Florida,especiallythevegetation,andtheEverglades. FloridaGeologicalSurveyBulletin25:1-311.
Duever,L.1986.Florida’sNaturalCommunities: DryPrairie.ThePalmetto6:7-8.
FLEPPC.2007.FloridaExoticPestPlantCouncil. www.fleppc.org
Fuller,R.M.1987.Thechangingextentandconservation interestoflowlandgrasslandsinEnglandandWales: areviewofgrasslandsurveys1930-1984.Biological Conservation40:281-300.
Hiscock,J.,C.Thourot,andJ.Zhang.2003.Phosphorus budgetanalysisrelatedtolanduseforthenorthern LakeOkeechobeewatershed,Florida.Environmental Engineering21:63-74.
Kushlan,J.1990.FreshwaterMarshes.Pages324-362 inMyersandEwel,editors.EcosystemsofFlorida. UniversityofCentralFloridaPress,Orlando,FL.
Maestas,J.,R.Knight,andW.Gilgert.2003.Biodiversity acrossarurallandusegradient.ConservationBiology 17:1425-1435.
Main,M.,andM.Barry.2002.Influenceofseasonof fireonfloweringofwetprairiegrassesinSouthFlorida. Wetlands22:430-434.
Meshaka,W.E.1997.TheherpetofaunaofBuckIsland Ranch:analteredwetlandinsouth-centralFlorida. FloridaScientist60:1-7.
Middleton,B.2002.WinterBurningandtheReduction of Cornussericea inSedgeMeadowsinSouthern Wisconsin.RestorationEcology10:723-730.
Orzell,S.,andE.Bridges.2006.Floristiccomposition andspeciesrichnessofsubtropicalseasonallywet Muhlenbergiasericea prairiesinportionsofcentral andsouthFlorida.Pages136-175inR.Noss,editor. LandofFireandWater:TheFloridaDryPrairie Ecosystem,Painter,DeLeonSprings,Florida.
Rebollo,S.,D.G.Milchunas,andI.Noy-Meir.2005. Refugeeffectsofacactusingrazedshort-grasssteppe. JournalofVegetationScience16:85-92.
Swain,H.,P.Bohlen,K.Campbell,L.Lollis,and A.Steinman.2007.IntegratedEcologicalandEconomic AnalysisofRanchManagementSystems:AnExample fromSouthCentralFlorida.RangelandEcologyand Management60:1-11.
Tanner,G.W.,W.S.Terry,andL.L.Yarlett.1982. Vegetationdynamicsofthreefreshwatermarshes withintheKissimmeeRivervalley.pp99-111inP. McCaffrey,T.Beemer,andS.Gatewood,eds. ProceedingsofProgressinWetlandUtilizationand ManagementPracticesSymposium.Orlando,FL.
FNPS Chapte rs & Re prese nt ati ve s
Forchaptercontactinformation,pleasevisit http://www.fnps.org/pages/chapters/chaptermap.php
1.Citrus ..............................JimBierly........................................................................jbierly@tampabay.rr.com
2.Coccoloba ......................DickWorkman................................................................wworkmandick@aol.com
3.Cocoplum .......................SherryFriend...............................................................................blighia@aol.com
4.Conradina .......................ReneeShaffer.................................................................shaffer_m@bellsouth.net
5.Coontie ...........................KirkScott...............................................................................kirkel1@yahoo.com
6.Dade ...............................LynkaWoodbury....................................................lwoodbury@fairchildgarden.org
7.Eugenia ..........................SueThompson.............................................................susandjesse@bellsouth.net
8.Heartland .......................AmeeBailey..............................................................ameebailey@polk-county.net
9.Hernando ........................JimClayton......................................................................geoska10@hotmail.com
10.Ixia .................................JakeIngram................................................................jakeingramla@comcast.net
11.LakeBeautyberry ..........PegLindsay..............................................................pegcondor@embarqmail.com
12.LakelasMint ..................RoyceSisson.................................................................roycesisson@hotmail.com
13.LongleafPine .................AmyHines.................................................................amy@sidestreamsports.com CherylJones......................................................................wjonesmd@yahoo.com
14.Lyonia ..............................DavidSchroeder..................................................evolvinglandscapes@yahoo.com
15.Magnolia ........................AnnRedmond............................................................aredmond@mindspring.com 16.Mangrove .......................John&ChristineHolyland.....................................christineholyland@comcast.net 17.Marion ............................RobinCaple....................................................................robincaple@comcast.net 18.Naples ............................RonEchols...................................................................preservecaptains@aol.com 19.NatureCoast ..................SusanVaughn..........................................................................vaughn_s@firn.edu 20.PalmBeach ....................RayMiller................................................................................rmillerj@sfwmd.gov 21.Pawpaw .........................PaulRebmann..................................................................wildflpaul@earthlink.net 22.PaynesPrairie ................HeatherBlake................................................................butterflygirlh@yahoo.com 23.PineLily .........................ChristinaUranowski..............................................................curanowski@aol.com 24.Pinellas DebbieChayet ........................................................................dchayet@verizon.net 25.Sarracenia ......................Lee Norris .................................................................................lnorris@ectinc.com 26.SeaOats .........................CindyMaguire.....................................................................Maguire122@aol.com 27.SeaRocket ....................PaulSchmalzer...........................................................paul.a.schmalzer@nasa.gov 28.Serenoa ..........................DaveFeagles..........................................................................feaglesd@msn.com 29.SouthRidge ...................KarinaVeaudry............................................................executivedirector@fnps.org 30.Sumter ............................AnneM.Lambrecht.............................................................annel@thevillages.net 31.Suncoast .......................JamesWheeler............................................................jamesh-wheeler@msn.com 32.SweetBay .....................RobertSilverio.................................................................bonsaibob@comcast.net 33.Tarflower ........................JackieRolly...................................................................................j.y.rolly@att.net
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