Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 4
Management of Plant Invaders Within a Marsh:
An Organizing Principle for Ecological
Restoration?
James O. Luken and Keith Walters
Abstract
Controlling plant invaders is often one aspect of ecological restoration.
However, the planning and application of control measures can lead to difficult questions
regarding project goals and measures of success. We present a case study of a coastal
wetland system in South Carolina, USA, where two plant invaders,
Phragmites australis
and
Typha domingensis
, were targeted for control. As project participants gradually
accepted the concept that success must be measured in terms of long-term system
parameters rather than short-term invader control, the methods and approaches changed.
As an alternative to applying herbicides, a method of reconnecting the system to the
ocean was pursued. Instead of simply measuring plant control, a before-after-control-
impact monitoring design was implemented that allowed comparison among restored
and multiple reference systems in the immediate area. Attempts to reestablish tidal flow
and modify environmental conditions to alter system attributes were variable with both
unplanned positive and negative effects. Most of these impacts were associated with the
fact that the wetland existed in a state park used by large numbers of people for passive
recreation. The case study demonstrates that plant invasion and the willingness of people
to control plant invaders can provide a useful starting point for eventual development and
implementation of scientifically meaningful attempts at ecological restoration.
Keywords
BACI
Ecological restoration
Phragmites australis
Reference site
Tidal reconnection
Typha domingensis
.
4.1 Introduction
Salt marshes along the eastern USA coast are susceptible to dramatic changes in
community composition and structure when hydrological connections to the
ocean are restricted (Warren et al. 2002). Restrictions can result from natural,
J.O. Luken (
)
1
and K. Walters
2
1
Department of Biology,
2
Department of Marine Science,
Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC 29528, USA,
joluken@coastal.edu
