Tamarix as wildlife habitat

Background/Question/Methods

Riparian areas of floodplains typically provide a mosaic of productive habitats capable of supporting a rich community of vertebrate species. We present a synthesis of published literature on the use of non-native saltcedar (Tamarix) by wildlife in Southwestern riparian systems. We discuss how several groups of wildlife, including birds, mammals, and herpetofauna, utilize or avoid saltcedar and discuss the impacts of methods for controlling non-native saltcedar. Vegetation can be altered by methods used to control saltcedar and can have the potential to impact a variety of habitat types used by wildlife. Birds are the most studied wildlife in terms of use of saltcedar habitat, and although it is documented that some species utilize saltcedar, there is a lack of information for many other riparian obligate species.   

Results/Conclusions

Conversion of native riparian woodlands to saltcedar may enhance populations of desert-adapted heteromyid rodent species, while reducing populations of some other small mammals such as voles and harvest mice. Some evidence has shown that efforts to remove saltcedar in riparian systems can benefit some species and be neutral or non-damaging for others; whereas, some species show a mixed response. Short-term effects of saltcedar biocontrol can alter the microclimate and habitat structure causing some reptile species to reduce activity in these stands. The productivity of riparian birds that depend upon specific habitat structure could be affected by biocontrol defoliation and saltcedar mortality. Abundance of harvest mice may increase or decrease as biological control of saltcedar progresses depending on the structure of understory vegetation, but overall biocontrol seems to have negligible effects on small mammal populations within saltcedar habitats. Understanding how wildlife utilize saltcedar and the effects of control activities on wildlife are important for resource managers who must balance management decisions such as non-native plant control with protecting critical wildlife habitat.