Saltcedar invasion of western riparian areas: impacts and new prospects for control

摘要

Riverine corridors and wetlands in arid regions are among the most important ecosystems for sustaining native wildlife species (Carothers 1977, Skagen et al. 1998, Sanders and Edge 1998), providing critical habitat to the majority of threatened andendangered plants and animals (Master et al. 1998) in addition to creating enormous recreational and ecosystem function values for society. At the same time, these ecosystems have been greatly altered and degraded by water diversion and regulation, agricultural practices, land development, and various forms of pollution (Allan and Flecker 1993). Still, even modified river systems provide some functional riparian ecosystem and wildlife values (Moyle 1995, Anderson 1995). However, these remaining systemsare further endangered by on-going invasions of non-indigenous or "exotic" plants and animals (Dudley and Collins 1995, Wilcove and Bean 1994, Allan and Flecker 1993). Ironically, setting aside such areas to let "nature to take its course" without activemanagement of invasive species is likely to result in further loss of declining species and a waste of efforts to protect them in the first place.