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Author(s):
Lisa-Natalie Anjozian
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fire Ecology
Invasive Species
Fire Effects
Ecological - Second Order
Ecosystem(s):
Montane dry mixed-conifer forest, Ponderosa pine woodland/savanna, Lower montane/foothills/valley grassland

NRFSN number: 11093
FRAMES RCS number: 7993
Record updated:

Noxious weeds are a serious problem that is spreading across the West. Herbicides such as Picloram have proven to be powerful tools in reducing weed invaders, although use of this tool has often produced unintended consequences. Broadleaf herbicides kill forbs, such as the noxious knapweed, but also harm native forbs such as arrowleaf balsamroot. Removing weedy forbs from a landscape creates opportunities for grasses to thrive, native as well as nonnative. Because of herbicide treatment, study sites experienced great increases in cheatgrass, a non-native grass of poor forage that also alters fire intensity and frequency. Managers should consider that efforts to reduce one problem plant may produce other problems. This brief includes a Manager's Viewpoint by Paige Houston.

Citation

Anjozian, Lisa-Natalie. 2008. The tao of treating weeds: reaching for restoration in the northern Rocky Mountains. Joint Fire Science Program Fire Science Brief. October 2008 (18): 1-10.

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