Native Flora Under Attack:

Lois Balin
Texas Parks and Wildlife
 Globally
Invasive Species
When worlds
collide..

The Far Side

 Ecological Areas of Texas

1. Pineywoods
2. Gulf Prairies and Marshes
3. Post Oak Savannah
4. Blackland Prairie
5. Cross Timbers and Prairies
6. South Texas Plains
7. Edward’s Plateau
8. Rolling Plains
9. High Plains
10. Trans Pecos, Mountains &
Basins

Native = based upon ecological zone

 Ecological Areas of Texas

Native = based upon ecological zone

•
Not introduced from elsewhere
•
 Exotic = From elsewhere…

From Dallas

From
Europe

From
Tropical
Regions
 Exotics:
• 5,000 Exotic plant
species in U.S.

• Invading approx. 1.75

million ac. Habitat/year

• #2 reason for species

extinction – (400 of 958
species)

• Total economic cost:

$138 Billion/yr!
 Alien Species are Stealing
Native Flora Habitat
• Who is
responsible?

• "We have met the

enemy, and it is
us." Pogo

• Living in a world
of wounds
 Definitions:
• Native range
• Native or indigenous
species
• Non-native (alien, exotic,
introduced, etc.)
• Weed
• Invasive exotic species
• Natural area
• Biodiversity
• Ecosystem
• Noxious weeds
• Naturalized species
 Native Range
• Location of evolution

• Co-evolved with
environmental conditions

• Co-evolved with
interactions of other
species
 Native or Indigenous Species

• Occur in a particular region

• No direct or indirect human

intervention

• Indigenous - native only to a

particular region
 Non-native Species
(alien, exotic, introduced, etc.)

• Occur out of their native historical range

• Come from other continents and ecosystems
• Even other adjacent habitats
 Weed
• Subjective term

• Located in
undesirable location

• Native or non-native

"A weed is a plant whose virtues have yet to be

discovered" Ralph Waldo Emerson
Invasive (Aliens) or Exotic Species

• Natural area weeds

• "Escape" from confined areas

• Causes economic, environmental or health harm

 Biodiversity
• All living species and
organisms on earth

• Species of native plants,

animals, fungi, and microbes

• Species yet to be discovered

 Ecosystem

• Biotic and abiotic components

• Biota = Living plants, animals,

microorganisms

• Abiotic =Non-living (climate and soils)

 Noxious Weeds
• Designated as pests

• Within agricultural
systems

• Defined and regulated

by U.S.D.A.
 Naturalized Species

• Introduced or exotic
species

• Transported by
humans

• Persist in new
habitat
 How Poodles
came to
North America

The Far Side

 Deliberate Introductions

• Plants for gardens

• Fish for pets,
aquaculture or
stocking lakes
• Animals for hunting
• Animals for biotic
control

Water Hyacinth
 Unintentionally Introduced Species
• Untreated discharged ballast water
• On imported nursery stock or soil
• Imported fruits and vegetables
• Vehicles
• Packing materials
• Seed packets
• Tourism
• Canals

Imported Fire Ant

Not all exotics
are invasive…
But many are
 Impacts of Invasive Alien
Plants on Ecosystems
• Reduce and disrupt biodiversity

• Hybridization with negative genetic impacts.

• Encroach on and replace T&E’s

• Reduce habitat and food sources for native wildlife

species

• Interrupt ecological processes and succession

 Damage to Ecosystems
• Riparian - reduced flow and
water quality

• Prairies, savannas and

grasslands - fire risk

• Erosion/damage to
vegetation - feral pigs

• Displace and cause

extinction of flora and
fauna

Perennial
pepperweed
 Extinction of Native Flora and
Fauna
• Rainbow trout displaced
Rio Grande cutthroat
trout

• Nutria threaten the Big

Bend mosquitofish

• Invasive fire ants

• West Nile Virus and

Avian Flu
 Impacts of Invasive Alien
Plants on Ecosystems
• Alter natural fire systems

• Disrupt pollination systems

• Prevent native seedling

establishment

• Increase plant diseases and stress

• Reduce space, water, sunlight and

nutrients for native plant species

Malta Star
thistle
 Impacts of Invasive Alien Plants on
Ecosystems
• Difficult to control

• Costly to control

• Drain on economy

• Endanger human health African Rue

 Federal Funding in Billions/year
Plant
$160.00
$140.00 Fish &
Aquatics
$120.00
$100.00 Herptiles
$80.00
$60.00 Mammals
$40.00
$20.00 Birds
$0.00
Terrestrial
Arthropods
3-D Column 7
Water hyacinth Purple Loosestrife
Eichhornia crassipes Lythrum salicaria

Tamarisk/Salt Cedar
Tamarix spp.
Kudzu
Pueraria montana
 Impacts from Invasive Aquatic
Exotics

Water Hyacinth - Before Water Hyacinth - After

Parrot Feather - Before

Parrot Feather - After
What's Happening in Texas?
• 67 terrestrial plants
• 12 aquatic./wetland plants
• 10 mammals
• 4 birds
• 7 fish species
• 11 insects
• 11 mollusks and crustaceans
 Invasive
Species in
Texas
 What's Happening in Texas?

• TPWD restricts import/possession of 600

species of fish, shellfish and aquatic
plants

• The USDA Agricultural Research Service

lists 45 "noxious weeds"

• Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force lists

31 aquatic invasive species
 What's at Stake?

• Unique landscapes, habitats and species

• Texas is 2nd most biologically diverse state

• Texas is ranked 3rd in number of endemics

• 10% of species are "rare or at risk of

extinction."
The Worst of the Worst
• Saltcedar
• Hydrilla
• Giant Salvinia
• Red Imported Fire Ant
• Nutria
• Channeled Apple snail
Saltcedar Invasion
 Effects of Salt cedar in the
Southwest
• Riparian soils/hydrology

• Habitat of rare species

reduced wildlife

• Rio Grande no longer flows

to Gulf of Mexico
Tamarisk/Salt Cedar - Tamarix spp.
Hydrilla
Hydrilla verticillata
Giant Salvinia Salvinia molesta
 Giant Salvinia

• Introduced by aquarium trade

• Can double itself in 2.2 days!
• Form mats that exclude all other species.
1998
1999
2000
2002
 Bermuda Grass Cynadon dactylon
• Africa

• Prolific Spreader
(stolons, rhizomes,
seeds)

• Invades flower beds

• Rapid sod growth

• Dense turf

• Hay fever
 Johnson grass Sorghum halepense
• Mediterranean, 1880’s,
forage crop

• Problem in natural areas – out

competes

• Cause prussic acid poisoning

in wildlife and livestock

• Hybridizes with sorghum

Russian Thistle (Tumbleweed)
We can’t bury
our
heads in the
sand.
How Can We Protect Our Native Flora?

• Prevention

• Avoid disturbing natural areas

• Use native plants

• Only purchase non-invasive species

• If you don’t know it, then don’t grow it

Don’t buy exotics...
Buy natives!

Chocolate Daisy
 How Do We Alter Our Behaviors
Towards the Use of Native Plants?

• Understanding

• Appreciation

• Planting native
species
Mexican Buckeye
Mexican Redbud
Autumn Sage Havard
Three-leaf Sumac
Apache Plume Dalea species
Flame Acanthus Blackfoot Daisy
Cardinal Flower
Standing
 Gayfeathe
Mealy Blue
Verbena species
• Less Pesticides
• Less Cost
Wildlife
How Can We Protect Our Native Flora?

• Control exotic invasive species

• Notify land managers

• Assist in exotic plant removal

projects
Control Methods and Management

• Protect natural areas

• Eradication

• Plant Natives
 Eradication Using Physical control

• Pulling and digging

• Removing flowers
and fruits

• Fire

• Mulching
Eradication Using Biological control

• Competition with
insects

• Competition with
native plants

• Grazing with goats

Eradication Using Chemical Control
• Herbicides

• Spray selectively

• Unknown long-tem affects

Organize Efforts to Remove Exotics

• Government or Private Lands

• Rio Bosque Wetland Park

• Keystone Heritage Park

Replace Existing Exotics with
Natives
Become more knowledgeable

Other websites:
www.tncweeds.ucdavis.edu
www.weedcenter.org