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Combined Herbivory by Targeted Sheep Grazing and Biological Control Insects to Suppress Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jeffrey C. Mosley ,
Rachel A. Frost ,
Brent L. Roeder ,
Tracy K. Mosley  and
Gerald Marks
Jeffrey C. Mosley*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717
Rachel A. Frost
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717
Brent L. Roeder
Affiliation:
Montana State University Extension, P.O. Box 130, Choteau, MT 59422
Tracy K. Mosley
Affiliation:
Montana State University Extension, 119 S. 3rd St., Livingston, MT 59047
Gerald Marks
Affiliation:
Montana State University Extension, 2825 Santa Fe Court, Missoula, MT
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: jmosley@montana.edu
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Abstract

The use of biological control insects is a promising option for suppressing spotted knapweed, a nonindigenous perennial forb that infests more than 3 million hectares of North American rangeland. Efficacy increases when spotted knapweed is attacked by more than one phytophagous insect; however, combined herbivory by biological control insects has not achieved widespread suppression of spotted knapweed in North America. Here we expand the concept of combined herbivory beyond two or more species of biological control insects to include a vertebrate herbivore, specifically targeted grazing by domestic sheep. Our experiment on foothill rangeland in northwestern Montana evaluated spotted knapweed response to three treatments: (1) biological control insects only, (2) biological control insects + targeted sheep grazing applied in late July (spotted knapweed in late bud–early flower stage), and (3) biological control insects + targeted sheep grazing applied in mid-August (spotted knapweed in full-flower stage). We combined targeted sheep grazing with herbivory by three species of biological control insects: knapweed flower weevil, knapweed root weevil, and sulfur knapweed root moth. Treatments were applied during four consecutive years (2009 to 2012). Spotted knapweed fitness was suppressed more where targeted sheep grazing and biological control insects were combined vs. areas treated with biological control insects alone. Combined herbivory was effective when targeted sheep grazing was applied during either late July or mid-August, but July grazing was more effective. Spotted knapweed produced 96 to 99% fewer viable seeds in sheep-grazed areas. After 4 yr of treatment, total spotted knapweed plant density (seedlings, juvenile, and adult plants) was 86% less in July-grazed areas and 61% less in August-grazed areas than in areas treated with biological control insects alone. Combined herbivory by targeted sheep grazing and biological control insects reduced adult plant density and prevented compensatory recruitment of spotted knapweed, but treatment with biological control insects alone did not.

Keywords

Knapweed flower weevil, Larinus spp.knapweed root weevil, Cyphocleonus achatessulfur knapweed root moth, Agopeta zoeganaspotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe L.Biological controlcompensatory recruitmentcumulative stressresource dilutiontargeted livestock grazing
Type
Research Article
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , March 2016 , pp. 22 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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