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Ecohydrological consequences of saltcedar beetle-induced tamarisk defoliation

The presence of tamarisk in western North America has had considerable consequences on water resources including driving a reduction in water availability for both human enterprise and biodiversity (Busch and Smith 1995, Stromberg 1998, Pataki et al. 2005). Changes in streamflow via tamarisk water consumption have measurable impacts on down-stream water appropriations and tamarisk species control has become an important aspect of local, state and federal government efforts to manage public and private lands. Eradication and restoration efforts are currently ongoing along many riparian corridors, but attempts to eradicate tamarisk have had variable success. Traditional control strategies such as mechanical removal, fire and herbicide treatments have often proven costly, unsuccessful, or have had unintended negative ecological impacts. An alternative biological control program was developed to control the spread of tamarisk. In 1996, the USDA &#45 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), approved the saltcedar leaf beetle (Diorhabda elongata Brulle) from central Asia for release (Dudley 2005). Diorhabda feeds selectively on tamarisk in the larval and adult stages, and pupation and adult over-wintering takes place in the litter beneath tamarisk shrubs.

In the summer of 2004, APHIS orchestrated the release of several thousand saltcedar leaf beetles at multiple locations along the Colorado River. The goal of the beetle release was to facilitate an aggressive long-term eradication and restoration program in eastern Utah. The beetle has shown considerable success locally in defoliating tamarisk and in some cases has traveled several km from the release points. However, neither local, state nor federal agencies have coordinated a comprehensive monitoring program to assess beetle impact on tamarisk habitat or water resources within the Colorado Plateau region. Moreover, there are currently no data to assess whether beetle-induced tamarisk defoliation translates into widespread mortality.

The newly established, University of Utah, Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa provides an ideal opportunity to investigate the hydrologic and ecologic consequences of beetle-induced tamarisk defoliation and mortality. As of fall of 2006, the saltcedar beetle traveled to within 10-river km downstream of the field station before entering winter dormancy. Current projections have the beetle moving through the field station by spring of 2008, or possibly sooner. We will exploit the local beetle release to ask the following questions: will partial or total defoliation result in measurable long-term changes in evapotranspiration fluxes, stream flow and groundwater discharge? Will defoliation lead to widespread mortality? Tamarisk transpiration studies are currently ongoing (See Figures), and we will soon begin collecting comprehensive data on streamflow patterns, groundwater discharge and soil moisture in response to beetle-induced changes in tamarisk activity.

 

Tamarisk Sapflow

Tamarisk Sapflow Sensor

Tamarisk Sapflow Sensor

Tamarisk Sapflow Station

Tamarisk Sapflow Station

Literature Cited

Busch, D.E. and Smith, S.D. (1995) "Mechanisms associated with decline of woody species in riparian ecosystems of the southwestern U.S."Ecological Monographs 65:347-370

Dudley, T.L. (2005) "Progress and pitfalls in the biological control of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) in North America"Proceedings of the 16th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species GTR-NE-337

Pataki, D.E., Bush, S.E., Gardner, P., Solomon, D.K., and Ehleringer, J.R. (2005) "Ecohydrology in a Colorado River riparian forest: implications for the decline of Populus Fremontii"Ecological Applications 15:1009-1018

Stromberg, J. (1998) "Functional equivalency of saltcedar (Tamarix chinensis) and Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) along a free flowing river"Wetlands 18:675-686

Last Updated: 7/21/22