Phragmites australis: A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing.

摘要

A problem with national priorities for control or prevention of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) is that we often do not know the true extent of the problem, if there is one. To address this issue, the authors hosted a Technical Forum (Symposium and Workshop)-Phragmites australis: A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing. - with a focus on new research and critical reviews that address Phragmites' role as a 'noxious weed'. The extent to which P. australis affects habitat quality for fish and wildlife, alters the marsh landscape and its function, reduces ecological redundancy and contributes nutrients to the food web, both in the marsh and by export to coastal waters, were key topics in a day and a half of technical paper presentations and a facilitated workshop. Because so much effort was being placed on methods to eradicate phragmites, including the use of herbicides and prescribed burns on a large scale, the topic was both timely and critical to future management decisions. Simply stated, is Phragmites the 'villain' that many pose it to be, or does it have redeeming features worth an adaptive management approach rather than all out assault to eliminate it. Are efforts to control this native species, or its genetic analogue, well placed and are the causes of expansion being considered.