Source: UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
DEVELOPING AN ACTIVATED-CARBON-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
State Agricultural Experiment Station
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
STATE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0227995
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2011
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2014
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
LOGAN,UT 84322
Performing Department
Wildland Resources
Non Technical Summary
In the western US, weedy and invasive plants decrease forage value for native and commercial grazers, increase weed seed pressure in agricultural areas, change the provision of ecosystem services, and decrease habitat for native plant and animal species. As a result, weeds induce hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue and management costs each year. Despite a large number of biological, chemical (herbicide), and cultural control methods, invasive plants continue to expand their ranges and impacts. Furthermore, the unintended consequences of some control methods may be more costly than inaction. There is a need to discover control methods that increase forage quality with few adverse non-target effects. Activated carbon (or AC) is such a potential control method. Made from coal, nutshells, or wood, and thus a relatively benign substance, AC is a highly porous substance that binds organic compounds. AC has mostly been known through its application in reducing allelopathy (or chemical warfare from plants). Many invasive species use this warfare and in controlled laboratory settings adding AC has been shown to increase native and decrease invasive plant growth. The PDs on this project developed the application of AC in the field (outside) with a seminal experiment in 2002. While the results from this study were convincing, this experiment was conducted at a small spatial scale. Therefore, we needed to determine if the results would be successful across many sites and in larger plots. The main objectives of this study are to 1) test AC treatments at a larger scale than the 1-m2 plots that have previously been used, 2) test of range of AC concentrations and types to identify the cheapest means of attaining native plant dominance in formerly invaded sites, and 3) explore mechanisms through which AC changes plant growth with the aim of developing more targeted, effective and cheap means of managing plant community development. In summary, the objective of this proposal is to refine the AC technique and look for directions to make it more cost-effective prior to the development of extension efforts. This proposal has three primary research activities: 1) field application of AC treatments across sites and with a variety of concentrations and types of AC, 2) a greenhouse experiment to determine how AC has these effects, and 3) microbial descriptions using genetics of treatment effects to identify the mechanisms through which AC changes plant growth. This research will result in several publications for the scientific and management community illustrating the effectiveness of using AC to control weeds and the mechanisms through which AC does this. We will also give many presentations to fellow scientists but also land managers in the techniques and how to apply them. We will also give presentation to local landowners who might be interested in attempting these methods at smaller spatial scales. At this point, we are convinced that AC treatment will be effective in at least some sites. The broader the applications the more we will learn about how apply this technique in many areas to control unwanted non-natives.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
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
1020790114018%
1210790114042%
1020790107012%
1210790107028%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 121 - Management of Range Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
0790 - Rangelands, other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology; 1140 - Weed science;
Goals / Objectives
Non-native plants induce $100's of millions of lost forage value and management costs annually in the western US. Stakeholders require a cost effective means of restoring native plants and the ecosystem services they provide. The proposed research aims to test and refine a novel restoration approach [the addition of activated carbon (AC)], which has shown great promise in restoring native plants to shrubsteppe communities in small-scale applications. Main objectives: 1) test AC treatments at a larger scale than the 1-m plots that have previously been used, 2) test of range of AC concentrations and types to identify the cheapest means of attaining native plant dominance in formerly invaded sites, and 3) explore mechanisms through which AC changes plant growth with the aim of developing more targeted, effective and cheap means of managing plant community development. The proposed research: 1) fills a gap in understanding of why weeds become invasive, uses this information to control weeds, and restores ecosystem services provided by the native plant community, 2) evaluates tradeoffs of different management strategies, particularly concentrations of AC, and 3) describes how non-native plants cultivate disturbed soils in ways that increase their own growth and decrease the growth of natives. Interest in AC effects is growing rapidly. The proposed research will improve understanding of the mechanisms by which AC changes plant community development and the fundamental nature of plant-soil interactions. Activities: In the fall 2010, the PIs applied two types of AC in a range of concentrations from 100 to 1000 g m-2 in 15 m x 15 m plots in nine abandoned agricultural fields, Winthrop, WA. Coal-based AC was applied at 0, 100, 400, 700 and 1000 g m2 and wood-based AC was applied at 1000 g m-2. Using the data collected in spring 2011, we submitted a full proposal USDA AFRI in June 2011. In the summer of 2011 through the fall 2011, we conducted a greenhouse experiment and microbial analyses to help us determine how activated carbon changes plant communities. We hope to have this data in the spring 2012. Microbial OTUs (operational taxonomic units) associated with native and weed growth are being described using pyrosequencing, with collaborator Dr. J. Norton starting in August 2011. We hope to have these data in summer 2012. We started a pilot study using activated carbon in Green Canyon, Logan, Utah in the summer/fall 2011. Events: In May 2011, we gave a presentation for the North Cascades Basecamp Lecture Series, Mazama, Washington. We made a presentation in Washington, D.C. at the annual USDA project directors meeting on July 2011. We made a presentation at the Ecological Society of America meeting in August 2011. We intend to present at the Utah Weed meeting in February 2012. Services: Mentoring undergraduate students, four in 2011, particularly minorities, in the project. I teach a 3 credit graduate seminar course on Invasion Ecology in spring 2012. Products: This project just started so there are no products yet, but we anticipate many publications, undergraduate mentoring and perhaps a graduate student will be involved in this research.
Project Methods
This proposal has three primary research activities: 1) field application of AC treatments, 2) greenhouse experiment to determine the relative importance of AC effects on allelopathy and plant-microbe interactions, and 3) microbial descriptions to identify the mechanisms through which AC changes plant growth. Study site: Methow Valley, Washington. Vegetation and management history of the study area is representative of a significant portion of the Intermountain West. 1) THE ACTIVATED CARBON EXPERIMENTS: Five concentrations and two types of AC were applied randomly to seven 15 m x 15 m plots in each of nine fields as follows: 0, 100, 400, 700, 1000 (coal-based), and 1000 (wood-based) g m-2. To distinguish the effect of AC from traditional tillage and seeding restoration techniques, tillage without AC, and seed without AC treatments were applied. Seed and AC were applied with seed spreaders. A native seed mix (BFI Native Seeds) commonly used for restoration by the WDFW throughout the valley was used (Collaborator McCoy). Application rates were measured using three trays placed under the spreader. Five measures of plants are being used to assess treatment response: (1) Seedling establishment counts, (2) Percent canopy cover (3) Aboveground biomass, (4) Belowground productivity will be assessed using sequential coring, and (5) AC effects on mycorrhizal infection. 2) ALLELOPATHY VS. PSFs: Natives are being grown in 15, 1-L Spencer pots with field soil and invasive species (n=225). Monocultures and crosses of all species are being planted in 15 replicate control, AC-treated sterilized and inoculated (AC), and AC-treated sterilized non-inoculated pots (AC-sterilized; n=6 x 6 x 2 x 3 x 15 = 3240). Where AC increases native plant growth in live but not sterile soil, this indicates that PSFs are more important than allelopathy. Where AC increases native plant growth in sterile but not live soil, this indicates that the direct effects of allelopathy are more important than PSFs. Where AC increases native growth in sterile and live soils the relative importance of allelopathy and plant-microbe interactions can be determined after controlling for allelopathy effects in live soil treatments. 3) MECHANISMS OF AC EFFECTS: Because several lines of evidence suggest that AC alters plant community development at least in part by changing plant-microbe interactions, soil biology will be used to determine how AC changes soils and, therefore, how AC is likely to change plant-soil interactions. Pyrosequencing is a powerful new technique that can be used to define the microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) present in AC and control soils. It is our expectation that pyrosequencing data will help identify those OTUs that are responsible for AC effects on plant community development. It is our hope that, once identified by pyrosequencing, that these OTUs can be cultivated and used as soil inoculations for targeted community development, as has been seen in other settings. Pyrosequencing will be performed in conjunction with Jeannette Norton's Lab and the USU Genomics Lab.

Progress 07/01/11 to 06/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Rangeland managers, Rangeland researchers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Opportunities This research has provided training to two master's students and 8 undergraduates who are involved in learning about greenhouse and field experimental design as well as the role of plant-microbial interactions in plant growth. This research has also provided one master's student with the opportunity to analyze results and present findings to a group of resource managers. We worked with weed managers in the county of Tooele, UT extensively on the experiment in UT, particularly extension specialist Linden Greenhalgh. We collaborated extensively with USDA-ARS researchers on our greenhouse experiment. This research has provided training to two master's students and 8 undergraduates who were involved in learning about greenhouse and field experimental design as well as the role of plant-microbial interactions in plant growth. This research has also provided one master's student with the opportunity to analyze results and present findings to a group of resource managers and to the scientific community through a peer-reviewed journal article. We worked with weed managers in the county of Tooele, Utah extensively on the experiment in Utah, particularly extension specialist Linden Greenhalgh. We collaborated extensively with USDA-ARS researchers on our greenhouse experiment. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Dissemination A summary of the activated carbon approach and initial results were presented October 16 2013 to the Grantsville and Tooele Conservation District boards in a talk titled "Activated Carbon Restoration Efforts in Tooele, Utah". There were about 20 land managers in attendance. The PI presented results during a talk titled “Activated carbon as a restoration technique in Washington and maybe Utah?” at the Utah Society for Range Management meeting for 50 attendees in 2012. Furthermore, results were presented at the Utah Weed Control Association meeting in 2012 in a talk titled “Activated carbon as a restoration technique”. We have begun discussions with the USU Range Extension specialist, Erik Thacker, the Forest Service, BLM and USU researcher Paul Grossl to include activated carbon treatments with an array of other treatments being applied for native plant restoration in abandoned oil exploration sites near Price, UT. We submitted a peer-reviewed article to a Special Issue of AoB Plants summarizing the results from this project, titled “Activated carbon decreases invasive plant growth by mediating plant-microbe”. A summary of the activated carbon approach and initial results were presented October 16 2013 to the Grantsville and Tooele Conservation District boards in a talk titled "Activated Carbon Restoration Efforts in Tooele, Utah". There were about 20 land managers in attendance. The PI presented results during a talk titled “Activated carbon as a restoration technique in Washington and maybe Utah?” at the Utah Society for Range Management meeting for 50 attendees in 2012. Furthermore, results were presented at the Utah Weed Control Association meeting in 2012 in a talk titled “Activated carbon as a restoration technique”. We have begun discussions with the USU Range Extension specialist, Erik Thacker, the Forest Service, BLM and USU researcher Paul Grossl to include activated carbon treatments with an array of other treatments being applied for native plant restoration in abandoned oil exploration sites near Price, UT. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Plan of Work Goals 1 and 2: Fieldwork is largely complete, though we intend to perform one more round of vegetation surveys in the field experiments spring 2014. Goal 2: The greenhouse experiment is complete. Goals 1-3: We are now completing statistical analyses and preparing manuscripts describing results from this research. The master’s student currently involved in the project will be first author on these manuscripts and is currently writing her thesis and plans to defend summer 2014. Objectives 1 and 2: Fieldwork is largely complete, though we are still analyzing data from a final round of vegetation surveys from the field experiments taken in spring 2014. We may complete another round of surveys in 2015. Objective 2: The greenhouse experiment is complete. Objectives 1-3: We have prepared and submitted one manuscript describing results from this research. Nicole Nolan, the master’s student who was involved in the project is first author on the manuscript, and defended and submitted her thesis in summer 2014.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Accomplishments Our goals were to 1) test the effect of activated carbon (AC) treatments in large-scale (15 m x 15 m) plots, 2) test the effect of range of AC concentrations in large-scale plots, and 3) explore the mechanisms through which AC effects plant growth using a greenhouse experiment. To address goals 1 and 2: vegetation surveys were completed and data entered for our experiments in Washington State and Utah. To address goal 3: data from our greenhouse experiment were analyzed. Initial analyses have been drafted as a part of master's thesis. Goals 1 and 2: We found that high concentrations of AC (1 kg m-2) were required to increase germination of desirable vs. invasive species in plots. We also found that in both year one and year three following treatment, high concentrations of AC increased the ratio of desirable species vs. invasives in plots. It seems that by the third year, AC in the high concentrations plots increased the percent cover of desirable species, in particular. The Washington experiment has been conducted for four years. We found little to no plant growth of any species in any treatments in our plots in Utah after year one. This experiment has only been measured for one year. Together, results suggest that activated carbon (AC) needs to be at high concentrations (1 kg m-2) to increase native species growth and reduce invasvies. In addition, AC effects can take years to have a measurable effect, and will not be measurable when there is little to no native plant establishment. Goal 3: Our greenhouse results suggest that native species have a greater response to AC treatments than non-native species. In addition, the results suggest that AC effects are largely a result of AC causing changes in plant-microbe communication rather changes in allelopathy. Results from this research place the original, very successful, results into a broader context and highlight the importance of plant-microbe communication to plant growth and competition. Our objectives were to 1) test the effect of activated carbon (AC) treatments in large-scale (15 m x 15 m) plots, 2) test the effect of range of AC concentrations in large-scale plots, and 3) explore the mechanisms through which AC effects plant growth using a greenhouse experiment. To address objectives 1 and 2: vegetation and microbial surveys were completed and data entered for our experiment in Washington State. To address goal 3: data from our greenhouse experiment were analyzed. Results were analyzed and are presented in Nicole Nolan’s master's thesis. She defended in June 2014 and we have a manuscript in review with this data. Objectives 1 and 2: We found that high concentrations of AC (1 kg m-2) were required to increase germination of desirable vs. undesirable species in plots. We also found that three years after our large-scale applications, 1 kg m-2 AC applications increased the ratio of desirable:undesirable species cover by 28% and decreased undesirable species cover by 25%. Lower concentrations of AC were not found to be effective. Bacterial community analysis suggested that AC increased the relative abundance of an unidentified bacteria and an Actinomycetales and decreased the relative abundance of a Flavobacterium. Together, results suggest that activated carbon (AC) needs to be at high concentrations (1 kg m-2) to increase native species growth and reduce undesirable species. In addition, AC effects can take years to have a measurable effect, and will not be measurable when there is little to no native plant establishment. Objective 3: In the greenhouse, we found that AC effects on native and non-native plant growth were limited to soils with a living microbial community; AC did not affect native and non-native plant growth in sterile soils. This suggests that AC effects are microbially mediated and not caused by direct allelopathy. More specifically, AC decreased non-native plant growth in live soils. Thus, AC appears to benefit native plants by decreasing positive interactions between non-native plants and the soil microbial community. Results from this research place an original, very successful, small-scale experiment into a broader context and highlight the importance of plant-microbe communication to plant growth and competition.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Edwards, T. C., Cutler, R., Beard, K. H. (2014). Predicting Risk of Invasive Species Occurrence: Plot Based. In Bradley Welch, Paul H. Geissler, and Penelope Lathame (Ed.), Early detection of invasive plantsPrinciples and practices. Fort Collins, CO: USGS/NPS joint publication. www.pwrc.usgs.gov/brd/invasiveHandbook.cfm
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Edwards, T. C., Cutler, R., Beard, K. H. (2014). The Process of Model Assessment and Evaluation. In Bradley Welch, Paul H. Geissler, and Penelope Latham, Editors (Ed.), Early detection of invasive plantsPrinciples and practices. Fort Collins, Colorado:. www.pwrc.usgs.gov/brd/invasiveHandbook.cfm
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Ferreira, R. B., Beard, K. H., Choi, R. T., Pitt, W. C. Diet of the non-native Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) in Maui, Hawaii. Journal of Herpetology
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: O'Neill, E. M., Beard, K. H., Fox, C. W. Phenotypic plasticity mediates source effects in introduced populations of the coqui frog. Ecology and Evolution.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Warren, P. C., Kulmatiski, A., Beard, K. H. Depth and species-specific water budgets for native and non-native sage-steppe communities. Plant and Soil
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Beard, K. H. (2014). Invasion Ecology Second Edition, J.L. Lockwood, M.F. Hoopes, and M.P. Marchetti, Wiley-Blackwell (2013). 466 pp. Paperback, Price US$ 57.99, ISBN: 978-1444333657 (vol. 169, pp. 157). Biological Conservation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Mahoney, P. J., Beard, K. H., Durso, A. M., Taillan, A. G., Long, A. L., Kindermann, R. J., Nolan, N. E., Kinka, D., Mohn, H. E., Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists, "Introduction effort, climate matching, and species traits as predictors of global establishment success in non-native reptiles," American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Chattanooga, TN. (August 1, 2014)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kalnicky, E. A., Brunson, M. W., Beard, K. H. A social-ecological systems approach to non-native species: Habituation and its impact on management. Biological Conservation.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kulmatiski, A., Anderson-Smith, A., Beard, K. H., Doucette-Riis, S., Mazzacavallo, M., Nolan, N. E., Ramirez, R., Stevens, J. R. (in press). Most soil trophic guilds increase plant growth: a meta-analytical review. To appear in Oikos.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Mahoney, P., Beard, K. H., Durso, A. M., Taillan, A. G., Long, A. L., Kindermann, R. J., Nolan, N. E., Kinka, D., Mohn, H. E. (in press). Introduction effort, climate matching, and species traits as predictors of global establishment success in non-native reptiles. To appear in Diversity and Distributions.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Nolan, N. E., Kulmatiski, A., Beard, K. H., Norton, J. M. Activated carbon decreases invasive plant growth by mediating plant-microbe. AoB Plants.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Beard, K. H. (Presenter & Author), Mahoney, P. J., Taillan, A. G., Long, A. L., Durso, A. M., Kindermann, R. J., Nolan, N. E., Kinka, D. E., Mohn, H. E., North American Congress for Conservation Biology, "Getting to the bottom of reptile establishment success," Society for Conservation Biology, Missoula. (July 15, 2014)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Ferreira, R. B., Beard, K. H., North American Congress for Conservation Biology, "Local citizens decide the common name of a new frog species in Brazil," Society for Conservation Biology, Missoula. (July 15, 2014)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Smith, R. L. (Presenter & Author), Beard, K. H. (Author Only), Pitt, W. C. (Author Only), Hawaii Ecosystems Meeting, "Do Coqui Frogs Change Bird Communities in Hawaii?," Hawaii Ecosystems Meeting, Hilo. (June 26, 2014)


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

Outputs
Target Audience: Rangeland managers, rangeland researchers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This research has provided training to two master's students and 8 undergraduates who are involved in learning about greenhouse and field experimental design as well as the role of plant-microbial interactions in plant growth. This research has also provided one master's student with the opportunity to analyze results and present findings to a group of resource managers. We worked with weed managers in the county of Tooele, UT extensively on the experiment in UT, particularly extension specialist Linden Greenhalgh. We collaborated extensively with USDA-ARS researchers on our greenhouse experiment. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? A summary of the activated carbon approach and initial results were presented October 16 2013 to the Grantsville and Tooele Conservation District boards in a talk titled "Activated Carbon Restoration Efforts in Tooele, Utah". There were about 20 land managers in attendance. The PI presented results during a talk titled “Activated carbon as a restoration technique in Washington and maybe Utah?” at the Utah Society for Range Management meeting for 50 attendees in 2012. Furthermore, results were presented at the Utah Weed Control Association meeting in 2012 in a talk titled “Activated carbon as a restoration technique”. We have begun discussions with the USU Range Extension specialist, Erik Thacker, the Forest Service, BLM and USU researcher Paul Grossl to include activated carbon treatments with an array of other treatments being applied for native plant restoration in abandoned oil exploration sites near Price, UT. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Goals 1 and 2: Fieldwork is largely complete, though we intend to perform one more round of vegetation surveys in the field experiments spring 2014. Goal 2: The greenhouse experiment is complete. Goals 1-3: We are now completing statistical analyses and preparing manuscripts describing results from this research. The master’s student currently involved in the project will be first author on these manuscripts and is currently writing her thesis and plans to defend summer 2014.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Our goals were to 1) test the effect of activated carbon (AC) treatments in large-scale (15 m x 15 m) plots, 2) test the effect of range of AC concentrations in large-scale plots, and 3) explore the mechanisms through which AC effects plant growth using a greenhouse experiment. To address goals 1 and 2: vegetation surveys were completed and data entered for our experiments in Washington State and Utah. To address goal 3: data from our greenhouse experiment were analyzed. Initial analyses have been drafted as a part of master's thesis. Goals 1 and 2: We found that high concentrations of AC (1 kg m-2) were required to increase germination of desirable vs. invasive species in plots. We also found that in both year one and year three following treatment, high concentrations of AC increased the ratio of desirable species vs. invasives in plots. It seems that by the third year, AC in the high concentrations plots increased the percent cover of desirable species, in particular. The Washington experiment has been conducted for four years. We found little to no plant growth of any species in any treatments in our plots in Utah after year one. This experiment has only been measured for one year. Together, results suggest that activated carbon (AC) needs to be at high concentrations (1 kg m-2) to increase native species growth and reduce invasvies. In addition, AC effects can take years to have a measurable effect, and will not be measurable when there is little to no native plant establishment. Goal 3: Our greenhouse results suggest that native species have a greater response to AC treatments than non-native species. In addition, the results suggest that AC effects are largely a result of AC causing changes in plant-microbe communication rather changes in allelopathy. Results from this research place the original, very successful, results into a broader context and highlight the importance of plant-microbe communication to plant growth and competition.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Beard, K. H., Faulhaber, C. A., Howe, F. P., Edwards, T. C. (2013). Rodent-mediated interactions among seed species of differing quality in a shrubsteppe ecosystem. Western North American Naturalist, 73(4), 426441.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hoopes, M., Marsh, D., Beard, K. H., Goldberg, N., Aparicio, A., Hixon, B., Laflower, D., Lee, L., Little, A., Mooney, E., Pallette, A., Ravenscraft, A., Scheele, S., Stowe, K., Skyes, C., Watson, R., Yang, B. (2013). Invasive plants in U.S. National Wildlife Refuges: A coordinated research project using undergraduate ecology students. Bioscience, 63(8), 644-656.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kalnicky, E. A., Beard, K. H., Brunson, M. W. (2013). Community-level response to habitat structure manipulations: An experimental case study in a tropical ecosystem. Forest Ecology and Management, 307, 313-321.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kulmatiski, A., Beard, K. H. (2013). Increasing precipitation intensity linked to woody plant encroachment. Nature Climate Change, 3, 833-837.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kulmatiski, A., Beard, K. H. (2013). Root niche partitioning among grasses, saplings, and trees measured using a tracer technique. Oecologia, 171(1), 25-37.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Poessel, S., Beard, K. H., Callahan, C., Rodrigo, F. (2013). Biotic acceptance in introduced amphibians and reptiles in Europe and North America. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 22, 192201.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Beard, K. H. (2013). Novel Ecosystems: Intervening in the New Ecological World Order, R.J. Hobbs, E.S. Higgs, C. Hall. John Wiley & Sons (2013). 380 pp. Hardback, Price US$ 79.95, ISBN: 978-1-118-35422-3 (vol. 168, pp. 168). Biological Conservation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Nolan, N. E. (Presenter & Author), Beard, K. H. (Author Only), Kulmatiski, A. (Author Only), Board members of the Grantsville Conservation District, "Activated carbon as a restoration technique in Utah," Grantsville Conservation District, Tooele, Utah. (October 2013)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kulmatiski, A., Beard, K. H., Mazzacavallo, M., Doucette-Riis, S., Kruger National Park Network Meeting, "The two-layer hypothesis is dead, long live the two-layer hypothesis," Kruger National Park, South Africa. (March 2013)


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

Outputs
OUTPUTS: "Activities: The PI (i) initiated a new activated carbon (AC) experiment in fall 2012, Tooele, UT; (ii) collected the second season data spring 2012 from an AC experiment started fall 2010 in Winthrop, WA; (iii) published a manuscript in Proceedings of the Royal Society B (impact factor >5), referenced in Utah State Today, (iv) is working on a revision of a manuscript in Plant and Soil, (v) is continuing to analyze previously collected field and greenhouse data on AC treatments and draft related manuscripts; (vi) is continuing to work with Dr. Norton on data regarding how AC treatments affect microbial communities; (v) as a co-PI, submitted two letters of intent to USDA AFRI in November 2012; (vii) accepted a MS student on this project fall 2012; (viii) hired one undergraduate assistant fall 2012; (x) submitted one external funding proposal as co-PI to USDA NIFA. PI teaches Conservation Biology and Invasion Ecology every year. Events: February 2012, presented our technique at the Utah Weed Control Association meeting in Logan, Utah (~50 managers and scientists attended). August 2012, made two presentations at the Ecological Society of America meeting (~50 attendees in each session). November 2012, presented at the Utah Society for Range Management meeting in Orem, UT (~50 attendees). PI taught restoration technique to 30 undergraduates in spring 2012 course (USU). We established plots in two sites in central Utah in the fall of 2012. We are now waiting to observe plant growth responses to AC treatments, spring 2013. We are currently analyzing the microbial community composition of soils associated with different native and weedy species and activated carbon treatments. Analyses should be complete September 2013. Services: We are consulting with the Colville Confederated Tribes and Geo-Marine, Inc. Consultants regarding testing AC treatments in Washington State and Maryland, respectively. In Washington, they are interested in increasing perennial grass growth along salmon spawning sites. In Maryland, the Department of Defense is interested in controlling the invasive weed Microstegium. The PI mentors one graduate student (Nicole Nolan) and one undergraduate student (Josiah Maughan) at USU. Products: We have analyzed microbial community composition in native and weed dominated soils of a sage-scrub system in Washington State. This catalogue of microbial 'species' is the first such list in these soils and will be useful for any researchers or students trying to understand plant growth and soil processes in the region. In collaboration with members of the Tooele County Weed Board, we developed a new liquid application technique for AC treatments, which is a cleaner and safer way to apply AC treatments. We published one manuscript in the Proceedings of Royal Society B; made four presentations; and mentored one undergraduate and graduate student. We anticipate many publications associated with this research in the near future. Dissemination: We have given presentation, worked closely with land managers, who will be instrumental and disseminating the finds, and published our research. We will continue to pursue these avenues as results come in." PARTICIPANTS: "Individuals (1) PI, Karen Beard, Associate Professor, Wildland Resources, directed AC experiment in Utah, assists with experiments in Washington, mentoring graduate and undergraduate students involved in project. Heavily involved in manuscript preparation and grant writing. (2) co-PI, Andrew Kulmatiski, Assistant Research Professor, Plants, Soils and Climate Department, helped develop the AC methods in Washington. He has provided critical advice for implementation in the field in Utah. He will be heavily involved in manuscript preparation and grant writing, and co-PI, Linden Greenhalgh, Extension Assistant Professor, was instrumental helping us conduct the field experiment in Tooele, UT. He helped us find sites, donated his own time and funds to the project, and facilitated our collaboration with the Tooele County Weed Control Division, which was critical for the implementation of the project. Collaborator Jeannette Norton, Professor, Plants, Soils and Climate Department, has been involved in this research for several years. She and her laboratory members are pyrosequencing to define the microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) present in AC and control soils. She will be involved in several forthcoming publications on the microbial component of this research. Partner organizations. We are working with Jerry Caldwell, Supervisor, Tooele County Weed Control Division, who was instrumental in conducted the field component of the Utah experiment. He greatly assisted with methods in the fields and donated use of tractors, seed equipment, etc. in the field. Bart Staples, Assistant, Tooele County Weed Control Division, he assisted with implementation of the field component. Training or professional development. Nicole Nolan, MS graduate student, Wildland Resources Department, has received training and professional development from the project. She was primarily responsible for implemented the experiment in the field in Utah. She will also be responsible for writing manuscripts on previously collected greenhouse and field work in Washington. She attended the Utah Society of Range Management meeting and was on the presentation as an author made by the PI at that meeting. Josiah Maughan, USU undergraduate student, Wildland Resources Department, has received training and professional development from the project. He assisted Ms. Nolan with the field component in Utah." TARGET AUDIENCES: Our target audience includes (1) stakeholders (public land managers, ranchers, and conservationists) in the state of Utah and throughout the Great Basin because our work helps restore native and forage plants and the ecosystem services they provide; (2) land managers and extension specialists at the study site. We discuss our experimental results with them annually and at local meetings, but will do this more formally at the end of the large field experiments, which are still ongoing; (3) the scientific community as we publish results in peer-reviewed literature and present results at scientific meeting and universities across the US; (4) the local community where research is conducted. As an example of this, we gave a presentation this year at the Utah Weed Control Association meeting and Utah Society for Range Management; and (5) students. I involve students, particularly minorities, in the project. The current MS student on the project is a female. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
"In US forage systems these non-native weeds induce over $1 billion in lost revenue and management costs annually and weeds in cultivated areas induce over $20 billion annually. Despite the scale of this problem and the benefits that could be attained by controlling weeds, it is not known why many weeds are so successful or how they can be managed in a cost-effective way. We have hypothesized that due to differences between their native and adoptive ranges, non-native weedy plants benefit from interactions with soil organisms (bacteria and fungi) while native plants are harmed by interactions with soil organisms. We have developed a technique that was designed to decrease positive interactions between non-native weedy plants and soil organisms and at the same time decrease negative interactions between native and forage species and soil organisms. Specifically, by adding activated carbon (AC) to soils, we have found that we can limit plant-microbe communication, decrease weed growth and increase native forage plant growth in the greenhouse and in sites in central Washington State. In fact, AC treatments were the only treatments that produced native dominated communities in abandoned agricultural fields. Herbicide, fungicide, seeding, shading and tillage treatments did not produce native-dominated plant communities. This technique, however, involved the costly application of high concentrations of AC and we have only tested this technique in one valley in central WA State. We are now trying new application techniques and lower concentrations in WA and now in UT to determine 1) the most cost-effective application rate and 2) if results are consistent across years and sites throughout the intermountain western US. We have found that AC treatment is effective at concentrations of 1% mass in the top 10 cm of soil or roughly 1 kg m-2. This translates to a cost of almost $15,000 ha-1. We are currently testing concentrations of 100 g m-2. If successful this lower concentration would entail costs of $1,500 ha-1 or $600 acre-1. We are also analyzing the microbial community composition of native, weedy and AC-treated soils with the expectation that this will help us identify more targeted means of controlling plant growth. For example, we are hoping that these analyses will identify soil pathogens that are able to be cultivated and control cheatgrass growth. Through our well-cited publications describing this research we have created a change in knowledge. We believe this research has encouraged researchers and land managers to continue to pursue soil-based weed management techniques. This research has also led to a change in actions. We are aware of several research groups that are currently trying AC treatments in California, Montana, Washington and Utah. We have also begun working with the Colville Confederated Tribes of Washington, the Department of Defense, the Tooele County Weed Board and the Bureau of Land Management to expand testing of AC treatments."

Publications

  • Poessel, S., Beard, K. H., Callahan, C., & Rodrigo, F., (2013). Biotic acceptance in introduced amphibians and reptiles in Europe and North America: Global Ecology and Biogeography, 22: 192-201. (Published).
  • Kulmatiski, A., & Beard, K. H. 2012. Increasing precipitation intensity linked to woody plant encroachment: Nature Climate Change. (Submitted).
  • Ferreira, R. B., Beard, K. H., Peterson, S. L., Poessel, S. A., & Callahan, C. M., (2012). Establishment of introduced reptiles increases with the presence and richness of native congeners: Amphibia-Reptilia, 33(2012): 387-392. (Published).
  • Ferreira, R. B., Callahan, C. M., Poessel, S. A., & Beard, K. H., (2012). Global assessment of establishment success for amphibian and reptile invaders: Wildlife Research, 39(7): 637-640. (Published).
  • Hoopes, M., Marsh, D., & Beard, K. H. 2012. Invasive plants in U.S. National Wildlife Refuges: A coordinated research project using undergraduate ecology students: Bioscience. (Revising to Resubmit).
  • Kulmatiski, A., Beard, K. H., & Heavilin, J. E., (2012). Plant-soil feedbacks provide an alternative explanation for diversity-productivity relationships: Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 279(1740): 3020-3026. (Published).
  • Beard, K. H., Kulmatiski, A. (2012). Introduction, establishment, and spread: 50 years of invasion ecology since Elton. Ecology, 93(2): 437-438. (Published).