Current invasive species research being conducted at MSU
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Project 13

Project title: Controlling invasive rangeland weeds that exploit and expand phenological niches:  Influence of grazing and burning on rangeland vulnerability
Investigators: Malmstrom, Eviner & Rice

Abstract: Rangelands and pastures cover 42% of total US land area and support 75% of domestic livestock production, yet are becoming less productive due to weed invasions. In Western rangelands, many invasive weeds are ones whose growth occurs with different timing than that of the plant communities they are invading—i.e., their growing season starts earlier or extends later. In California, such species include two widespread rangeland weeds: Taeniatherum caput-medusae (medusahead) and Aegilops triuncialis (barbed goatgrass). These noxious weeds depress populations of forage species and threaten the economic and ecological sustainability of rangelands. Such weeds are successful in part because they use resources other plants are under-utilizing.  Management practices that shift timing of resource availability can thus inadvertently increase rangeland vulnerability to invasion. Ranchers and scientists in this project will collaboratively examine ways in which management factors (e.g., grazing and burning) interact with ecological factors (e.g., soil moisture and nitrogen availability) to influence the spread of these weedy invaders. The team will conduct field experiments and monitor working rangelands with remote sensing technology to determine how weed patches change over time and how changes are influenced by environmental resources, management, and dynamics within weed patches. Rancher team members will help disseminate findings to the broader ranching community. The results will advance scientific understanding of invasive species dynamics and help develop effective control methods for significant rangeland weeds. This project will thus help enhance the Nation's resource base and environment, protection of national livestock production, and economic sustainability of the ranching sector.