Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-nwzlb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T20:10:40.068Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of Aminopyralid on California Annual Grassland Plant Communities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Joseph M. DiTomaso*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Guy B. Kyser
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: jmditomaso@ucdavis.edu

Abstract

Aminopyralid is the most commonly used herbicide for the control of yellow starthistle and other invasive thistles in annual grasslands of California. Although the effects of aminopyralid on native plant communities over a 2-yr period have been evaluated in prairies dominated by perennial species in the northern central states, similar evaluations have not been conducted in grassland communities of California, which are generally composed of a high diversity of native and nonnative annual species. In this study we monitored the effects of 53 and 123 g ae aminopyralid ha−1 on individual species cover and species richness over three growing seasons in two locations on California annual grassland. Treated plots were compared to untreated plots in randomized complete-block designs. Results were largely consistent between the two trials. In the first season after treatment, both rates of aminopyralid reduced dicot cover significantly, particularly members of the Asteraceae and Fabaceae. Treated plots also showed reduced species richness. However, these differences were less pronounced in the second season after treatment, particularly at the low rate. By the third season after treatment in both sites, there were no longer any significant effects on cover or species richness at the low herbicide rate. On California annual grasslands, winter applications of low rates of aminopyralid have been shown to give excellent control of yellow starthistle, providing long-term benefits to grassland ecosystems. Results of the current study suggest that negative impacts of aminopyralid on the desirable native forb community are transitory.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Almquist, TL, Lym, RG (2010) Effect of aminopyralid on Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and the native plant community in a restored tallgrass prairie. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 3:155168 Google Scholar
Beck, KG, Sebastian, JR (2000) Combining mowing and fall-applied herbicides to control Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense). Weed Technol 14:351356 Google Scholar
Becker, R, Haar, M (2008) Minnesota Rankings for Native Forb Tolerance to Aminopyralid and Clopyralid Herbicides. http://appliedweeds.cfans.umn.edu/pubs/Forb%20Tolerance%20to%20Aminopyralid%20and%20Clopyralid%20Herbicides.pdf. Accessed January 21, 2014Google Scholar
Benefield, CB, DiTomaso, JM, Kyser, GB, Orloff, SB, Churches, KR, Marcum, DB, Nader, GA (1999) Success of mowing to control yellow starthistle depends on timing and plant's branching pattern. Calif Agric 53(2):1721 Google Scholar
Biswell, HH (1956) Ecology of California grasslands. J Range Manag 9:1924 Google Scholar
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (2013) Summary of Pesticide Use Report Data 2011 Indexed by Chemical. http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pur/pur11rep/chmrpt11.pdf. Accessed February 1, 2014Google Scholar
Coombs, EM, Clark, JK, Piper, GL, Cofrancesco, AF Jr (2004) Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Corvallis, OR Oregon State University Press. 476 pGoogle Scholar
Cripps, MG, Gassmann, A, Flower, SV, Boudôt, GW, McClay, AS, Edwards, GR (2011) Classical biological control of Cirsium arvense: lessons from the past. Biol Control 57:165174 Google Scholar
DeCáceres, M, Legendre, P, Wiser, SK, Brotons, L (2012) Using species combinations in indicator value analyses. Methods Ecol Evol 3:973982 Google Scholar
DiTomaso, JM (2000) Invasive weeds in rangelands: species, impacts and management. Weed Sci 48:255265 Google Scholar
DiTomaso, JM, Brooks, ML, Allen, EB, Minnich, R, Rice, RM, Kyser, GB (2006a) Control of invasive weeds with prescribed burning. Weed Technol 20:535548 Google Scholar
DiTomaso, JM, Kyser, GB, Hastings, MS (1999) Prescribed burning for control of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and enhanced native plant diversity. Weed Sci 47:233242 Google Scholar
DiTomaso, JM, Kyser, GB, Miller, JR, Garcia, S, Smith, RF, Nader, G, Connor, JM, Orloff, SB (2006b) Integrating prescribed burning and clopyralid for the management of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Weed Sci 54:757782 Google Scholar
DiTomaso, JM, Kyser, GB, Oneto, SR, Wilson, RG, Orloff, SB, Anderson, LW, Wright, SD, Roncoroni, JA, Miller, TL, Prather, TS, Ransom, C, Beck, KG, Duncan, C, Wilson, KA, Mann, JJ (2013) Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States. Davis, CA University of California Weed Research and Information Center. 544 pGoogle Scholar
DiTomaso, JM, Pitcairn, MJ, Enloe, SF (2007) Exotic species management. Pages 281296 in Stromberg, MR, Corbin, JD, D'Antonio, CM, eds. California Grasslands. Ecology and Management. Berkeley, CA University of California Press Google Scholar
DiTomaso, JM, Smith, B (2012) Linking ecological principles to tools and strategies in an EBIPM program. Rangelands 34(6):3034 Google Scholar
Dufrêne, M, Legendre, P (1997) Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecol Monogr 67:345366 Google Scholar
Duncan, C, Kulla, A, Halstvedt, M (2008) Effect of aminopyralid on non-target vegetation following aerial application. Proc West Soc Weed Sci 61:3435 Google Scholar
Enloe, SF, Lym, RG, Wilson, R, Westra, P, Nissen, S, Beck, G, Moechnig, M, Peterson, V, Masters, RA, Halstvedt, M (2007) Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) control with aminopyralid in range, pasture, and noncrop areas. Weed Technol 21:890894 Google Scholar
Halstvedt, MB, Cummings, DC, Almquist, T, Samuel, L, Lym, RG, Beck, KG, Becker, RL, Duncan, CA, Rice, PM (2010) Native Forb and Shrub Tolerance to Milestone herbicide. http://techlinenews.com/articles/2012/12/30/native-forb-and-shrub-tolerance-to-milestone-herbicide. Accessed January 10, 2014Google Scholar
Halstvedt, MB, Peterson, VF, Beck, KG, Moechnig, MJ, Rice, PM (2011) The effect of application timing on forb tolerance to aminopyralid. Proc West Soc Weed Sci 64:6162 Google Scholar
Halstvedt, MB, Rice, PM (2009) Plant community and forb response to aminopyralid. Proc West Soc Weed Sci 62:4142 Google Scholar
Harrington, TB, Peter, DH, Devine, WD (2010) Aminopyralid herbicide effects on Canada thistle and native vegetation in a seasonally wet meadow. Proc West Soc Weed Sci 63:4445 Google Scholar
Jacobs, J, Sciegienka, J, Menalled, F (2006) Ecology and management of Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.]. Bozeman, MT U.S. Department of Agriculture–Natural Resources Conservation Service Invasive Species Technical Note No. MT-5. 11 pGoogle Scholar
Kyser, GB, Hazebrook, A, DiTomaso, JM (2013) Integration of prescribed burning, aminopyralid, and reseeding for restoration of yellow starthistle-infested rangeland. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 6:480491 Google Scholar
Kyser, GB, Peterson, VF, Davy, JS, DiTomaso, JM (2012) Preemergent control of medusahead on California annual rangelands with aminopyralid. Rangeland Ecol Manag 65:418425 Google Scholar
Kyser, GB, Peterson, V, Orloff, SB, Wright, SD, DiTomaso, JM (2011) Control of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and coast fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii) with aminopyralid. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 4:341348 Google Scholar
Mayfield, MM, Boni, MF, Daily, GC, Ackerty, D (2005) Species and functional diversity of native and human-dominated plant communities. Ecology 86:23652372 Google Scholar
McLaughlin Natural Reserve (2014) Land Use—McLaughlin Natural Reserve. http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/mcl/natural/land/reserve.html. Accessed January 10, 2014Google Scholar
Mikkelson, JR, Lym, RG (2013) Effect of aminopyralid on desirable forb species. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 6:3035 Google Scholar
Pitcairn, MJ, Schoenig, S, Yacoub, R, Gendron, J (2006) Yellow starthistle continues its spread in California. Calif Agric 60(2):8390 Google Scholar
Rees, NE, Quimby, PC Jr, Piper, GL, Coombs, EM, Turner, CE, Spencer, NR, Knutson, LV (1996) The Biological Control of Weeds in the West. Bozeman, MT Western Society of Weed Science, U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Montana State University. 144 pGoogle Scholar
Rice, PM, Toney, JC, Bedunah, DJ, Carlson, CE (1997) Plant community diversity and growth form responses to herbicide applications for control of Centaurea maculosa . J Appl Ecol 34:13971412 Google Scholar
Rinella, MJ, Haferkamp, MR, Masters, RA, Muscha, JM, Bellows, SE, Vermeire, LT (2010) Growth regulator herbicides prevent invasive annual grass seed production. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 3:1216 Google Scholar
Roché, BF, Roché, CT (1991) Identification, introduction, distribution, ecology, and economics of Centaurea species. Pages 274291 in James, LF, Evans, JO, Ralphs, MH, Child, RD, eds. Noxious Range Weeds. Boulder, CO Westview Press Google Scholar
Samuel, LW, Lym, RG (2008) Aminopyralid effects on Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and native plant species. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 1:265278 Google Scholar
Sheley, RL, Duncan, CA, Halstvedt, MB, Jacobs, JS (2000) Spotted knapweed and grass response to herbicide treatments. J Range Manag 53:176182 Google Scholar
Sleugh, BS, Peterson, VF, Halstvedt, M, Whitson, TD, Dewey, SA, Lym, RG, Knezevic, SZ, Patten, K, DiTomaso, JM (2009) Aminopyralid: new efficacy research on noxious and invasive weeds. Proc West Soc Weed Sci 62:27 Google Scholar
Thomsen, CD, Williams, WA, Vayssiéres, M, Bell, FL, George, M (1993) Controlled grazing on annual grassland decreases yellow starthistle. Calif Agric 47(6):3640 Google Scholar
Western Regional Climate Center 2014 http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/rawMAIN.pl?caCKNO. Accessed January 10, 2014Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

DiTomaso and Kyser supplementary material

Appendix

Download DiTomaso and Kyser supplementary material(File)
File 91.6 KB