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I FNPS c/o Betsy Bicknell P.O. Box 61 16 Spring Hill, FL 34611 http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu Ifnps!fnps.htm 1998 Joint Symposium of the Florida Native Plant SOciety & the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council ABSTRACTS FL EPPC c/o Dan Thayer P.O. Box 24680 West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680 http://www.fleppc.org

ABSTRACTS - FLEPPC - Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council · 2015. 7. 24. · Keith Bradley and George Gann, The Institute for Regional Conservation The Institute (or RegIonal Conservation

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    FNPS c/o Betsy Bicknell

    P.O. Box 61 16 Spring Hill, FL 34611

    http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu Ifnps!fnps.htm

    1998 Joint Symposium of the Florida Native Plant SOciety

    & the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

    ABSTRACTS

    FL EPPC c/o Dan Thayer P.O. Box 24680

    West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680 http://www.fleppc.org

  • (Alphabetical by primary author)

    DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM HORTICULTURE: STAGE,ACTOR AND SPECIAL EFFECTS Wendy Andrew, Walt Disney World

    Horuculture ploys many roles m the drama that IS DISney's newest thfme pork, Animal Kingdom. Plants set the SIage that creates the impression of the African veldt or the tropICal OOSIS. Through the frame pro~ded by the landscape the animals are seen as they. mIght be m their native environ-ments. Plants also ploy a starring role, particularly the many unique blooms throughout the Iondscape. They a~a provide speaal effects such as animal enrichment

    This presentatIOn WID describe many of the ways plants are integral to the show at DISney. Animal Kingdom and introduce the art and the science of the HortJcultural elements in rh,S newest Disney creotion.

    Wendy Andrew Walt Disney Animal Kingdom P.O.Box 10000 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 (407) 939-1609 Email: [email protected]

    THE STATUS OF EXOTIC PLANTS INTHE PRESERVES OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA Keith Bradley and George Gann, The Institute for Regional Conservation

    The Institute (or RegIonal Conservation has been developing the Floristic Inventory of South Florida IFISF) since 1994. The FISF includes the develop-ment of a ,.Iauanol database which mcarparates plant inventories from each of the preserves of the ten county area south of Lake Okeechobee. Freid surveys are beIng canduaed to develop mventaries for SItes without plont lists. Field surveys have also been canduaed on seven South Florida Water Management Distria properties to detennine which exotic species were invasive on those properties. The FISF database also contains data on ranges, conservaUon status, habitats, and origin of each plant toxon in the region. Thus for, the FISF has documented over 700 exotic plant toxa as berng naturalized in southern Florida. We will discuss preliminary results from this research regarding the status of these exotic plant ta.a in the pre-serves of southern Florida. We win compore percentages or exotic vs. native plont taxa in large vs. small preserves. percentages of mvasive taxa vs, non·invasive ta.a, exotIC plant taxa by different growth habIts, exotic plant taxa by habitat invaded, and frequency of exoUc plant taxa in southern Florida preserve •.

    Keith Bradley Research Associate The Institute for Regional Conservation 2260 I SW 152 Avenue (305) 247-6547Fax: (305) 245-9797 Miami, Florida 33170

  • .:; . .. JOINT EPPC/FNPS ABSTRACTS

    BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF HYORILLA AND EURASIAN WATERHILFOll: INSECT QUARANTINE RESEARCH Christine Bennett and Gary BUCkingham et. al. United States Department of Agriculture,Agricultural Research Service

    HydrillD, Hydrilla verticillata. IS the major submersed aquatic weed In the southern U.S. and hos invaded some areas in the northern U.S. where EuroSlan wole"ml(oil. Myriophyllum spicatum, is the major SlJbmersed weed. Four imparled insect spedes hove been releosed in the U.S. (or conlrrJl o( hydnlla, bUI only one, a lea(·nunmg fly, Hydrellia pakistanae, IS well esloblished. No Imported insects have been released (or control o( EuraSIan woterm,I(oll. BIology and host range studies were conducted in quarantine with the Chinese Hydrellia sarahee sarohee and sWdies ore continuing with an undescribed Hydrellia sp. (rom Thailand. Three spedes o( Bagous weevils thaI attack hydrilla in Thailand we,. colonized in quaran~ne. Studies have concentrated on trying 10 delermine i( any o( the species will complete,develapment on planlS kepllolOlly submersed. One spedes oviposilS on sub· mersed planlS, bUI larvae hove only compleled development when the planlS were removed (rom waler. The other two spedes are reored on plonlS oul o( waler. No adullS have been produced (rom hydrilla planlS kepI continuously in waler. Bne( biology studies were completed with a Chmese weevil. Phytoblus sp. thaI (eeds on the nower slolk and submersed lea( tips o( Eurasian walermil(oil. Biology and hosl range studies were conduaed with the Chmese weevil, Bagous mynophylli, thaI bares in the slem o( mt/(oils.

    Dr. Gary R. Buckingham USDAIARS. Bioconlrol 01 Weeds cIa Florida Bioconlrol Laboratory P.O. Box 147100 Gainesville. Florida 32614·7100 (352) 372-3505 Fax; (352) 955-230 I E·mail [email protected]

    ST.·JOHN'S.WORTS.BEAUTIES AND BEASTS IN FLORIDA Kathy Craddock Burks, Department of Environmental Protection

    Uke any group o(living things, the St·John's·Worl genus (Hypericum) has ilS beau~es and beaslS, bUI which is which is nol often easily discerned. This lolk will cover the general choroaers, odd and beauti(ul, thaI make our 29 native Hypericum species slond oul 10 a crowd, such as their opposile, punaale /eoves and sunbursl·yellow fIowe". The (ocus wi« then be on particular spedes. includmg some o( the common lot woooly and herbaceous. showy and inconspICuous, and some o( the rarer species, such as the spindly endemic speaes with a publiC Image problem, and a new orrival, number 30 In our flora. the /irst nonnative on our list II was broughl 10 Florida (rom Europe (or the beauty o( ilS medicinal value, bul il also has the pOlential to become another "beast at the door" as an invaSIVe plant

    Kathy Craddock Burks Florida Department 01 Environmental Protection 3915 Commonwealth Blvd .. MS 710 Tallahassee, FL 32399·3000 (850) 4B7·2600 Fax; (850) 488-2216 Em.iI; [email protected]

  • JOINT EPPC/FNPS ABSTRACTS

    DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS INVOLVEMENT IN EXOTIC PEST PLANT CONTROL Fred D. Carter, Department of Corrections

    The Deportment of (orremons (DC) IOvolvement In exotic nUIsance plant control grew out of 0 desire to comply with certoin environmental permit condl~ons OSSOCIOted With the construction of prisons. Permits for the construction of the South Florido Recep~on Center ond the Everglod.s Co"ectionallns~tu~an m Dode County required the eradication of nuisance plant speaes from these "t.s. DC mvolv.ment m exot· IC pest plant control has grown (rom Its begmnmg In 1990 to melude at least (Ive mojor Institutions providing one or more ten-man crews to conduC! control actl~ties on public lands and right.,,( ways.

    Fred D. Carter Department of Corrections 260 I Blair Stone Road Tallahassee. FL 3299-2Soo (850) 410-4109 Fax (850) 922-2682 Email: [email protected]

    RELEASE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF OXYOPS VITIOSA FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF MELALEUCA IN SOUTH FLORIDA Ted D. Center,Thai K.Van, Min Rayachhetry, Gary R. Buckingham, and Susan A.Wineriter United States Department of Agriculture

    Valuable wetland ecosystems are frequently degroded by various disturbances. one of which IS invasive weeds. Melo/euca quinquenervio (Cov.) S. T. 8Ioke (brood-leoved pop.rbark). though exp.rienClng dec/mes in Austra/io. ~ naturalized and highly Invasiv. m wetlond hobitats of south Florida where it inf.sts about 200.000 00. Many sedge-dominated w.tlands. including such renowned areos as the Ev.rglades. are rapidly becommg M. qu;nquenerVlo swamp (orests, with major envrronmentol and economic impacts. Current management methods Include herb .. odes. mechonicol or hond removol. flooding. ond prescrIbed burnmg. Insuffioent mformo~on. high costs. non-target Impocts. ond the resilience of M. quinqu.nerVio (epicormic SpltH/ts ond mossive canopy seed bonks) constroin the .ffectiveness of these methods. Biologicol contral offers sustomob/e monogement potentiol by lessening the spreod and by r.duong plont vitolity ond growth rotes. r.ndering them more vuln.robl. to oth.r en~ranmentol Str.sses ond convenaonol control methods. The snout beetl. Oxyops vitioso Poscoe. 0 notural .nemy of M quinqu.ner';o in Austrolia. wos releosed during spring 1997. Morked odults were released to enobl. recognition of peld-produced offspring. Unmarked odults were found o/ier about 3 months signoling the successful completion of 0 fuU generotion in the peld. Releoses continued ot other loco-tions ond during 1997. neorly 1400 odults ond 6000 lorvoe w.re liberated at 13 Iocotions. Populotions now oppeor to be estoblished in Braword. Lee. Conier. Polm Beoch. ond Glodes Counties and a mojor effort has been mitioted to establish populations in Dode County. porticu-Iorly within Ev.rglades Notional Pork. Short hydroperiod OObltats se.med most suitable ond ore most flkely to support vigorous O. vitioso pop-ulo~ons. whereos populotions hove generolly foiled ta estab6sh ot p.rmonently inundated sites. It's premature to conclude. however, thot per-monently wet sites ore unsuitabl •. The quontity o( insects needed to comp.nsote (or high lorvol mortality at these sites could be much greater thot the amount thot hos be.n ovoi/obl •. R./eoses of lorger quontities ond different stoges (I. •.• odults vs.lorvoe) may be more successful in the fu,"r •. but the ocquisition of sulfident stock will be con~ngent upon red~trlbullOl1 from .stobflshed populotions o/ier p.ld colonies hove had time to attain adequate levels.

    Ted Center USDA Aquatic Weeds 3205 College Avenue

  • Ft.Lauderdale, Florida 331 14 (954) 475-0541 (exL 103) Emili!. tcenter@netrunner,net

    -- ,,'- --. JOINT EPPC/FNPS ABSTRACTS .-~-

    SANIBEL ISLAND'S BRAZILIAN PEPPERS ARE "SHAKIN' IN THEIR ROOTS" Dan Clark, City of Sanibel

    Sanibel Island, located in Lee County in Southwest Florida, has long been viewed as an environmentally progressive community. Especially since incorporation in 1974, the City of Sanibel has been considered a shining example of a "sanctuary" island. This is evident by the strict environmental performance standards in development planning, zoning by eight naturally occurring ecological zones, and the fact that almost 70% of the entire island is held in public ownership for conservational purposes. The driving force behind all the complicated but valuable environmental legislation and protection on Sanibel is the citizen involvement and support. Sanibel's residents continue to shape their own future by maintaining the vision of the "Sanctuary Island: The latest example of the dedication of Sanibel's citizens to the preservation of the natural and native ecosystems of the island, is the acceptance of an island-wide Brazilian pepper removal program. The program's goal is to remove pepper in a phased approach over a period of the next 13 years to achieve eradication of the species from the entire island. The program is targeted at all properties within city limits including rights-of-way, city parks, publicly owned conservation areas, and private properties such as single family residences. commercial properties. and vacant lots. Basically. all areas of the island, with-out exception are included. The City Council passed legislation approving the program in May of 1997, and continued legislation in the form of ordinances throughout the program will make the removal of pepper mandatory within individual phases. The City offers financial incentives to residents for removal, special pep-per debris pick.up dates, and disposal sites on public land. A formal agreement between the three largest landowners/managers on Sanibel (the IN. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and the City of Sanibel) has facilitated the receipt of numerous grants for pepper removal and other restoration in the natural areas with many projects planned, in progress, or already in maintenance phases. Residents of Sanibel have united in suppo," the City Council is passing legislation, Island land managers are committed and cooperating, and the pepper is "shakin' in its roots!"

    Dan Clark City of Sanibel 800 Dunlop Road Sanibel, FL 33957 (941) 472-3700 Fax: (941) 472-3065 Email: dclark@peganeLcom

    ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL SCREENING OF FLORIDA'S INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES Bruce C. Cochrane, University of south Florida, College of Public Health

    Plants form the Exotic Pest Plant Council's list of Florida's Most Invasive Species were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activity. This group of plants was chosen due to three factors that make them better candidates for screening for antibacterial and anti-fungal activi-ty than a random screening of plants. Many of these plants are potentially allelopathic and may produce compounds that inhibit microorgan-isms. Many of these plants are tropical in origin and have better defense mechanisms than temperate plants. Many of these plants come

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    from areas of the world where traditional medicine is practiced With many of these plants being used for ueating infectious diseases or conditions. Plant material was freeze dried, ground to a powder, and extracted in ethanol. Plant extracu were screened for antibacterial and anti.fungal activity u,ing the di,k diffu,ion method. A total of 18 plants out of the 37 screened (~8.6%) exhibited activity against at least one of the microorganisms, Gram ~negati\l'e bacteria were inhibited by none of the plants. and the yeast was inhibited by only one plant. There were five plants that inhibited both methiClllin·resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin. resistant Enterococcus fae-cali' The,e plants were Hibiscu, tiliaceu" P,idium cattleianum, P,idium guajava, Schinus terebinthifolius, and Urena lobata. These plants in particular should be investigated further due to their activity against these antibiotic resistant str3ins that are important human pathogens.

    Bruce C. Cochrane I ~6 42nd Ave N 51. Petersburg, FL 33703 (813) 894·1716 Email: [email protected]

    OCHYROMERA LlGUSTRI (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE),AN IMMIGRANT NATURAL ENEMY OF CHINESE PRIVET, LlGUSTRUM SINENSE (OLEACEAE) IN FLORIDA James P. Cuda and Mark C, Zeller, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida and Bureau of Aquatic Plant Management, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

    Chinese pri,et or hedge pri,e~ Ugustrum sinense (Lour.) (Oleoceoe), on ornamental deciduous shrub o( Asian origin, has become noturo~zed through-out north Florido,Alobamo, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. This woody pIont i, now considered on in,osi,e weed because it has escaped cuhi,otion and ~ listed as a Category I spedes by EPpc. Since no practical control measures .. ist (or /orge in(estations o( Chinese privet in noturol areas, this weedy shrub may be a suitable candidate (or biological control because there are no Ugustrum spedes noti,e to the U.S. The seed weevil Ochyromero ligu'tri, on Immigrant nOlUrol enemy o( Ugustrum species, was recently disco,ered attacking Chinese pri,et in Leon Co., Florida. Further studies will be required to determine what role seed predation by O. ligustri may play in reducing the invasiveness of Chmese privet in Florida.

    Dr. James P. Cuda Entomology and Nematology Department University of Florida,P'O. Box I 10620Gaine,ville, Florida 32611·0620 352) 392·1901 ext. 199 phone (352) 392-0190 fax [email protected]

    PINE SAVANNAS OF EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK:AN ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM James K. DeCoster, William J. Platt and Sarah A. Riley. Louisiana State University

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    ceous to shrub speoes. To determine speoes composItion of groundcover communities, we estab6shed elevational transects running (rom hjgh e/eva-Uon pine savannas to low elevauon glades at various lacouons In Long Pine Key. In ten!h hectare plots, spedes richness and (requency o( occurrence were delermlned 01 spaualscales ranging (rom 100 cm 2 to 0.1 ha. Species richness was high on 0/1 spatial scoles, wi!h maximo o( 15 spedes in 100 cm 2, 41speCl's In I m Z, and 131 speCies In O. I ha. Plats !hot have not been bumed in 10 years show a decreose in speaes richness when compared to (requently burned plars . Wi!h the cooperouon o( Everglades fire management stoff. we are exploring how varloUons in lightning season pre regimes mnuence these endangered plont communities.

    James K. DeCoSter 1500 Ocean Bay Dr. #R 7 Key Largo FL 33037 (305)453-0841 EmaIl: [email protected]

    WHY SHOULD WE ALL BECOME CORPORATE BUSINESS MANAGERS? Alison Fox,Agronomy Department, University of Florida

    It's amazing whitt you can learn from a general science magazine like New Scientist. It seems that all of us who consider ourselves ecole gists, and especially those of us interested in invasive species, can look forward to new careers as leaders of the corporate business war! But if the dress-code doesn't appeal, then at least we can take some satisfaction from knowing that economists and CEOs are taking not (rom our textbooks and are starting to think of the corporate economy as an ecosystem. Some of the implications for business manage ment. such as concepts of economic webs, differential susceptibilities of markets to invasion, or competition, may sound reassuringly fami iar to us biologiSts of invasive species. But for CEOs who are used to thinking that they can control the simple dynamics of head-to-he. business competition. the unpredictable nature of complex dynamical economic. or eco·systems can be very disconcerting. Most of us biologists have few such illusions of being able to accurately prediCt. much less of being able to fully control, the habitats in which we work. But as we get better at understanding ecosystems, don't be surprised if CEOs and MBAs start appearing at the EPPC. Alison Fox Agronomy Department. University of Florida Agronomy Department, UFnFAS PO Box 110500 Gainesville, FL 32611-0500 (352) 392-1808 Fax: 352-392-1840 Email: [email protected] .edu

    KICKIN' HYDRILLA OUTTA THE KISSIMMEE CHAIN OF LAKES Ernie W. Feller and Mike Bodle, South Florida Water Management District

    The Kissimmee chain of lakes system in Osceola and Polk counties comprise the headwaters of the Kissimmee River and receive wac draining from much of the southern Orlando/Orange County metroplex, as well as Osceola County cities of Kissimmee and s~ Clou Therefore. the system of man-made canals connecting natural lakes functions as a essential element for regional flood protection and water management in the region while providing vast aquatiC areas (or SpOrt fishing. recreational boating and wildlife habitat.

  • By the late 1980. hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillat.a) had overtaken most of the Kissimmee chain of lakes system and effectively shut down navi· g"ian. seriously impeded water flows. especially during storm events. and overwhelmed critical aquatic wildlife habitaL The only source of funds for aquatic plant management in waters of the state is DE?,s aquatic plant control trust fund. Until 1996.legisl"ive alloc"ions to this fund were insufficient to effectively battle hydrilla's expansion in this system and the state. as a whole. Since 1996 added funding has sup· ported hydrilla treatments on a scale never before performed In the nation. SFWMD aquatic plant managers were unsure whether treat~ ments of this size were possible. but approxim"ely $5 million treatments were made in both 1997 and 1998 by combining helicopter and boat applications with many hours of concerted effort by SFWMD employees and contractors.

    Ernie Feller South Florida Water Management District 80 5. Hoagland Blvd. KiSSimmee. FL 34741 [email protected]

    USING FIRE TO CONTROL SKUNKVINE (PAEDERIA FOETIDA) IN AN INVADED SANDHILL Doria R. Gordon, George D. Gann", and Steve C. Morrison, The Nature Conservancy and Institute for Regional Conservation

    We compared the number of stems of skunk vine and other vine species growing on trees in a fire-suppressed sand hill site prior to and following a prescribed fire in part of the site. Live vine stems within 10 cm of tree trunks were counted" IA m height on 25 trees in the 2 ha burn unit and on 20 trees in an adjacent unburned control.Vines were counted annually in I"e February of I 992· I 998.The prescribed burns occurred annually in March 0I1992.1994.Aveldge numbers of skunk vine stems were initially the same in both sites. One year post· burn. skunk vine was reduced by 95% in the burn uniL compared to 33% in the control.After three fires. skunk vine showed a further reduction of 77% in aveldge stem densicy. from 13.1 stems pre.burn to 0.14 in 1995. Densities in the control site remained constant from 1992 to 1996. with aveldges of IS and 13 stems per tree. respectively. After three years without fire. aveldge vine densities increased to 2.82 per tree in the burn site; simultaneously. densities decreased to 5.5 in the control for unknown reasons. Stem densities of eight other vine species. primarily native. have fluctuated independently in both sites over the srudy period. Fire reduced densities of Vi tis rotundilolia and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. but both have since increased with time since fire. Fire appears to have significantly decreased skunk vine density without irreversibly impacting native vines in this sandhill community.

    Doria R. Gordon The Nature Conservancy Florida Natural History Museum Universicy 01 Florida Gainesville. FL 32611 Email: [email protected]

    EXOTIC PLANTS AND BUTTERFLIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA,THE PROS AND CONS Walter Gould and Roger Hammer, USDA·ARS and Natural Areas Management Dade Co. Park and Ret. Dept.

    Some butterflies exISt In many different habitats. whife others are restricted to ""e portlcular type ar habitat Loss or habitat" the greatest threat that butterflies race today. The presence or host plants and neaar plants Will not always guarantee that a papulauon or a butterfly species will be present

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  • The main threOl 10 butterfl .. s In Floflda pased by exo~c plants IS hab,lallass, Two of the worsl offenders are /lTazaian Pepper and Melaleuco, 80th of these plants are Invading large areas of South Flofldo, In weI pro",e and glade areas butterflies which would be dISplaced would include the Palomedes swalloW/oil. the L,We Melalmark, the Georgia Sotyr and numerous weiland skiPPers like the Twin SpOI Skipper, In pineland areas key pineland butterflies which wauld suffer Include spwes such as the Floflda Leofwlng Buuerfly. Bartrom's HalfSlfeak. the Palmetto Slcipper. and the Flofldo Dusky Wing Skipper, Tropical hard-wood hammock bUllerfiles thaI would be dISplaced Include the Aloia. the Florida Purplewing. the Floflda while. and the Hammock Skipper, Some of the hom-mock butterflies would be less 01 fisk thon other displaced speCies because the habilol they favor closely resembles hobilal found in urban areas such as yards. parks. and frUlI groves, Some exotics are benepdallo butterflies, A number of spedes which are widespread weeds in Sooth Flarida actuolly benep~ and In"ease numbers of bulterflles In the surrounding area, Even the BraZilian pepper IS nOI I 00% nega~e. SInce same butterflies nectar 01 its powers and larvae of the Fulvous hairstreok feed on it

    Walter Gould USDA-ARS 1360 I Old Cuder Rd, Miami. FL 33158 (305) 254-3623 E-mail: miawg@ars-grin,gov

    NATIVE PLANTS AND THEIR EXOTIC PEST PLANT LOOK-ALIKES. HOWTO DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL Roger L. Hammer, Miami-Dade Parks Department, Natural Areas Management

    Many exotic pesl planlS are closely relaled /0 Flaflda nalive species. "ea~ng some confusion 10 resoorce managers responsible for properly identifying largel species, Members of the genus ACaCIa. Ardisio. Colubrina. Eugema. Ficus. Jocquinia. Lanlana. Lysiloma. Manilkaro. Nephrolepis. Polliporo. Pithecel'obium. Psychotrla. Scaevalo. and Slachy/orphela all have both na~ve and Invasive exo~c speCies represenled in the fIoro of Florida, Non-Iechnical ways 10 lell Flaflda nalive speCies aparl from relaled exotic peSI pian/speCIes win benepl land managers. as weU os landscape archi/ects. nurserymen. and homeowners,

    Roger L Hammer Miami-Dade Parks Department Nawral Areas Management 22200 Southwest 137 Avenue Miami FL 33170 (305) 257-0933 Fax: (305) 257-1086

    SEASON'S OVER AND THE NATIVES ARE RETURNING TO KEY ISLAND Judy Haner, Michael Shirley, James Burch, Heather Stoffel, Jill Ryder, Marilyn Roman and Sharon Soppe Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

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  • and receIVed two granls to remove rhe onva'lVe Au.lralian pme Iree from Key I.land (approximately 300 acres): one from rhe Deparrment of Commerce and one from rhe Deparrment of EnVIronmental ProtectIOn, Bureau of Invasive Plant Managemenl ConlrOClOrl wiH remove Irees from March-June 1998. Rookery Boy .raff Will be manllormg rhe ree.tabU.hmenl of naWe plant ,ammuni~es wirhin test plats (mcluding mlCrocUmate changes), mOMormg gopher tortOise and shorebird activity WIthin restored areas, monitoring beach erosion through shoreline changes via dune line ml~gaMn and nearlhore barhymerry, assessong fi.h abundonce at rhe accreting (.outh) end of the i.land, monitoring sea turtle nes~ng 10 spea"c regions rhot (becau.e of fallen Au.tralian pme trees) were not previously ovOilable to sea turdes and discu.sing onvasive plant issue. with the general publIC. These mOMormg techniques, a. well a. mformation on the specific heavy eqUipmenl u.ed an this ISland and rhe resuitmg impaas, will proVide useful mformauon to ,oo.tal managers with sunllar .ituotions.At rhe time of thIS meeting, conlroctar work will be finl.hing and post· removal mOnltormg WIll be stortmg.

    Judy Haner Environmental Specialist Florida Department of Environmental Protection 300 Tower Road \laples, Florida H 113 941)775.8845 'ax:(94I )417·63 15 .mail: haner j@dep .• tate.fl.u.

    ~CTORS INFLUENCING ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS OF MELALEUCA QUINQUENERVIA IN VERGLADES NATIONAL PARK anMarie Hartman, Marcus Knowlton. Sylvan Kaufman ltgers, The State University of New Jersey

    ,dling establi.hmenl is a bottleneck 10 rhe #fe history of many spedes. We conducted growrh chamber and field .. penments to test the Impor· ce of rhlS fife hIStory stage in a common woody invasive spedes, melaleuca quinquenemo. In growrh chamber expenments, maximum germmation " were low « 17%) for Melaleuca, but seeds were able to genninate ofter bemg submerged far up ta six month.. In a seporate growrh chamber enmen~germmated seeds were found 10 have 100% establishment on .ubmerged peat substrate and 45% establIShment on submerged clay n .ubslrate. In a filed study, seeds and seedUngs were .. penmentally outplanted in short and long hyd~riod Prolrles, hammocks, and 'lands, mitigated Sites, and rock plowed fields. Several experiments were Illn to characterize seedung establishment reqUirements 10 tenns of seo-lIity, seed donnancy, variable ,fimatic conditions and site acteristia, but melaleuca had very low esrab~lhment under any condiMnl «0.15%). Finally, we looked at naturol esrablishment of melaleuca Ungs alO

  • - .. - • "'- - JOINT EPPC/FNPS ABSTRACTS

    New Brunswick. NJ 08901-8524 (732) 932-8893 Fax: (732) 932-1940 Email: [email protected]

    RESOURCE TRACKING USING GEOINDEXAT ESTERO BAY AQUATIC & STATE BUFFER PRESERVES Paul Hinchcliff, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

    The Eslero Boy Geoindox Syslem is designed 10 pro~de sile managers wirh a resource invenlory and planning 1001 rhol uses conventional GPS I GIS lechnology. As used 01 Eslero Bay Aquatic & Slale Buffer Preserves (EBA&SBP) il creoles a spatialfy-orienled dOlo base rhol can incorporale work losks, sile (ealUres & species dOlo inlo a grid-based (ormal rhol can Irack. reporl and mop resource managemenl in(ormotion. This syslem fixes sile features and tasks directly 10 a specific location or area In a very vmaule manner. The principal (eature o( rhe Eslero Bay Geoindox Syslem is a GIS-fixed mopping grid spread over barh rhe Aquatic and Slale Buffer Preserves. This mop gnd is rhe organizational basis (or assigning a location poin~ a ·spatiol Identiry", 10 a variery o( resources and work aSSignments in rhe monagemenl area. Norrh-sourh grid lines are labeled alpha (A-I) and easl-wesl as numeric (1-16) allowing grid inleraes 10 be plotted and labeled as E6, or)5 and so on. One hundred /Wenry-seven, one-kilo-square grids, reg-iSlered 10 Ihe Universal Transverse Mercatar (UTM) syslem found on aU USGS IOPO mops, cover 01/ paints of EBA&SBP. Features wirhin each grid are calaloged by rhe 10 number o( rhe NW comer o( rhe grid in which il occurs. For rhe purpose of upland vegetation conUDct plots, the grid is further subdivided Inlo one-hectore plots. For contract monagemenl or research moniloring rhe I hectare (-2.4 ac) size plots, and multiples of this uni~ have proved ta be rhe mosl practical bose unil. These plots are also named and cataloged using rheir mosl narthweslem comer grid ID's with the addition of a deomal place 10 denole a specific hectare, i.e.: E6. I or )5.2, and so on. These plots, or multi-pial conUDct areas, are marked in the field by fire-proof corner posts sel wirh a GPS unil (This smaner grid is also use(ul (or habital and population UDcking of wildlife species with smal/ home ranges or special fealUres like nesl Slles.) As each I -hectore pial is surveyed, information is enlered inta 0 mosIer sile dalabase. AI EBA&SBP rhe available dOlabase IS Microsoft Access. Additional suffixes 10 the location 10 are used 10 denole particulor work lasks such as prescribed fire or hydrological resloraUon. The resulting mopped dOlo bose fixes many kinds o( resources and lasks 10 specific Iocauons rhal can be sorted and compiled on rhe basis of location or characterIStics.

    Paul Hinchcliff, Biologist Estero Bay Aquatic & State Buffer Preserves Florid. Department 01 Environmental Protection Fort Myers Beach FL 33931 (94 I) 463-3240 Fax (94 I) 463-3634

    The effect on the invasive process of phenotypic and genetic differences among Melaleuca quinquenervia populations, Sylvan R. Kaufman, Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey

    Exouc plants often expand inlo a wide range of habilats, some very differenl from native habitats. Barh characteristics o( the speaes and o( the habi-10111" Invading are likely 10 delermme success. As a measure of invasive pOlential, I delermined rhe phenorypic plostiary and genetic variation of Melaleuco quinquenervia populations. This werJond lree, introduced Inlo Florida (rom Australia beginning in rhe lale 1800's, now covers more rhon 500,000 acres. I conected seeds (rom populalions in Florida and Austroua and delermined half-Sib seedlings' phenorypic responses 10 moislure and pH condilions in the greenhouse. I chose these variables because these are /Wo o( rhe characteristics rhal vary greatly among Melaleuca habitats, and because one o( rhe resloration plans (or the Florida region invoives increosmg rhe waler level m rhe Everglades. An populations oxhibiled high lev-els of phenorypic plasticiry, bUI they generally grew lal/esl and produced the greolesl biomass Wlrh waler levels 3cm below soil surface and moderate

    I

  • pH (pH 7) There were Slgn/(lcant differences among populauons as well, indicating that there are geneuc differences among populations. The high plastiCity o( the plants probably mffuences their colanizmg ability, but the geneuc differences among papulauons should also be taken into cansldera-(fan m dtvelopmg management strategIes.

    Sylv. n R. Kaufman Rutgers. the State University of New J .... ey 113 Blake Hall, 93 Lipman Drive New Brunswick. NJ 08901-8524 (732) 932-1121 FAX: (732) 932-1126 E-mail: [email protected]

    INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANT MAPPING AND ASSESSMENT ON NORTH KEY LARGO, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Curtis Kruer, Florida Keys Environmental Restoration Trust Fund, Summerland Key, FL len Taylor, Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Key Largo, FL

    ThIS prqect mopped the dlStribuuon a( eight invasive, non-naUve plants curront}y considered the greatest threats to the native plant communities o( North Key Largo, the northernmost developed island a( the Keys arChipelago. ThIS ~land supports the largest tract o( the glabally imperiled West Indian tropical hardwood hammock in the continental U.S. Many plants with distributions limited to south Florida and the Keys occur here as wen as (our (ederally endangered animals. Approximately 9,500 ocres o( buttonwood and mongrove wetlands, tropical hardwood hammock, and dis-turbed Ionds are publicly owned and monoged In North Key Largo - 6,700 oaes as the Crocodile Lake NationalWildli(e Re(uge. managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildli(e Service, and 2,800 ocres os the Key Largo Hammocks State 8otanicol Site, managed by the Florida Deportment o( EnVironmenral Prolec:tJOn. Plant SPecies o( primary (ocus were Austra.on pme (Casua"na spp.), Brazilian pepper (Sehmus lerebinthi(o/ius), and Asiauc eolubrmo (Colub"na oslauca). Five other plants mopped were Burma reed (Neyraudia reynaudiana), lead tree (Leueaeno leueocephala), mohoe or porua (Thespesia populnea), melaleuca (Melaleuca quinqumerVla), and bowstrmg hemp (Sansevieria hyconthoides). Field surveys were perfonned on oboul 4,400 acres o( public and private lands with condiuans SUitable (or supporUng exotic plants. Stands o( Australian pine, Brozilian pepper, and Asiatic colubrina. and individual trees o( all eight speoes were mopped onto 36" X 36" (leld aerial photo sheets. This information was then trans-(erred 10 the aerial (lIm (or easy reproduction as volumes o( aerial phola mops. Eighty-two stands o( the three main plants o( inlerest were mopped, tOlalmg 95.02 acres ljust over 2% o(the 4,400 acres o(uplands and high tranSItional wedands on the island). In addition, many scattered individu-als o( all eighl plants were mopped. Approximate number and helghl o( exotics, along with substrale type, abutting habitats, and ownership were recorded and reporled (or all mopped stands. Management recommendations (or the land managers and land management agencies on North Key Largo were made.

    Curtis Kruer Florida Keys Environmental Restoration Trust Fund. Summerland Key. FL P.O. Box 420334 Summerland Key. FL 33042 (305) 745-1699 Fax: (305)745-8845 Email: [email protected]

    Jen Taylor. Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Key Largo. FL P.O. Box 420334 Summerland Key. FL 33042

  • (305) 745-1699 Fax: (305)745-8845 Email: je ... [email protected]

    CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL WETLAND HABITAT RESTORATION PLAN Jim Lee, Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc.

    HabItat restoration plays an integral part in man's pracess to restore or enhance a disturbed wedand. /n cooperation with the City of West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County. an existing 1.501HJcre wedand is praposed to receive reclaimed water treated at Advanced Waste Treatment levels. The herbaceous and woody wetlands on sIte have greater than 50% coverage of the exotic melaleuco tree in various tree size classes. A program to eradicate the exobc trees and restore the wedand communities wIll improve Wildlife habitat at the site. This paper examines the proposed habitat restorabon management plan for wIldlife habitat Improvements. that includes Snail K,te foraging habita~ as well as natural wedand communities. and ten listed plant spedes that occur there.

    Jim Lee Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. 230 I Maidand Center Parkway. Suie 300 Maidand. FL 3275 I (407) 660-2552 Fax: (407) 875-1161

    NATURAL AREAS IMPACTS OF LANDSCAPING WITH CARROTWOOD Chris Lockhart, Habitat Specialists Inc.

    Carrotwood (Cupan/opsis anacardioides) was first Identified as a potentially Invasive tree In 1989. about 30 years after its introduction ta Florida and ten years after it became a popular landscape tree. As of 1996. carrotwood had invaded most habitats in 14 southern and central Florida counties. This tree has establ;shed Itself in disturbed and undisturbed areas. and is most prevalent In mangrove and coastal hammock habitats. Its distribution mirrors that of all three mangrove trees native ta FlOrida. Birds are the primary seed dispersal agent A casdy management problem can be mini-mized by planting alternative native plants like pigeon plum. paradise tree. dahoon holly or laurel cherry.

    Chris Lockhart 5421 RoseMarie Ave. No. Boynton Beach. FL 33437

    WEAKENING THE GRIP OFAIR·POTATO Jeffrey J. Mul/ahey and Stephen H. Brown.University of Florida, IFAS, SWFREC in Immokalee and Lee County Extension Service.

    Air-potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) is a non-ind,genous Invasive plant that reduces biological diversity and degrades the ecological integrity of natural ecosystems. This tuberous-rooted plant has twining vines that displace native pora and can create a monoculture of Impenetrable vegetation. A study

  • JOINT EPPC/FNPS ABSTRACTS

    was conducted ,n I 997 10 evaluale differenl herbicides for the conrml of air·polalo, and 10 srudy growth and develapmenl of the bulb,,,. Sludy was conducted in Buckingham, Flonda In 0 palm and hardwood hammock. HerbiCide Ifeaunents meluded Finale (25% solution), Roundup (25% solo· tron), Remedy (25% solution in waler, 25% sa/uuon with Jl8 Oil Plus" WeedmaSler (25% solution), Banvel (25% solution), and a check. Herbicides were applied uSing a C02·propel/anl backsprayer with a single-nozzle boom. Plots consisled of indiVIdual palm Ifees that canlained numerous air pOlala VInes (3CJ.40 feel 101/) and Ihe herbicides were sproyed 10 a heighl of 6 ft wilh an vines around the Ire' being sprayed. Planl Injury was visu, ally evalualed 01 2, 5, 8, and 13 weeks after Ireaunenl (WA1). ExperimenlDI design wos randomized complele block With 3 replicatrons. No IreOI· ment provided grealer than 90% conlrol 01 5 WAr. Roundup, Remedy (bath lreounents), and Gerlon 3A (50%) provided 95·100% control at 13 WAT and no bulbils were observed 01 8 WAT for these Ifeaunents. Over time (August ID October), the diameter of rondamly selected bul"''' mcreased from 13 mm to 3 I mm. Some of these bulbils were planled in potting so,I and see dung emergelKe was observed. By Iole October, many of the bulbi" had fallen off the plants and were scattered on the ground. Certain herbicides provided successful control of air palDlD and prevented the producuon of bulb,'s.

    Jeffrey J. Mul/ahey University of Florida PO Box 5127 Immokalee. FL 34143·5002 (941) 657·5221 Fax: (941) 657·5224 [email protected]

    HOLE·IN·THE-DONUTWETLAND RESTORATION AND MITIGATION PROGRAM:AN UPDATE OF CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRESS Michael R. Norland, Everglades National Park

    South Florida Nowral Resources Cenler A major sire of exotic pIont invasion within Everglodes National Park is an area of former freshwater prairie and upland pme and hardwood forest knawn as the Hale-in-the-Donut (HID). This area of about 4050 ha of abandoned farmland has within it an area 0(2430 ha dominated by a stand of a single exotic woody species, Brazilian pepper (Schinuslerebinthifofius Raddi). The objeclive of the HID Wet/ond Restoration and Mitigation Program is to eliminale Schinus and reslDre the wet/ond and forest ecosystems within the HID area of Everglades National Park. This paper describes the current restoration and mitigation procedures and ineludes !he engineering, consrruclion and environmental moniloring methods used during years one and twa of this multi-year program.

    Mkhael R. Norland Everglades National Park South Florida Naw .. 1 Resources Center 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, Florida 33034·6733 (305) 242-7806 Fax: (305) 242·7836 Em.il: [email protected]

    KRENITE ... NEW HERBICIDE APPROVED FOR MELALEUCA CONTROL

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  • Ed Pulletz, DuPont Agricultural Products

    The state of Florida has recently approved the use of Krenlte in combtnotlOn with Arsenal for fobor apphcation on melaleuca. ApplICation can be ground or Olf. The wedands can be treated as long as It is during the dry seosoll Results indicate that 90% control is possible With proper cover-age , Krenlle IS a very safe chemical in many respectS and should proY/de us a much needed new tool for mela/euca control. Preliminary tests olso indkole Kremte to be very Dctlve on BrolWan pepper.

    Ed Pulletz DuPont Agricultural Products 5984 Ansel Ferrel Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 893-3375 Fax: (850) 893-7960

    EXOTIC GRASS INVASION STRATEGIES IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FLORIDA Sarah A_ Riley, William J- Platt, Jim DeCoster, Louisiana State University

    Analysis of life-history traits of both exotic invasive and noUve plant speaes together may provide useful predictions o( invasion success by exotic species. Additionally, subUe human alterations in the nawral disturbance regime (i.e. early wet season versus Iote wet season ffres) o( a plant com-munity may have on impact on the susceptibiflty o( the community to invasion by depressing fitness o( native spedes. Select grosses (ound in Everglades Notional Pork are betng used to investigate both o( these ideas. The li(e history analysis will be used to construct guilds into which the nauve and exoUc grosses Will be categoflzed. Select SPecies (rom each guild will be distributed as seed, rhizome or romet into ""perimental plots in whICh estab/~hment and coexIStence will be monitored. The plots will be distributed along a gradient of elevation and in two d~tinct areas - native vegetation and restored limestone substrate. The impact of subde anthropogenic alterations on natural disturbance regimes ~ being ""plared through the populohon biology of Imperato cylindrica. Clone sizes are being monitored over a three year period to determine the habitat pre(er-ences and invasive potenMI o( this supposed native speCies. We hypothesize that I. cybndrica has invasive tendendes, but has been con"ned to relo-Uve depresS/ons in the limestone o( the pine rocklands due to lock 0( suitable substrate outside o( these depressions, on artifact of hot soil-combust-109 wonter managed burns once practiiced 10 these pine rocklands. I. cybndrica will be used in the ""perimentol plots to (urther explore habitat pref-erences and Invasion strategIes.

    Sarah A. Riley Department of Biological Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA 504-388-6597 (lab) 504-388-2597 (f.x) srriley@unixl .sncc.lsu.edu

    FISHEATING CREEK ... ECOSYSTEM IN TROUBLE Jackie Smith, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

    Fisheating Creek is the only unohered in~ow into Lake Okeechobee. It has been in the courts for the post severof years to deteflnine ownership.

  • But unul recendy. no one has been looking at the exouc plants that have been slowly invading this endangered system. Wedand nightshade and West Indian marsh gross are just two of the many Invaders. Control of these plants are are just being studied. Invasive exouc plants will be cataloged and control research will be discussed.

    Jackie Smith 3111·B13 FortuneWay Wellington. FL 33414 (561)791.4722 Email: [email protected]

    SEASONAL VARIATION IN RESPROUTING ABILITY OF NATIVE AND NON·NATIVE HARDWOODS IN SOUTH FLORIDA James R. Snyder, USGS/Biological Resources Division

    South Florida slosh pine forests contain many hardwood spec,.s and bum at any time of year. At higher latitudes it has been widely noted that the ,ea,on of burning in~uences the response of hardwood, to pre. It is possible that the ,easonal effects are not as pronounced in South Florida because the climate is more equitable and mo,t ,pecies are everg,.en. The objec:!ive of this study was to determine the sea· sanality In the ability of selected hardwood, to recover following killing of the abaveground stern. Fire is a difficuh and expensive treatment to apply consistently over time. Insteod of burning we cut stem, of Pve sPecies (3 native and 2 non-na6ve) at interval' to simulate the killing of stems by (Ire at different seasons. For most speaes, 144 individuals we,. marked at a single location and 12 randomly chosen indi-Viduals were cut near ground level each month (or a year. Basal diameter. heigh~ and aboveground biomass were measured iniriolly and 2 yr a~er treatment One yeor a~er cutting we measured height and basal d,orneter. 5

  • -- -.j JOINT EPPC/FNPS ABSTRACTS

    pkJnt speCIes, and the (requen

  • A PROGRESS REPORT OFTHE BREVARD COUNTY BRAZILIAN PEPPER COMMITTEE'S PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AND TRAINING MANUAL Kim Zarillo, Breyard County Brazilian Pepper Committee

    The Brevard Pepper Busters (BPB) arlglnated (rom the Brevard County Brozlhan Pepper Sympo~um, held in the (all o( 1994, The symposium arose (rom a need to increase public oworeness o( the critical problems that Brazilian pepper. Schinus terebinthifolius poses to Florida's nabve plant commu-O/(Jes. Th,s dedIcated task (orce IS comprised of representatives from severol govemmental agencies, dvic and private organ;zatlons and concerned ori-zens. It ~ resolved 10 promole on underslOnding o( Brazihon pepper OS a highly invasive f10gship speaes o( the many invasive pest plants within Brevard County. Ms. Zarillo's presenlObon win include a review o( the Committee's educabonal and orgamzabonal efforts (rom 1994 10 the present Tho Committee's most recent endeavor IS 10 develop a Florida BraZilian pepper Troining Manual. The training manual has a two (old purpose, (I) to proVide Instruebon to the general public on techniques to remove BraZilian Pepper, and (2) to present a process 10 organize Pepper BUSIer community events.

    Kim ZanUo Scientific Environmental Applications. Inc. 7610 Cajeput Cire/e Melbourne Village, FL 32904 (407) 727-2434 SEAPP [email protected]

  • SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT EXOTIC PLANT CONTROL IN NATURAL AREAS OF FOUR CITY OF MIAMI PARKS

    Juan G. Fernandez City of Miami. Parks and Recreation Department

    For the losl 24 months. 0 progrom (or Ihe control o( exollc plants has been carried oul In naturol areas o( (our City o( Miami porks, With posiove results (or the naturol ecosyslem The work hos been comed oul by plots, With an assessmenl srudy thaI delermlned the higher qua~ty areas, 10 be used as bos~s (or re(ores[otJon recommendations . The speCIes With hIgher percentages of treatmenf or extraction ore: COflCO papaya, Colubnno as/all· co, D,oscorea bulbi(era, Macfadyena unguis

  • STATUS OF MELALEUCA CONTROL AT BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE

    Antonio J. Pern .. and Willi,m A. Snyder National Park Service

    Melaleuca qumquenerVla was introduced into the Big Cypress area in the mid-1940's. Through wind dispersion and the spread by off-road vehicles, the population of melaleuca continued to grow unchecked. By 1979 in what is now the 728,000 acre Big Cypress Notional Preserve, melaleuca cov-ered 60 square mIles. In 1984, on exotic plont conuel program was initiated with the primary (ocus on melo:.uca. Traditionally, National Park Service (NPS) crews working seasonally were used exclusively to treat melaleuco. However. since 1995 private contractors have been used to treat areas, whICh contam moderate to dense monocuhures of meloleuca. Outlier populations are treated by sman groups of 1-3 people consisting of NPS employees and/or volunteers. The resuk has been an increose in effioency and cost e/fectiveness. To date, the combined e/forts of NPS crews ond pflvate contraaOts have resuked in the treatment of over 10 million mela/euca stems at a cost of almost 3 million dol/ars. Funding currently exists to complete the miual treatment of all melaleuca in the Big Cypress Notional Preserve in ~scal year 1999.

    Antonio J. Pernas Resource Management Specialist N,tion,1 Park Service, Big Cypress National Preserve HCR-61 Box II Ochopee, Florida 34141 (941) 695-4111 exL23 Fax: (941) 695-3493 Email: tony [email protected]

    INVASION BYTHE EXOTIC TREE SYZYGIUM CUMINII OFA TALL UPLAND FOREST IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

    Douglas G. Scofield Florida Atlantic University

    Exouc trees such as Schinus, Cosuarina and Meloleuca have successfUlly invaded the diswrbed ecosystems of southeast Florida. Whot may be less widely known is the ability of some exotic woodyplants to invade the understory of relatively intact, talkonopy forests. Here I report stand charac-teristics of the tropical Asian tree Syzygium cuminii in areas of Fem Forest Nawre Center, Browani County. High stem density ond wide size distribu-tion of Syzygium in comparison to native shrubs and trees tagether with widespread appearance of individuah indicate a vigorous invasion IOta toll upland forests thot ore mildly disWrbed.

    Douglas G. Scofield Florida Atlantic University 1402 SE First St. Pompano Beach, FL 33060-7504 Email: [email protected]

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  • TRADESCANTIA FLUMINENSIS:AN EXOTIC INVADER OF NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA'S MESIC HAMMOCKS AND FLOODPLAIN FORESTS

    Brett A. McMillan

    Tradescantia fluminensis ('wandering Jew'; Commelinaceae) IS a semt-Succulent herb that is native to forest understories in Brazil and Argentino where It 15 also on Off/cultural weed. The speCIes is now naturalized In Auslra/fo, New Zealand, and ot least ten counties in central Florida, where jt Invades meSic hammocks and noodplom (oreslS. T. numinenSIS IS though I 10 be slerile in FlOrida; il spreads vegelalively by rooling althe nodes o( (al~ en sIems. SIems (ragmenl eaSily and noa~ makmg II probable thaI planlS are spread by creeks 0( surface run-ff 10 new siles. Researchers in New Zealand have (ound eVidence that T. numlnenSis mhibilS na~ve speCIes seedling eSlabfishment I hape 10 determine whether the eslablishmenl ofT. nummenslS has dispklced nalive spedes or reduced diveTSIty 10 FlOrida by assessmg the effeClS o(Tradescanlia invasion on the herb and lTee seedling commum~es III (our Aklchua County hammocks. I have removed T. numinenSis (rom plolS and am observing the regrowth o( nolive herbs and Iree seedlings compared ID thaI In plolS where the invader is present Addilionally, by transplanling Tradescanlia inlO an exotic-(ree area, I will ~nd any post-lnvos;on differeMes in notive species richness, denSity, and d,versity observable after one growing s~son. TrodesconVa (Juminensis is a spedes to watch in coming yeors because It appears to invade and become dominant in the understories of mesic Floridian forests and can reestablish vigorous· Iy afier flooding.

    Brett A. McMillan Department of BCltany 220 Bartram Hall University of Florid. Gainesville, FL 32611-8526 (352) 392-1175 FAX: (352) 392-3993 Email: [email protected]