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Arkansas Invaders: Invasive Species in Arkansas Forests
Tamara Walkingstick, Ph.D.
Jon Barry, Ph.D.
UA Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Forest Resources Center
Introduction
Definition of InvasiveProblem with InvasivesTop Invasive PlantsWhat’s comingWhat to doUseful websites
Which of theseis an Invasive?
What about these?
What is an Invasive Species?
ALL OF THEM!!! OR ARE THEY?According to the USFS:
“..a species that is non-native or alien to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.”
Invasive Exotic SpeciesNot all invasive species are
exoticEg. Sweetgum, elm, E. Red
Cedar+.
Not all Exotics are invasiveEg. Japanese Maple, Catalpa
BUT many areEg: Kudzu, Honeysuckle,
Privet
What’s the problem?
Replace rare & endangered speciesHybridize w/native plant speciesKill trees & shrubsPrevent forest regenerationHarbor plant pathogens, such as
bacterial leaf scorch (Xylella fastidiosa)Kill of entire species: ie disease like
Chestnut Blight
Other Damage
Compete with native species.
Alter hydrological patterns & stream function
Change fire regimes
Might contain toxins that may be lethal to certain animals. For example, garlic mustard can
be lethal to a native butterfly species.
Cost of Invasives
Spreading over approximately 1,729,730 acres per year
Invasive plants cost $35 billion in damages & treatment each year!!
Percent Forest Area Covered by Invasive Species
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
Alabam
a
Miss
issip
pi
Tenne
ssee
Kentu
cky
S. Car
olina
Virgin
ia
Texas
(eas
t)
Georg
ia
N. Car
olina
Louis
iana
Arkan
sas
Florida
State
Pe
rce
nt
Co
ve
rag
e
3.0
%
What about Arkansas?
From FIA 2008 data
Non-native Invasive Species Presence by Plant Type for Arkansas
69.5%
18.8%
8.8%
2.3%
0.7%
Vines
Shrubs
Ferns and Forbs
Grasses
Trees
Top Five Invasive Plants
MimosaPrivetsJapanese HoneysuckleTall fescueNon-native LespedezaThese species occurred on the most
forested acreage based on FIA data.http://www.invasive.org/fiamaps/
Potential Invasive Species
Cogon GrassEmerald Ash BorerSirex WaspAsian Long Horn BeetleGypsy MothThousand Cankers Disease
Cogongrass Imperata cylindrica
Federal Noxious Weed
Fire hazard
No wildlife value
Reduces tree seedling growth & establishment
Very difficult to remove once established
Wind and equipment spread
Whitish midrib often off-center
Very Dense Mat of Rhizomes
• Cogongrass in Mississippi – 2010
• It’s in Greenville, MS
• US Hwy 82 & Hwy 278 are potential entry points at Lake Village
Click icon to add picture
Courtesy of www.cogongrass.org
Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis
• Adults feed on ash foliage - cause little damage• Larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees
– disrupt tree's ability to transport water & nutrients
Research It
www.emeraldashborer.info
Asian Longhorned BeetleAnoplophora glabripennis
Male
ALB Larva
ALB Pupa
Adult & Exit Hole
http://beetlebusters.info/
Thousand Cankers Disease
A new pest complex could pose a major threat to walnut trees (Juglans spp.).
The black walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis) transmits a Penicillium-like fungus (Geosmithia) cause what is termed “thousand cankers disease.”
Although not yet detected in Arkansas, it is killing large numbers of eastern black walnuts in various western states.
http://www.thousandcankerdisease.com/
Found in TN in 2010
Thousand Cankers Disease
Beetles feed on trees & transmit spores of the fungus to the tree
At each feeding location, the fungus will form a canker.
The tree declines & dies about thousands to beetles attacks and therefore cankers
Cankers are not evident on the exterior bark of the tree
Initial attacks by the beetle are extremely difficult to detect.
http://www.thousandcankerdisease.com/
http://thousandcankerdisease.com/
Web Resources
http://www.invasive.org/
http://www.invasive.org/video/plants.html
Weeds Gone Wild
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/index.htm
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/resources/org.shtml
http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/rasberry.html
Invasive Species in AR Forests
Program Funded by: Arkansas State Plant Board
USDA Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Focus: Education regarding potential
invasive species to AR forests
Train professionals, MGs, MNs, agents
Methods: Presentations
Website
On-line courses
State-wide Conference
Educational materials
Research It
www.arinvasives.org
On-line Course: Arkansas Invaders
Instructional videos
Scripted Presentations
On-line reading materials
Discussion board
Quizzes
Resources
Certificate
CFE’s
Report It
forestry.arkansas.gov
www.gri.msstate.edu/ipams
Report It
Research It
www.hungrypests.com
TexasInvasives.Org
Research It
Impacts
400 registered foresters educated
80% of all foresters registered in AR
Includes foresters from AR, OK, LA, TX
Estimated 3.3 million acres of woodland (~18% of the forested acres in AR)
> 250 Master Gardeners educated
One Master Gardener wrote:
“Because of two presentations of yours that I heard, I removed five burning bushes as well as a wee clump of Japanese Blood grass. People drive by my gardens to get ideas about what to plant…they stop and ask questions too.
“Rather difficult for me to say, ‘Don’t plant these’ when they are on display in our yard. … Just wanted you to know that you are making a difference with your talks”.
ConclusionsInvasive Pests are coming.
We can slow them down.
We need you to help.
Questions?
