Effects of Invasive Plants on Wildlife Mark Hostetler IFAS, University of Florida

Overview Wildlife – Basic Habitat Requirements –An example about birds Invasive Plants – How they disrupt wildlife habitat – Specific examples

All animals need: –Food –Cover –Water –Space Wildlife Habitat Photo by Joe Schaefer Habitat

Invasive Exotic Plant? An Exotic plant that is free-living and can cause environmental or economic damage Considered invasive exotic by the Invasive Species Working Group:

Wildlife? Shoal Bass Alligator Flatwoods Salamander O.-crowned Warbler Black Bear Katydid

Habitat for Birds

FOOD

Insectivores Photos courtesy of

Insect Eaters Hairy Woodpecker Yellow Warbler Great-crested Flycatcher

Granivores Sweet Gum Tree Spanish Needle

Seed Eaters White-crowned Sparrow House Finch Tufted Titmouse Blue Jay

Frugivores Many different plant species produce fruit (e.g., hollies, cedar trees, beauty berries, wax myrtles) BeautyberryHolly spp.

Nectivores Trumpet vine Hummingbirds like to feed on plants that produce nectar Coral Honeysuckle

Fruit and Nectar Eaters Ruby-throated Hummingbird Brown ThrasherCedar Waxwing Northern Mockingbird

Carnivores

Meat Eaters Barred Owl Loggerhead Shrike Great-horned Owl

COVER

Cavities Snags are in short supply in some habitat

Primary Cavity Nesters Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker

Secondary Cavity Nesters Photos of owls, titmice, chickadees, etc. Tufted Titmouse Great-crested Flycatcher Carolina Chickadee Eastern Bluebird

Vegetation for Cover Safety from predators Some nest on the ground where there is lots of vegetative cover

WATER

Aquatic Birds Great Egret Osprey

Space

Example: Trees and a Bird

How Do Invasive Plants Affect Wildlife? Food Cover Water Space

Effects of Invasive Plants on Wildlife Populations Create monocultures of new habitat Alter ecological processes (e.g., fire frequencies and intensity)

Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) Covers mature trees and shades out understory vegetation Impact on wildlife has not been well studied

Australian Pine (Casuarina spp.) Quickly colonizes disturbed beach plant communities Invasions produce dense litter Decrease in small mammal population densities Affects nesting efforts of sea turtles and American crocodiles

Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) Forms dense monospecific stands Fewer birds nest in pepper forests In some cases, fewer amphibians and reptile species were collected in pepper forests

Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum) Forms dense monospecific stands Increase nutrient loading on aquatic systems Impact on wildlife has not been well studied

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) Reduces light penetration and low levels of dissolved oxygen beneath canopy Can shift macroinvertebrate populations In extreme situations, can affect growth rate of popular game fishes Food for some waterfowl species

Hydrilla

Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum) Dense blankets over native trees Insect diversity is decreased Impact on other wildlife has not been well studied

Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia) Extremely dense monospecific forests Some evidence that it causes wetlands to dry up Fires burn hotter in wetlands

Melaleuca Decrease in small mammal population densities (?) Poor forage for large vertebrates Some birds are benefited Generally, effects on wildlife not well studied

Torpedo Grass (Panicum repens) Forms extensive monospecific stands of grass Displaces native vegetation along shorelines Little value for fishes, waterfowl, or songbirds

Water Hyancith (Eichhornia crassipes) Forms dense aquatic plant canopy cover Low light intensities and dissolved oxygen levels Smothers beds of native submersed vegetation Can cause lower fish production

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) Reduced forage of elk between 50 & 90%

Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) Reduced bison forage by 83%

Impact on Wildlife? Invasives change the environment (e.g., closed canopy and dissolved oxygen levels) Invasives replace native plants - most wildlife cannot eat invasive plants Disrupts food chain

Web site: Call your local extension office Call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or visit Where to Go for Info On Wildlife?

Where to Go For Info on Invasive Species? Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Department of Environmental Protection

What Can You Do? Remove Invasive Exotics on Your Property Report Invasive Exotic Plants Educate Your Neighbors About Invasive Exotic Plants

Summary Wildlife Habitat: - Food, Cover, Water, and Space Not well studied, but monospecific stands of exotic plants do affect wildlife by replacing native plant communities. Wildlife Info:

Acknowledgements Developed by: Dr. Mark Hostetler, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, IFAS, University of Florida, 2001.

Acknowledgements Photo & Sound Credits: Mark Hostetler, Vic Ramey, Ann Murray, and Dan Sudia Invasive Plants: Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants USGS Patuxent Bird Center (Bird Photos): FL Museum of Natural History: