Invasive Species, Wildfire, and the Use of Native Seeds for Restoration. Sarah Kulpa Botanist/Restoration Ecologist Reno Fish and Wildlife Office

Transcription

1 Invasive Species, Wildfire, and the Use of Native Seeds for Restoration Sarah Kulpa Botanist/Restoration Ecologist Reno Fish and Wildlife Office

2 Jeannie Stafford, USFWS

3 Conserving the Great Basin Sagebrush Ecosystem Invasive species and fire are the greatest threats to sage-grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem in the Great Basin Cheatgrass dominates at least 2 million hectares (and growing) in the Great Basin

4 Why Is Cheatgrass Such a Problem? Facilitated by soildisturbing activities Invade and outcompete native plant species Create continuous fine fuels Increase fire frequency, severity and extent

5 Cheatgrass Drives Fires Figure 1. Balch et al 2013 with WD Fire has been a natural part of sagebrush ecosystem for millennia Cheatgrass grasslands were four times more likely to burn than native vegetation during the 2000s (Balch et al. 2013). Balch et al. 2013

6 After fire, large scale restoration occurs

7 Seeds Used Post-Fire in Nevada More native grasses are being seeded in Nevada From , only 20 50% of seeded sites in the Great Basin were native perennial grass (Knutson et al. 2014) From , 75% of seeding treatments in Nevada were native perennial grass (Leger & Baughman 2015)

8 But What is the Origin of Seed Used in Nevada? Jones and Larson, 2005

9 Was launched Aug 2015 Covers Meets Sec Order 3336 Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management, and Restoration - Objective 7(b)ix Ensures Objectives of the National Pollinator Strategy can be achieved

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11 Four Seed Strategy Goals 1. Identify Seed Needs and Ensure the Reliable Availability of Genetically Appropriate Seed (13 actions) 2. Identify Research Needs and Conduct Research to Provide Genetically Appropriate Seed and to Improve Technology for Native Seed Production and Ecosystem Restoration (12 actions) 3. Develop Tools that Enable Managers to Make Timely, Informed Seeding Decisions for Ecological Restoration (17 actions) 4. Develop Strategies for Internal and External Communication (9 actions)

12 Agency Partners and 51 Seed Strategy Actions Agencies Number of Actions BIA 27 BLM 47 FWS 46 NPS 37 USGS 39 ARS 26 FS 46 NIFA 32 NRCS 36 FHWA 16 Smithsonian 3 US Botanic Garden 1

13 Why does FWS care about seeds? Endangered Species Act of 1973 The purposes of this Act are to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, [and] to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species

14 In other words The species we conserve depend on resilient, functioning ecosystems Plants are the foundation of ecosystems serving as primary producers and soil stabilizers as well as food, cover, and structure for other species Terrestrial ecosystems are often degraded, threatened by invasive species, and need to be restored To conserve and recover species, we need the native seeds and plants that these species (and their habitat) depend on

15 Getting the Right Seed: Developing & Increasing Native Seed for Sagebrush Restoration Partners FWS BLM FS GBNPP BFI Native Seeds National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration Goal 1: Identify Seed Needs and Ensure the Reliable Availability of Genetically Appropriate Seed Reserves

16 Increasing Native Seed for Restoration Seeds adapted to the most arid zones of the Great Basin Species that provide structural, dietary, or other benefit to sagegrouse National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration Goal 1: Ensure Availability of Genetically Appropriate Seed Objective 1.3 Action 1.3.2: Improve agency and partner capability to plan for seed needs and to use common seed zones Action 1.3.5: Engage federal procurement specialists to assess current contracting regulations and practices to identify strengths and take actions to correct deficiencies

17 USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

18 Seed Zones A Tool For A Variable Environment 20 seed zones in the Great Basin OR ID A zone with similar environmental conditions within which plant materials can be transferred NV UT Based on minimum winter temperature and aridity CA

19 Scientific Name Common Name Duration and Habit Sage-grouse use Agoseris grandiflora Astragalus filipes bigflower agoseris perennial forb preferred food basalt milkvetch perennial forb preferred food Cleome lutea yellow bee plant annual forb early successional Erigeron speciosus aspen fleabane perennial forb preferred food Eriogonum elatum tall woolly buckwheat perennial forb food Leymus cinereus Great Basin wildrye perennial grass cover Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia Sphaeralcea munroana gooseberryleaf globemallow perennial forb preferred food Munro s globemallow perennial forb preferred food

20 Increasing Great Basin Wildrye by Seed Zone We started with 27 collections of Great Basin wildrye seed (black dots) Collections are from 4 different seed zones We are increasing this seed by seed zone in fields at BFI Natives in Washington

21 National Seed Strategy in Action: Increasing Forbs Seven small-lot forb fields (< 1 ac), each containing a single species, grown-out and increased for 2 years Agoseris grandiflora 3 of 7 forbs produced seed in year 1 40 lbs. Agoseris grandiflora 19 lbs. Astragalus filipes 59 lbs. Cleome lutea Cleome lutea BFI Native Seeds BFI Native Seeds

22 National Seed Strategy in Action: Increasing Great Basin Wildrye 2014 started with 24 lbs. of seed of 18.5 acres 2015 Juvenile phase ,565 lbs. of seed This quantity would seed 1,391 acres Photo credit: BFI Natives

23 How much seed do we need? 5,565 lbs. of Great Basin wildrye seed

24 Scaling Up: We Need More Native Seed For Restoration We need to strategically increase both native grasses and forbs Grasses are easier and limited number of workhorse species needed Increase relies on conventional agronomic practices Seed yield is typically high ( lbs/ac/year) All of which are perennial bunchgrasses Forbs are harder and 100s (or 1,000s) of species likely needed Forb whisperers are few and far between Seed yield varies widely among species Dormancy, seeding depth, seed harvest methods, life history, etc. also vary among species

25 Questions?