Source: UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING submitted to
RECLAIMING EXOTIC INVASIONS ON ENERGY DISTURBANCES IN WYOMING BASIN SHRUBLANDS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0229805
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
WYO-483-12
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Apr 10, 2012
Project End Date
Apr 9, 2017
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Hild, AN.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
1000 E UNIVERSITY AVE DEPARTMENT 3434
LARAMIE,WY 82071-2000
Performing Department
Ecosystem Science and Management
Non Technical Summary
Many invasive species gain footholds in western wildlands, but especially problematic are those invaders that can encroach into the most stressful sites, where few species can tolerate the harsh conditions. The shrub steppe systems of the Intermountain West have been particularly hard hit with anthropogenic disturbances that allow incursion of exotics into relatively pristine wildlife habitat, often under the most stressful growing conditions. Revegetation in these dry, saline and harsh temperate sites is especially difficult, yet mitigation is often used as a justification to develop these sites for energy extraction. Effective revegetation of these especially harsh sites following disturbance will facilitate post-extraction mitigation and reduce costs to industry and agricultural producers while enhancing the function of these shrubland ecosystems.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1210799107020%
1210850107015%
1212300114015%
2160799107020%
2160850107015%
2160799114015%
Goals / Objectives
This project addresses reclamation on energy-disturbed sites to return ecosystem integrity, critical sagebrush and salt-desert shrubland habitat for species of concern and forage for domestic stock and wildlife. This research will enhance mitigation efforts and ecological integrity of extraction sites. We hypothesize that opportunity to increase seeded native establishment and limit annual exotic production may be realized by 1) augmenting early spring moisture to enhance germination of the seedbank (seedbank depletion) followed by 2) control of exotic seedlings before they mature and set seed (tilling) and 3) seeding competitive native species to capture the advantage of a reduced annual exotic seedbank and out-compete the remaining annuals. Objectives: To develop revegetation strategies for returning native species to arid and semi-arid shrublands by 1) investigating tactics to reduce weed seed banks and thus enhance reseeding success, 2) seeding native competition to limit presence of invasive species and 3) evaluate cultural and mechanical seeding treatments to exhaust the seedbank, to limit weed encroachment into disturbed sites and enhance native seedings.
Project Methods
This study will examine management to limit annual exotic annuals on soil disturbances in salt-desert and sagebrush communities by examining seed banks of energy development sites. We will examine seeding efforts on limiting weed invasion on public lands. Halogeton spreads via prolific seed production, (up to 35 seeds/cm of stem). The species forms both rapidly-germinating black-winged seeds and longer-lived brown nonwinged seeds (Williams 1960, Khan et al 2001)that may remain dormant for 5-10 years. Halogeton is not thought to be competitive with established perennial grasses (USDA-NRCS 2009) and so, reseeding may offer the greatest reclamation promise, if native seedlings can be established. Reclamation seeding success is difficult in low and varied precipitation, as is the case in the Wyoming Basin.Beginning in spring 2012 we will collect soils for seedbank and physical and chemical analyses from public-land well pads in the Wyoming Basin. Beginning in April 2012, we will place subsamples of each soil sample from each pad into environmental growth chambers for germination. Germination trials will document native and exotic seed bank potential.Beginning in spring, as soon as weather allows site access, we will use water augmentation to simulate a "wet" versus ambient spring. Watering treatments will double ambient precipitation amounts. We will use the tilling treatment to control exotic annual seedlings prior to seedset. In fall, we will include seeding of native species. Treatments will include a soil disturbance comparable to soil tilling, a seeding comparable to a minimum-till drill, and unseeded treatment, combined with the ambient and augmented watering treatments described above (2 watering X 2 seeding (+ or -) X 2 methods (till vs minimum-till) = 8 treatments. We will replicate the 8 treatments a min of 4 times across the study area. Plots will be arranged completely at random within each well-pad and re-randomized at subsequent well pads. Beginning in June 2012 we will document establishment of native and exotic seedlings. Monitoring will be used to time tilling treatments to minimize new seed production. Data analyses will be conducted appropriate to a split-plot randomized block design using each pad as a block and arranging each seeding treatment at random within a watering treatment (main plot) at each well pad. Sampling dates will be included as repeated measures.

Progress 04/10/12 to 04/09/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Presentation of research to Wyoming Section Society for Range Management meeting held jointly with Wyoming Game and Fish and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Changes/Problems:Marathon Oil has since sold the site and we no longer have access to the field study. The student will now complete greenhouse evaluations of the shrub species under phosphorus augmentations. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Sites were visited by Marathon conservation managers and wildlive enthusiasts. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? After removal of Russian olive, managers face two potentially important challenges in their restoration efforts: 1) to mitigate altered nutrient availability caused by Russian olive N-fixation, and 2) to prevent secondary invasion by other exotic species. Two species Ribes aureum and Rosa woodsii were transplanted into reclamation sites within the bighorn basin of Wyoming near Byron, Wyoming. The sites were floodplain sites that had experienced Russian Olive removal the prior winter. Sites were managed by Marathon Oil company. Shrubs were treated with three levels of P augmentation.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Upjohn, R. L., A.L. Hild and T. R. Collier. 2016. Establishment of two shrub species under altered phosphorus levels on a Russian-Olive removal site. Poster. Wy Section SRM Meeting Lander.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The audience is the scientific community involved in invasive species research and rangeland reclamation.This research is submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed journal and is currently in review. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The graduate student trained on this project has graduated and has gained the professional development to move to employment with wildland rehabilitation and management planning agency. In addition, the student continues to work on publication of his thesis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?One paper has been presented to a peer reviewed journal, was revised and resubmitted. Awaiting second review. The student also reported his results to energy industry collaborators. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We hope to have the results accepted for publication and appear in press in the coming year.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Both field and greenhouse competition studies were completed. Research in shrubland systems near Wamsutter Wyoming resulted in numerous seeding treatment applications on energy development sites. Drought limited emergence of seed in the first year after seeding. Weed emergence and a few native species seedlings were documented, data analyzed and reported in the thesis.

Publications

  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Competitive interactions between Halogeton glomeratus and native North American species.


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Paper presented to Society for Ecological Restoration 5th World Congress. Changes/Problems: One major change is the revisit to field sites to conduct monitoring in spring 2014 because of drought conditions that prevailed in western Wyoming in the first 2 years of the study. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Because of the project, BLM and Marathon Oil personnel received preliminary reports about the competitiveness of native species with halogeton. The graduate student, received field and greenhouse training in germination and restoration techniques, statistical analyses and technical writing. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results disseminated at local field days, within departmental seminars and at one international restoration meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? During the next reporting period the student will present his results in a formal defense. He will finalize his thesis, and report results to funding agency and cooperators. In addition he will submit one publication to a peer-reviewed journal, likely the Native Plants Journal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In Fall 2013, and spring 2014, we monitored field sites in former salt desert and sagebrush sites on gas production well pads that had been invaded by halogeton. We monitored restoration seeding sites. We also conducted a greenhouse experiment in Laramie using native seedling competitors with halogeton to assess the potential for reducing the invasive species growth and survival. Greenhouse data and field data were added to existing datasets and analyzed for treatment effects. The graduate student on the project conducted analyses and began writing a thesis based on his results. Thesis preparation continued through September 2014. Currently the student is finalizing his thesis for a spring 2015 defense. He also submitted preliminary results to the BLM Rock Springs District office.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Prasser, N., Hild, A., 2013. Competitive natives for restoration of natural gas well pads invaded by exotic Halogeton glomeratus in Wyoming. (Poster)Society for Ecological Restoration 5th World Congress. October, 7-10, 2013. Madison, WI.


Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Presentation to National meeting of Society for Ecological Restoration and to energy collaborators. Changes/Problems: Changes in the research include addition of greenhouse experiments due to drought conditions at field sites in Wyoming. We extended the field sampling timeline to capture any field seedling emergence that occurs in spring 2014 so that the field study can come to fruition if weather cooperates. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The graduate student has received much training and his presentation at a national meeting allowed him to continue his professional development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? National meeting presentation to the Soc. for Ecological Restoration and to regional BLM and industry in Wyoming. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We plan to finalize data collection in the field, conduct analyses and prepare a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. We will present findings to our cooperators in the energy industry. The student should complete a thesis for defense in summer 2014.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In spring and summer 2013, a greenhouse competition study was initiated to complement field studies. In fall 2013 field seedings were assessed and data analysis from greenhouse competition experiments analyzed. The graduate student presented initial findings at Soc. for Ecological Restoration meetings in Madison WI in October. Data analyses and manuscript preparation are ongoing..

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Prasser, N. and A. Hild. 2013. Restoration seedings of energy disturbances invaded by an exotic annual (Halogeton glomeratus) in the Wyoming Basin.Proc. Abstract. Soc. for Ecol. Restoration. 10-14 Oct. 2013. Madison WI


Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Graduate student has identified field plots, installed treatments and seeding treatments on five field sites near Wamsutter, Wyoming where gas production wells have been slated for restoration seedings. Baseline field monitoring has been collected. Seedings were installed in October and field data summary is underway. PARTICIPANTS: This project partners with N. Shaw, USFS, BLM staff in the Rawlins field office and with industry (Marathon Oil and private reclamation contractors in the state). MI Williams was a post-doctoral assistant at the time of initiation (and now is at USFS in Moscow, ID). Williams received training in initial layout of project. A graduate student at the University of Wyoming is currently collecting, summarizing and analyzing the data. In addition, the project is used in demonstration field tours conducted by UW and UW Extension personnel. TARGET AUDIENCES: We anticipate impact for energy extraction industry, reclamation industry treatments following extraction and the scientific restoration community. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Knowledge of baseline conditions on well pads prior to restoration will allow for treatment comparisons. Seeding and treatment (water and mulch applications) will allow estimated seedling recruitment when compared to baseline conditions. Communications with public land managers has impact on awareness of restoration issues.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period