Flooding and geomorphology influence the persistence of the invasive annual herb Noogoora burr (Xanthium occidentale Bertol.) in the riparian zone of the dryland Darling River, Australia
Melissa Parsons A B and Mark Southwell A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Riverine Landscapes Research Laboratory, Geography and Planning, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: melissa.parsons@une.edu.au
The Rangeland Journal 37(5) 433-444 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ14116
Submitted: 26 February 2014 Accepted: 11 September 2015 Published: 21 October 2015
Abstract
The relationship between flooding, and the establishment and persistence of exotic species, is not well understood in highly variable dryland rivers. Increased moisture associated with floods is likely to stimulate establishment and growth of exotic plants, but floods may also act as a stress to exotic plants if floods last for weeks to months. This study examined how physical drivers of dryland rivers – flood inundation and geomorphology – influence the persistence of Xanthium occidentale Bertol. in the dryland Darling River, Australia. The distribution of X. occidentale was associated with flood-related moisture subsidy, moderated by channel geomorphology. Dead stalks and burrs on the ground occurred above the 8-m height of the previous flood. Adult and juvenile plants occurred below 8 m corresponding to smaller flood events. Flatter geomorphic units (floodplains and benches) contained more plants and burrs, whereas steeper geomorphic units (banks) did not retain burrs, limiting plant abundance. Flooding is not a stress to X. occidentale. A glasshouse experiment showed that flood durations of up to 40 days had minimal effect on the germination, survival and growth of X. occidentale burrs, seeds or seedlings. Weed management strategies for X. occidentale in dryland rivers could be enhanced by targeting periods following flooding when moisture availability is increased on the flatter geomorphic units in the river channel.
Additional keywords: dryland ecosystem, floods, rivers, weed biology.
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