The effect of fire and herbicide on rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora} in Bowling Green Bay National Park, Queensland

摘要

Rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) is one of Queensland's major woody weeds. Its aggressive climbing habit ultimately excludes all other native plants through shading and competition. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPW) have been experimenting with the use of fire and herbicide to reduce rubber vine populations in salt pans and eucalypt woodland in Bowling Green Bay National Park. Both burning and herbicide treatments reduced rubber vine dramatically in both habitats. The distribution anddensity of rubber vine determines which methods may be appropriate for its control. Fire can be used to kill a large proportion of rubber vine growth and encourage grass and herbs to grow, thus creating a higher intensity fire in the following year. Herbicide can be used in conjunction with fire to complement the woody weed control especially where dense infestations occur.