Integrated Management Strategy to Combat the Spread of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) on North Lake, Walworth County
Mentor 1
Jonathan Burkham
Mentor 2
Nadine Kriska
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
24-4-2015 2:30 PM
End Date
24-4-2015 3:45 PM
Description
Wetlands are the most biologically diverse and productive component of our ecosystem. However, purple loosestrife (PL), an invasive wetland perennial, is an increasing threat to the wetland environment in Wisconsin and throughout North America. The actual and potential impacts of an infestation are alarming given that an estimated 190,000 hectares of wetlands, marshes, pastures and riparian meadows are affected by PL in North America each year, with an economic impact in the millions of dollars (Hewitt, 2012). To combat the spread of PL in the North Lake conservation easement, Walworth County, a project integrating biological control-based efforts was conducted. During the first year of the study, Cella beetles (Galerucella spp.), an environmentally sound and DNR-endorsed biological control agent (WI DNR, 2014), were reared and released into the environment. The initial effectiveness of Cella beetles at controlling the PL in the study site were measured by calculating the herbivory rate on a small sample of PL leaves. The average percent feeding damage for each plant showed an average of 11.81% herbivory on the site over 3-months. In addition to this integrated pest management strategy, community-based research was conducted to familiarize the community with the potential threats to their backyard of PL and garner long-term support for a healthy wetland. I hosted the first annual educational wetland clean-up day to bring the community, Kettle Moraine Land Trust, and Wisconsin DNR together to combat the spread of PL. Eight percent of the member’s contacted via (2) direct mails attended the event. Other marketing channels, such as (2) press releases in the local newspaper, announcements on Kettle Moraine Land Trust website, social media posts, and road signs, were also used to advertise the event. In summer 2015 I will train a peer to assess the long-term effectiveness of Cella beetles at controlling PL on North Lake. As a continuation of the summer 2014 findings, we will collect feeding damage data every week. After 3-months, an average herbivory rate will be calculated for year-2 of the study. In year-3 of the study during summer 2016, we will collect data weekly and extrapolate a trend of Cella beetle long-term effectiveness at controlling PL.
Integrated Management Strategy to Combat the Spread of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) on North Lake, Walworth County
Union Wisconsin Room
Wetlands are the most biologically diverse and productive component of our ecosystem. However, purple loosestrife (PL), an invasive wetland perennial, is an increasing threat to the wetland environment in Wisconsin and throughout North America. The actual and potential impacts of an infestation are alarming given that an estimated 190,000 hectares of wetlands, marshes, pastures and riparian meadows are affected by PL in North America each year, with an economic impact in the millions of dollars (Hewitt, 2012). To combat the spread of PL in the North Lake conservation easement, Walworth County, a project integrating biological control-based efforts was conducted. During the first year of the study, Cella beetles (Galerucella spp.), an environmentally sound and DNR-endorsed biological control agent (WI DNR, 2014), were reared and released into the environment. The initial effectiveness of Cella beetles at controlling the PL in the study site were measured by calculating the herbivory rate on a small sample of PL leaves. The average percent feeding damage for each plant showed an average of 11.81% herbivory on the site over 3-months. In addition to this integrated pest management strategy, community-based research was conducted to familiarize the community with the potential threats to their backyard of PL and garner long-term support for a healthy wetland. I hosted the first annual educational wetland clean-up day to bring the community, Kettle Moraine Land Trust, and Wisconsin DNR together to combat the spread of PL. Eight percent of the member’s contacted via (2) direct mails attended the event. Other marketing channels, such as (2) press releases in the local newspaper, announcements on Kettle Moraine Land Trust website, social media posts, and road signs, were also used to advertise the event. In summer 2015 I will train a peer to assess the long-term effectiveness of Cella beetles at controlling PL on North Lake. As a continuation of the summer 2014 findings, we will collect feeding damage data every week. After 3-months, an average herbivory rate will be calculated for year-2 of the study. In year-3 of the study during summer 2016, we will collect data weekly and extrapolate a trend of Cella beetle long-term effectiveness at controlling PL.
