STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE WEEDS IN RANGELANDS: FROM PROTECTION TO RESTORATION.

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: TERMINATED
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1002941
• Project No.: WYO-534-14
• Project Start Date: Apr 29, 2014
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2018

Project Director
Mealor, B.

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
1000 E UNIVERSITY AVE DEPARTMENT 3434
LARAMIE,WY 82071-2000

Performing Department
Plant Sciences

Non Technical Summary
Invasive species are one of the primary natural resources challenges from both an agricultural and conservation standpoint. Invasive plant impacts may be exacerbated by frequent surface disturbance and by long-lasting effects on sites where the invaders have caused a change in the way the site functions. This project will build upon previous work to integrate competitive plant materials and weed control methods (chemical, mechanical and biological) to improve agricultural productivity and wildlife habitat in areas at risk for invasion, or areas already impacted by invasive weeds. This project seeks to identify desirable species that display ability to compete with invasive weeds and that can establish and grow while stressors are applied to undesirable weeds.

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

25%

Applied

75%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
213	0799	1140	100%

Knowledge Area
213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
0799 - Rangelands and grasslands, general;

Field Of Science
1140 - Weed science;

Keywords

invasive weeds

rangelands

reclamation

targeted grazing

Goals / Objectives
Major Goal: Identify desirable species that display the ability to compete with invasive weeds and that can establish and grow while stressors are applied to undesirable weeds.Objectives:1) Determine if ecological thresholds can be successfully identified for select invasive species and if they differ among ecological sites.2) Determine if highly competitive plant materials (including those collected from long-term weed invasions) can be identified and incorporated into invasive plant management programs to establish desirable native plant communities with an increased resistance to future encroachment by invasive species.3) Evaluate vertically-integrated weed management strategies to improve the condition and sustainability of disturbed or invaded rangeland ecosystems.

Project Methods
We propose to collect native plants from historic infestations of exotic weeds, increase seed crops, then evaluate those populations for increased performance within our vertically-integrated invasive plant management framework. A critical component to this strategy will be imposing stress on invasive weed populations using herbicides to create conditions suitable to native species establishment and growth. Additional stressors (targeted grazing, biological control) will also be incorporated where appropriate.The work will be accomplished in several phases:Statewide assessment of important areas for restoration and protectionLocation of long-term weed invasions and collection of desirable plant materials from within such invasionsPropagation, increase and evaluation of collected plant materials for 1) susceptibility to herbicide injury and 2) ability to establish and compete with undesirable invasive weedsLong-term species removal at replicated sites within two ecological sites to better understand threshold dynamics associated with specific invasive plants (potential downy brome)

Progress 04/29/14 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience is anyone involved in rangeland management and restoration. Those currently reached by activities include state and federal wildlife agencies, conservation districts, NRCS, county weed and pest agencies, mining industry, BLM, USFS, and private landowners. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?8 undergraduate students and 2 graduate students have participated in this project. Results related to this project have been presented in multiple venues including: NEWIGWG annual medusahead+ventenata field days, Sheridan Reseach and Extension Center field days, Western Society for Weed Science, Society for Range Management, Wyoming Weed Management Association, and various local venues across Wyoming. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results related to this project have been presented in multiple venues including: NEWIGWG annual medusahead+ventenata field days, Sheridan Reseach and Extension Center field days, Western Society for Weed Science, Society for Range Management, Wyoming Weed Management Association, and various local venues across Wyoming. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Overall, this project moved forward several of the stated goals and objectives around increasing understanding related to thresholds and invasive species in rangelands. An M.S. student successfully defended their research and is finalizing publications currently. This project directly interacted with several local cooperative weed management programs to coordinate research and educational programs. Because of the field work associated with this project, two new invasive weeds were documented in Wyoming: medusahead wildrye and ventenata. This discovery has led to formation of a multi-partner working group to implement strategic EDRR for these species. Multiple long-term plant selection trials are currently under way and will continue into the future.

Publications

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience is anyone involved in rangeland management and restoration. Those currently reached by activities include state and federal wildlife agencies, conservation districts, NRCS, county weed and pest agencies, mining industry, BLM, USFS, and private landowners. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Wood, C.W., B.A. Mealor. 2017. Evaluating the use of Thresholds Concepts for Improving Habitat through Downy Brome Management. Western Society of Weed Science Annual Meeting. Coeur d'Alene, ID. Wood, C.W., B.A. Mealor. 2017. Quantifying Shrub Canopy Interception of Two Imazapic Formulations and Impacts on Downy Brome Biomass. Western Society of Weed Science Annual Meeting. Coeur d'Alene, ID. Wood, C.W., B.A. Mealor. 2017. Evaluating the use of Thresholds Concepts for Improving Habitat through Cheatgrass Management. International Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. St. George, UT. Wood, C.W., B.A. Mealor. 2017. Evaluating the use of Thresholds Concepts for Improving Habitat through Cheatgrass Management. Northeast Wyoming Habitat Improvement Workshop. Gillette, WY. Wood, C.W., B.A. Mealor. 2017. Evaluating the use of Thresholds Concepts for Improving Habitat through Downy Brome Management. Sublette County Weed and Pest. Pinedale, WY. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to continue to work through a better understanding of thresholds and to expand our basic approach to identifying native plant materials that may be suited to restore weed-infested rangelands.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A graduate student has nearly completed an M.S. project specifically designed to identify ecological thresholds in cheatgrass-invaded systems. Anticipated publications from this project will be completed in 2018.

Publications

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include, but are not limited to: students studying agricultural and natural resources, local weed and pest control district employees, rangeland managers, wildlife agencies, federal natural resource agencies, farmers, ranchers, reclamationists, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Multiple presentations were delivered this year: Wood, C.W. and B.A. Mealor. 2016Quantifying shrub canopy interception of two imazapic formulations and impacts on cheatgrass biomass. Wyoming Section Society for Range Management/The Wildlife Society Wyoming Chapter Joint Meeting, Cody, WY. Wood, C.W. and B.A. Mealor. 2016Evaluating the use of Thresholds Concepts for Improving Habitat through Cheatgrass Management.Wyoming Section Society for Range Management/The Wildlife Society, Wyoming Chapter Joint Conference (poster). Cody, WY. Wood, C.W. and B.A. Mealor. 2016Evaluating the use of Thresholds Concepts for Improving Habitat through Cheatgrass Management (poster). Western Society of Weed Science Annual Meeting. Albuquerque, NM. Wood, C.W. and B.A. Mealor. 2016Evaluating the use of Thresholds Concepts for Improving Habitat through Cheatgrass Management (poster). Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. Corpus Christi, TX. Wood, C.W. and B.A. Mealor. 2016Proactive Cheatgrass Management to Improve Wildlife Habitat. Wyoming Weed Management Association. Casper, WY. Mealor, B.A.2016Medusahead and Ventenata in Wyoming - Status Update.Wyoming Weed and Pest Fall Conference. Cody, WY. Mealor, B.A. 2016New Invasive Grasses in Wyoming.Wyoming Section Society for Range Management/The Wildlife Society, Wyoming Chapter Joint Meeting. Cody, WY. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are currently in the startup phase of evaluating new native plant materials for their ability to compete with weedy species. This will largely involve learning more about propagation of plant materials and overcoming reproductive barriers while identifying suitable candidates for collection.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This year, we have largely focused on objective 1 relating to thresholds. We have collected data from 4 field sites in Wyoming where we are using cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and the herbicide imazapic to try to identify ecological and management thresholds revolving around perennial grass production and response. Additionally, because of our extensive field research program, our group was involved in documenting self-sustaining populations of both Ventenata dubia and Taeniatherum caput-medusae in Wyoming this year. These are the first known self-sustaining populations of these species in our state, and in the entire Great Plains ecoregion.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Monaco, T.A., B.A. Mealor, J. Mangold, R.D. Mealor and C.S. Brown. 2017. Downy brome control and impacts on perennial grass abundance: A systematic review spanning 64 years. Rangeland Ecology and Management. available online http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2016.09.008.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Greet BJ, Mealor BA, Kniss AR. (2016) Response of Delphinium occidentale and associated vegetation to aminocyclopyrachlor. Rangeland Ecology & Management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2016.06.004. [open access]

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

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include, but are not limited to: students studying agricultural and natural resources, local weed and pest control district employees, rangeland managers, wildlife agencies, federal natural resource agencies, farmers, ranchers, reclamationists, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have completed a number of graduate student projects that are moving toward publication this year along with initating another landscape-scale project to explore thresholds for invasive annual grasses.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Hergert, H.J., B.A. Mealor, A.R. Kniss. 2015. Inter- and Intraspecific Variation in Native Restoration Plants for Herbicide Tolerance. Ecological Restoration 33:74-81.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Fowers, B. 2015. Weed Management Options to Improve Reclamation of Drastically Disturbed Lands. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.

Progress 04/29/14 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences for this project include potential research partners, various land managers and agency personnel. We are starting the project and are not currently in the position to begin sharing information with end-users. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have established relationships with research partners and have set up a framework to move forward with research and outreach. A new graduate student has been recruited and will begin fall semester 2015. Field research sites are being evaluated continuously.

Publications