Responses of wetland invertebrates and plants important in waterfowl diets to burning and mowing of emergent vegetation
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Published source details
de Szalay F.A. & Resh V.H. (1997) Responses of wetland invertebrates and plants important in waterfowl diets to burning and mowing of emergent vegetation. Wetlands, 17, 149-156.
Published source details de Szalay F.A. & Resh V.H. (1997) Responses of wetland invertebrates and plants important in waterfowl diets to burning and mowing of emergent vegetation. Wetlands, 17, 149-156.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use prescribed fire to control problematic plants: brackish/salt marshes Action Link |
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Use cutting/mowing to control problematic herbaceous plants: brackish/salt marshes Action Link |
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Use prescribed fire to control problematic plants: brackish/salt marshes
A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study in 1992–1993 in an ephemeral brackish marsh dominated by saltgrass Distichlis spicata in California, USA (De Szalay & Resh 1997) found that burned plots had greater plant species richness than unburned plots, and lower overall vegetation cover, but similar or greater cover of dominant species other than saltgrass. After 11 months, burned plots had greater overall plant species richness than unburned plots (burned: 6.3 species/m2; unburned: 3.1 species/m2) but lower overall vegetation cover (burned: 88%; unburned: >99%). Burned plots had lower saltgrass cover (burned: 65%; unburned: 99%) despite a statistically similar saltgrass density under both treatments (burned: 2,000; unburned: 1,770 stems/m2). Of six other dominant herb species, two had greater cover in burned plots (burned: 9–11%; unburned: 0%) whilst four had statistically similar cover under each treatment (burned 2–17%; unburned: <1–5%). Density of these species was not reported. Methods: Ten pairs of 100-m2 plots were established in an impounded brackish marsh, managed for waterfowl (autumn/winter flooding with spring/summer drawdown) but dominated by saltgrass. In September 1992, ten plots were burned (one plot/pair; 50 m2/plot). The other plots were not burned. In August 1993, vegetation was surveyed in two 1-m2 quadrats/plot. Cover estimates included live and dead standing plants.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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Use cutting/mowing to control problematic herbaceous plants: brackish/salt marshes
A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study in 1992–1993 in an ephemeral brackish marsh dominated by saltgrass Distichlis spicata in California, USA (De Szalay & Resh 1997) found that mown and unmown plots had similar plant species richness, similar overall vegetation cover, and similar cover of dominant plant species. After one year, overall plant species richness did not significantly differ between mown plots (3.2 species/m2) and unmown plots (3.1 species/m2). The same was true for cover of vegetation overall (mown: 98%; unmown: >99%), saltgrass (mown: 93%; unmown: 99%) and each of six other dominant herb species (mown: 0–7%; unmown: 0–5%). However, mown plots did contain a greater density of saltgrass (4,070 stems/m2) than unmown plots (1,770 stems/m2). Density was not reported for the other six dominant herb species. Methods: Ten pairs of 100-m2 plots were established in an impounded brackish marsh, managed for waterfowl (autumn/winter flooding with spring/summer drawdown) but dominated by saltgrass. In August–September 1992, ten plots were hand-mown (one plot/pair; 50 m2/plot). Cuttings were not removed. The other plots were not mown. In August 1993, vegetation was surveyed in two 1-m2 quadrats/plot. Cover estimates included live and dead standing plants.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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