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PeerJ2014; 2; e567; doi: 10.7717/peerj.567

Livestock as a potential biological control agent for an invasive wetland plant.

Abstract: Invasive species threaten biodiversity and incur costs exceeding billions of US$. Eradication efforts, however, are nearly always unsuccessful. Throughout much of North America, land managers have used expensive, and ultimately ineffective, techniques to combat invasive Phragmites australis in marshes. Here, we reveal that Phragmites may potentially be controlled by employing an affordable measure from its native European range: livestock grazing. Experimental field tests demonstrate that rotational goat grazing (where goats have no choice but to graze Phragmites) can reduce Phragmites cover from 100 to 20% and that cows and horses also readily consume this plant. These results, combined with the fact that Europeans have suppressed Phragmites through seasonal livestock grazing for 6,000 years, suggest Phragmites management can shift to include more economical and effective top-down control strategies. More generally, these findings support an emerging paradigm shift in conservation from high-cost eradication to economically sustainable control of dominant invasive species.
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Publication Date: 2014-09-23 PubMed ID: 25276502PubMed Central: PMC4178463DOI: 10.7717/peerj.567Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is about how the use of livestock (specifically, goats, cows and horses) for grazing can possibly control the spread of the invasive wetland plant, Phragmites australis, in an economical and effective way, instead of resorting to expensive and mostly unsuccessful eradication techniques.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers conducted experimental field tests to ascertain the following hypothesis: the rotational grazing of goats can effectively reduce the coverage of the invasive wetland plant, Phragmites australis.
  • In these tests, goats were given no other grazing alternatives aside from the target plant. Following the grazing tests, Phragmites cover was observed and noted to have dropped from 100% to a drastically reduced 20%.
  • The research also investigated the willingness and effectiveness of other livestock animals such as cows and horses to graze on the invasive plant.

Research Findings

  • From the experimental field tests, it was concluded that goats can drastically reduce the coverage of Phragmites. The forced rotational grazing decreased the plant’s dominance from a complete 100% coverage to just 20%.
  • Apart from goats, it was observed that cows and horses also readily consume the plant, presenting them as potential alternative biological control agents.
  • The study noted that this method of controlling the plant using livestock has been used in its native European range for the last 6,000 years, hence suggesting its effectiveness.

Implications of the Research

  • Based on their research findings, the authors suggest a shift in the management of Phragmites from expensive and ultimately ineffective eradication techniques to more economical and successful top-down control strategies involving the use of livestock for grazing.
  • This sustainable economic strategy is also presented as a potential approach that could be broadened to control other dominant invasive species, indicating a possible paradigm shift in conservational tactics.
  • The research demonstrates that a biological control approach using familiar and readily available agents like livestock could potentially provide an effective and cost-effective solution for controlling invasive species.
  • The practice of using livestock as a control mechanism also aligns with ecological farming and management practices, supporting biodiversity and promoting sustainable land use.

Cite This Article

APA
Silliman BR, Mozdzer T, Angelini C, Brundage JE, Esselink P, Bakker JP, Gedan KB, van de Koppel J, Baldwin AH. (2014). Livestock as a potential biological control agent for an invasive wetland plant. PeerJ, 2, e567. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.567

Publication

PeerJ
ISSN: 2167-8359
NlmUniqueID: 101603425
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 2
Pages: e567
PII: e567

Researcher Affiliations

Silliman, Brian R
  • Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , Beaufort, NC , USA.
Mozdzer, Thomas
  • Department of Biology, Bryn Mawr College , Bryn Mawr, PA , USA.
Angelini, Christine
  • Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL , USA.
Brundage, Jennifer E
  • Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland , College Park, MD , USA.
Esselink, Peter
  • Community and Conservation Ecology, University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands ; PUCCIMAR Ecological Research and Consultancy , The Netherlands.
Bakker, Jan P
  • Community and Conservation Ecology, University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands.
Gedan, Keryn B
  • Department of Biology, University of Maryland , College Park, MD , USA.
van de Koppel, Johan
  • Community and Conservation Ecology, University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands ; Spatial Ecology Department, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) , Yerseke , The Netherlands.
Baldwin, Andrew H
  • Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland , College Park, MD , USA.

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