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Index of Subjects --f403043ee4e49e03e3055ee4d6c6 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The spread of the exotic Phragmites in nova scotia has been slow so far and that it has not yet gone into natural wetlands. It has colonized previously disturbed wetland areas and ditches in a way that is similar to the spread of the exotic reed canary grass. Both of these exotics should increase their foothold as NS climate warms and as wetlands continue to be disturbed and to receive nutrient runoff from agriculture. There is no stopping reed canary grass; it is throughout the province. Both of these exotics are restricted by shade (trees shrubs) and by lack of disturbance and nutrient. The native Phragmites is rare and grows throughout SW Nova on lakeshores and the heads of saltmarshes (but check whether native or non native subspecies). Look for reddening at the base of the culms in native forms and a pristine habitat. I havent seen a reference to Mi'kmaw use of the plant although it was used for basketry and for pipes for sugar and medicine in other parts of North America. Sometimes we are attacking the symptom of land use when we attack exotics. If area is open without trees, why are there no trees there? Frequently it has to do with a previous disturbance and whatever we do we need to understand what the exotics are doing ...good and bad...and what would happen if we herbicided large areas without a replanting scheme in place. If we could manage the common reed (exotic phragmites) we could have a source of thatch or basket making or bedding or energy from burning it. Nick On Nov 26, 2017 10:18 AM, "Bev Wigney" <bkwigney@gmail.com> wrote: > All, > > Regarding Phragmites -- Having resided in eastern Ontario for decades > and having also seen what invasive Phragmites has done to wetlands in > Ontario and Quebec, I think Fred's warnings are well worth heeding. > Fred has been closely monitoring the spread of Phragmites for decades > and probably knows more about it than just about anyone else in > eastern Canada. Even based on my own casual observations, I know > that, where once there were patches that could be measured in meters, > many of those "patches" must now be measured in hectares of an > impenetrable monoculture mass. Along freeways, it is measured not in > meters but kilometres. I'm on the Field Botanists of Ontario > Facebook group where Fred has also posted about the Phragmites survey > and I can attest to the fact that in the comments, no one is saying > "ignore it" or "live with it". Virtually everyone is talking > *eradication* because we've all seen at least a few wetland areas in > our regions completely destroyed by Phragmites as it chokes ditches > and dries up wetland habitat. As mentioned in the article I've linked > at the end of this post, the rhizomes are meters long with new shoots > sprouting up along them. They also secrete soil toxins that destroy > other plants -- see this link: > https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071012084128.htm > > Now, I've only lived in the Annapolis Royal area a few years, but in > this time, the "little patch" of Phragmites that I first saw in the > late 1990s is now all over the place in the vicinity of the French > Basic wetland trail. Again, something that once could have been > measured in meters is now approaching the "measured in hectares" > stage. Unfortunately, I don't think there has been much effort to try > to do anything about it. I've asked around a bit and it seems like > everyone knows it is a growing problem, but all are at a loss about > what to do about it. > > Anyhow, here's a pretty good article on Phragmites, its impact on > wetland habitat, farmland, etc.. and also on eradication efforts > being attempted in Ontario: > https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/climate-watch/ > phragmites-are-ontarios-worst-invasive-plants--but-the- > phragbusters-are-on-the-case > > Bev Wigney > Round Hill, NS > > On 11/25/17, David <dwebster@glinx.com> wrote: > > Hi Fred & All, > > Before the 101 series Highways were built, Phragmites was local an= d > > uncommon in NS. The mowing along with wide and often wet ditches with > > bare soil has generated Phragmites heaven. It is a great plant. If left > > unmowed it will survive and generate bird habitat, especially in winter= . > > Something breaks those culms and leaves down over a period of 2-3 years > > and that implies a cascade of organisms.. > > It has been widely used in the Netherlands for reclamation of > > polders because it improves soil structure and therefore drainage. One > > low corner of our garden was wet all summer; for 23 years. I planted > > Phragmites there in 1991 and by 2000 that corner was well drained; > > excellent soil structure. It is absent in the original corner because, > > like most plants, it generates conditions which are unsuitable for its > > needs. It is not a threat to anything but in ditches on a grade it may > > be expected to decrease soil erosion and it will increase infiltration; > > also desirable. > > As dad used to say; "Don't pick that scab." > > Yt, DW, Kentville > > > > ------ Original Message ------ > > From: "Douglas Guptill" <dguptill@accesswave.ca> > > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > > Sent: 11/25/2017 5:22:45 PM > > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites Research > > > >>Go away with your herbicides. > >> > >>Douglas > >> > >>On Sat, Nov 25, 2017 at 04:00:55PM -0500, Frederick W. Schueler wrote: > >>>Maritimers, > >>> > >>>As some may recall, ever since I first found invasive European Reed > >>>(Phragmites australis ssp australis) at Chatham, NB, in 2001, I've > >>>been > >>>trying alarm Maritimers about the threat this invader poses to coastal > >>>(and > >>>inland) ecology, so that it can be controlled early on, when the > >>>stands are > >>>still small and scattered. - > >>>http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.ca/2010/10/view-from- > beausejour.html > >>> > >>>- > >>>or look at everything in our blog at > >>>http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.ca/search?q=3Dphragmites > >>> > >>>In Ontario, where the invader spread like wildfire through the 1980s > >>>and > >>>1990s, action is now beginning to be taken by cutting and herbiciding >