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Conservation
Invasive plant management is a key aspect of conservation. Some nonnative plants can become invasive and grow faster than Catalina natives. These invasive species compete for sunlight, water and nutrients in the soil, crowding the native species out. Left unmanaged, these invaders would overtake native habitats, potentially dooming some to extinction and harming animals that rely on them for shelter and food. Invasive species are routinely treated by staff through the Catalina Habitat Improvement and Restoration Program (CHIRP) to keep them from further invading our rare native vegetative communities.
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Understanding the nuances of plant eradication is necessary to measure the impact of CHIRP or similar programs elsewhere. For example, some plants whose historic populations have been deemed eradicated across the Island may still show up later
2002225 OCDM.pdf
on, as seeds can be transported via wind currents or even on visitors' shoes. “When we list something in invasives as eradicated, the plants have all been removed and no new seedlings are coming up in those historical areas. Once time
Murdoff removing invasive Flax-leaved broom
has passed, beyond the plant’s seed longevity, then it is coined eradicated,” said Ryan Murdoff, Plant Conservation Manager, Invasive Plants. A perfect example of this would be the Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus). “Unless someone plants it or a bird deposits a seed, it is no longer on Island and is past the seed longevity period.” Still, technically eradicated plants like the Himalayan blackberry are only kept at bay due to the vigilant work of the CHIRP team. Two species, Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) used to be in that same category, but reappeared in the last two years. Last July, Yellow starthistle was discovered along Airport Road, a great example of how seeds can easily come onto the Island by vehicle, bicycle or hiking boot. The team discovered 209 plants, 55 of which were flowering. Due to their efforts, all were removed before
March 3, 2020, 15:23:44
