THESIS ABSTRACT
Response of litter invertebrates to the application
of metsulfon methyl in Chrysanthemoides monilifera (Bitou
Bush) infested coastal vegetation.
Sarah Buckley
Year: 2002
Degree: BSc (Hons)
Abstract:
The continued invasion of the South African weed, Chrysanthemoides
monilifera, into native vegetation communities along the
New South Wales coastline is a serious threat to floristic diversity.
This environmental weed has successfully naturalized along
a
large proportion of the coastline and is still competing
with and displacing native vegetation. In attempts to reduce
current
infestations of Chrysanthemoides monilifera and avoid additional
invasions, a variety of control methods have been utilized.
Herbicide management of Chrysanthemoides monilifera infested
vegetation is of particular concern, as applications can
have both a directly
toxic on soil fauna and an indirect effect after a reduction
in canopy cover. Soil invertebrates are responsible for
the recycling
of nutrients and are necessary for the primary production
of terrestrial ecosystems, and therefore they should be an important
consideration
in the herbicide management of Chrysanthemoides monilifera
infested vegetation.
With the proposal to introduce the broad scale use of the
herbicide metsulfuron methyl to try and control Chrysanthemoides
monilifera
in New South Wales, it is necessary to assess the potential
effects of the herbicide on the soil fauna inhabiting these
areas and consider
the implications for the remaining vegetation.
This study aimed to assess the response of litter invertebrates
to the application of the herbicide metsulfuron methyl
on Chrysanthemoides monilifera infested habitats. The
abundance, richness and community
composition was assessed before the herbicide application
and then directly after spraying had occurred to consider
the direct
toxic
effects. Once defoliation was evident, an assessment
of the
effects of canopy loss was also made.
Temperature and precipitation data were obtained for
each sampling of litter invertebrates to assess if
fluctuations in abundance,
diversity and community composition were related to
changes in weather conditions.
Affiliated Publications:
French, K and Buckley S The effects of the herbicide metsulfuron-methyl
on soil invertebrate communities in coastal dune invaded with
Chrysanthemoides monilifera spp. rotundata. Weed Research minor
revisions March
2007.
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