Print PageTall clonal invasive plants threaten native species habitats, therefore their control is an important conservation procedure. Arundo donax, a tall perennial and in the U. S., exclusively vegetatively spreading grass, invades and alters many riparian ecosystems. For modular organisms, transition matrix models can be useful in identifying life stages with the greatest influence on bud population dynamics (clonal growth) and assist in the design of integrated pest management plans. Data for approximately 1750 A. donax buds grown outdoors in northern California were used to develop a stage structured matrix model.
Results/Conclusions
Analysis of mapped bud locations revealed that leading edge buds advanced 16.8 + 2.1 cm (mean + SE) from the previous growing season’s leading edge. Matrix model simulations based on previously published information confirmed that A. donax clones should persist in a range of moisture / temperature conditions. Elasticity analysis showed that the transition from bud to stem was more critical to continued bud population growth than the transition of stems from one growing season to the next. This finding agrees with field observations on the response of A. donax to complete removal of stems by cutting. Results further suggest that management approaches which target the underground rhizomes will be most effective at curtailing A. donax invasion.
