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Land
Management Program at Archbold Biological Station
P.O. Box 2057, Lake Placid, FL 33862
Phone 863-465-2571 FAX 863-699-1927
E-mail: landmanager@archbold-station.org
Lousy 10 Restoration
INTRODUCTION
The Lousy 10 Tract is a ten acre site at the Northern end of Archbold Biological Station. The site is heavily disturbed, with few native plants remaining. It was previously used as a cattle pasture, lily farm, and a dump site for cement and asphalt from the adjacent plant. The tract also has a drainage ditch running through the middle that has altered the hydrology. Historically, the site was most likely a flatwood community, with bayhead in the lower elevation region that now contains a drainage ditch. A small patch of scrub was also present in the southwest corner.
Because of past
disturbance patterns, the tract was dominated by numerous exotics
that include para grass, torpedograss, star grass, bahiagrass, guinea
grass, vaseygrass, smut grass, natal grass, lantana, castor bean,
tropical soda apple, Caesar's weed, hyptis brush mint, Jerusalem
thorn, Indian rosewood, and Brazilian pepper (see photo
below). Over 50% of these plants are listed by the Florida
Exotic Pest Plant Council as highly invasive and are classified as
either Category I or II plants.
Para grass Hyptis brushmint
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PROJECT GOALS
Treatment and removal of all invasive plants
Reintroduction of prescribed burning
Replanting of native vegetation
METHODS: A combination of methods were
used to treat and control exotics at the Lousy 10 such as mowing,
prescribed fire, disking, and herbicides. In most instances, a
combination of these methods were used. Areas were mowed with
a Brown Tree Cutter to prep areas for burning and open up access to
areas for treatment. Prescribed burning was conducted in the
Winter (November, December, and January) during cold fronts
when north / northeast winds would push the smoke away from
the business located directly to the north. Disking was used
in two areas following burning that contained a high density of para
grass. Two herbicides were used based of the different
properties of each one. Roundup Pro (3%) was chosen because it
has no residence time in the soil. Velpar (3%) was selected as
a contrast because it has a relatively long residence time in the
soil. Both herbicides are registered for treatment and control
of grasses. All other plants (shrubs and trees) were treated
with Garlon 4 (10%) mixed with 90%
Experimental Treatments
Applied to Invasive Grasses Evaluation of the effectiveness of
Velpar, Rodeo, Fire, and Disking in
controlling
RESULTS
Exotic Plants Removed (as of April 1, 2003)
Replanting of Native Vegetation
To date, ca. 75% of the oaks and palmettos have survived, but < 5% of the pines have survived. All plants were replanted in the dry season and were watered for the first 20 days after replanting. Due to the low success of pines, further replanting attempts will be conducted during the rainy season (June to August).
Replanting
of the Lousy 10 (photos)
Monitoring:
Monitoring occurs at least once every two weeks. All new seedlings and
resprouts are treated with the appropriate herbicide. In areas
where prescribed fire was utilized, para grass and stargrass began
resprouting within 8-12 days following the burn. Several
herbicide treatments were required to reduce coverage to < 5%.
CONCLUSION
Restoration of the Lousy 10 will
be a long process. Due to past disturbances such as conversion
to a semi-improved pasture followed by the site being used to dump
gravel and other rubble, many species such as para grass, star
grass, and torpedo grass have become well established at the site. Removal of the majority of the shrubs and trees was relatively easy
and success was high. During all future site visits, all
observed seedlings of shrubs and trees will be treated with Garlon 4
(10%). The grasses will take a considerable amount of time and
effort to control until their seed sources are depleted and their
rhizomes and root stock are depleted. Few native seedlings have been
observed following prescribed burns; thus, the site will have to be
replanted to establish native vegetation at the site. Initial
replanting of native vegetation such as oaks, pines, palmetto, and
other herbaceous plants was initiated in January of 2003, but
success was varied due to the lack of rain.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project was designed and initiated by Leah Goldstein, a land management intern at the Station from October 2002 to April 2003. Leah grew up in Los Angeles, California and recently graduated form University of California, Berkely with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies. Her interests are varied but with an emphasis on ecological restoration. She plans to pursue her Ph.D. degree in 2004.
Partial funding for the project was provided the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Wildlife Program. Florence Chan provided support during all phases of the project.
Photos by Leah Goldstein
• Leah Goldstein
and J.T. Hutchinson, April 2003.
© Archbold Biological Station, 2003 April.
• Webmaster: Fred Lohrer, email: webmaster@archbold-station.org