Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > MF > MF04043
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 55(7)

Ecological impacts on aquatic macroinvertebrates following upland stream invasion by a ponded pasture grass (Glyceria maxima) in southern Australia

Amber Clarke A , P. S. Lake A B and Dennis J. O’Dowd A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Australian Centre for Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Vic. 3800, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: sam.lake@sci.monash.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 55(7) 709-713 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF04043
Submitted: 17 March 2004  Accepted: 9 August 2004   Published: 1 October 2004

Abstract

Glyceria maxima (Reed sweet-grass), an emergent aquatic grass native to Eurasia, has naturalised in North America, New Zealand and southern Australia. Introduced as a ponded pasture species, it threatens native biodiversity and ecosystem processes in freshwater wetlands and waterways. We compared paired sections, either invaded or not invaded by G. maxima, of three upland streams in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia to infer its impacts on macroinvertebrate abundance, morphospecies density, and morphospecies and functional feeding group (FFG) composition. Its potential effects in altering sedimentation were explored by comparing stream channel morphology in paired stream sections at one site. Invasion by G. maxima appears to drive changes in macroinvertebrate morphospecies composition and FFG composition, reducing a diverse array of macroinvertebrates to a more uniform fauna. The estimated volume of plant/sediment matrix in a 50 m invaded stream section was around 1100 m3, nearly 15-fold greater than in an adjacent uninvaded stream section. Glyceria maxima is an autogenic ecosystem engineer, with the ability to convert sections of fast-flowing aerobic streams into partially anaerobic swamps. By generating a root-mat swamp with a high capacity to process nutrients, G. maxima may facilitate its own growth and spread, as well as that of secondary invaders.

Extra keywords: aquatic macrophyte, biodiversity, biological invasions, ecosystem engineering, sediment load.


Acknowledgments

We thank W. Brown and A. Hamilton for advice and assistance in the field, and N. Bond, G. Quinn and M. Logan for statistical advice. A. Glaister helped with identification of invertebrates. This is contribution number 60 from the Australian Centre for Biodiversity: Analysis, Policy and Management.


References

Anderson, J. E. , and Reznicek, A. A. (1994). Glyceria maxima (Poaceae) in New England. Rhodora 96, 97–101.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Department of Natural Resources and Environment (2002). ‘Neerim 8022–2-2 Ecological Vegetation Classes – Draft Mapping, 1 : 25 000 GIS Base Map.’ (GIS Unit: Gippsland, Australia.)

Douglas, M. M. , and O’Connor, R. A. (2003). Effects of the exotic macrophyte, para grass (Urochloa mutica), on benthic and epiphytic macroinvertebrates of a tropical floodplain. Freshwater Biology 48, 962–971.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Houston, W. A. , and Duivenvoorden, L. J. (2002). Replacement of littoral native vegetation with the ponded pasture grass Hymenachne amplexicaulis: effects on plant, macroinvertebrate and fish biodiversity of backwaters in the Fitzroy River, Central Queensland, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 53, 1235–1244.


Jansson, M. , Leonardson, L. , and Fejes, J. (1994). Denitrification and nitrogen retention in a farmland stream in southern Sweden. Ambio 23, 326–331.


Jones, C. G. , Lawton, J. H. , and Sachak, M. (1997). Positive and negative effects of organisms as physical ecosystem engineers. Ecology 78, 1946–1957.


Lodge, D. M. , Stein, R. A. , Brown, K. M. , Covich, A. P. , Bronmark, C. , Garvey, J. E. , and Klosiewski, S. P. (1998). Predicting the impact of freshwater exotic species on native biodiversity: challenges in spatial scaling. Australian Journal of Ecology 23, 53–67.


Lonsdale, W. M. (1994). Inviting trouble: introduced pasture species in northern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 19, 345–354.


Low, T. (1997). Tropical pasture plants as weeds. Tropical Grasslands 31, 337–343.


Merritt, R. W., and  Cummins, K. W. (1984). ‘An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America.’ 2nd edn. (Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co.: Dubuque, IA, USA.)

Mitchell, D. S. and  Bowmer, K. H. (1990). Aquatic weed problems and management in Australasia. In ‘Aquatic Weeds – The Ecology and Management of Nuisance Aquatic Vegetation’. (Eds. A. H. Pieterse and K. J. Murphy)  pp. 355–370. (Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.)

Ozimek, T. , and Klekot, L. (1979). Glyceria maxima (Hartm.) Holmb. in ponds supplied with post-sewage water. Aquatic Botany 7, 231–239.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Parsons, W. T., and  Cuthbertson, E. G. (1992). ‘Noxious Weeds of Australia.’ (Inkata Press: Melbourne, Australia.)

Quinn, G. P., and  Keough, M. J. (2002). ‘Experimental Design and Data Analysis for Biologists.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Sainty, G. R., and  Jacobs, S. W. L. (1994). ‘Water Plants in Australia.’ (Sainty and Associates: Sydney, Australia.)

Sala, O. E. , Chapin, F. S. , Armesto, J. J. , Berlow, E. , and Bloomfield, J. , et al. (2000). Global Biodiversity Scenarios for the Year 2100. Science 287, 1770–1774.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Schreiber, E. G. (1999). ‘Biology and Effects of the Invading Aquatic Snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Hydrobiidae: Prosobranchia) in Southern Victoria, Australia.’ PhD Thesis. (Monash University: Melbourne, Australia.)

Simberloff, D. , and Von Holle, B. (1999). Positive interactions of nonindigenous species: invasional meltdown? Biological Invasions 1, 21–32.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

SPSS (2000). ‘SYSTAT v. 10.’ (SPSS: Chicago, IL, USA.)

Sundblad, K. , and Robertson, K. (1988). Harvesting reed sweetgrass (Glyceria maxima, Poaceae): effects on growth and rhizome storage of carbohydrates. Economic Botany 42, 495–502.


Sundblad, K. , and Wittgren, H.-B. (1989). Glyceria maxima for wastewater nutrient removal and forage production. Biological Wastes 27, 29–42.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Weiss, J. E. R., and  Iaconis, L. J. (2000). ‘Glyceria maxima, Reed Sweet Grass: An Assessment of Weed Potential for Melbourne Water.’ (Keith Turnbull Research Institute, Department of Natural Resources and Environment: Melbourne, Australia.) 23 pp.