Tracking early plant community succession following various methods of control for Tamarix spp. at the Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

Originally imported for stream bank stabilization and as an ornamental shrub, Tamarix spp. (salt cedar) is now one of the top ten most noxious weeds in the United States. It infests riparian habitats increasing soil salinity and replacing native vegetation. In any invasive species control program, it is important to monitor how the ecosystem recovers following removal in case re-vegetation plans are necessary. The goal of this study is to track the early plant community succession at the Great Salt Plains following both a common chemical/mechanical control tactic and two stages of simulated biological control by the approved biological control agent, Diorhabda elongata in advance of a release of the beetle. Vegetation sampling tracks the estimated percent coverage of annual forbs, perennial forbs, annual C4 graminoids, perennial C4 graminoids, annual C3 graminoids, perennial C3 graminoids, woody plants, salt cedar, litter and bare ground using seven Dobben-Meir percentage categories. Results are presented.