Management of invasive 'Poa annua' in the sub-Antarctic wilderness of Macquarie Island

Title
Management of invasive 'Poa annua' in the sub-Antarctic wilderness of Macquarie Island
Publication Date
2014
Author(s)
Williams, Laura Kate
Kristiansen, Paul
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2116-0663
Email: pkristi2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:pkristi2
Sindel, Brian M
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4100-218X
Email: bsindel@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:bsindel
Shaw, Justine
Wilson, Susan C
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3409-0847
Email: swilso24@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:swilso24
Editor
Editor(s): Matthew Baker
Type of document
Conference Publication
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Tasmanian Weed Society
Place of publication
Hobart, Australia
UNE publication id
une:17461
Abstract
'Poa annua' L. is the most widespread weed in the sub-Antarctic, present on all major island groups and on the Antarctic Peninsula. Its ability to withstand heavy grazing has enabled it to spread significantly on islands with introduced herbivores. On Australia's World Heritage Macquarie Island it is common and widespread. With the recent eradication of rabbits and associated change to vegetation dyna-mics it is critical to understand the distribution and abundance of 'P. annua' in this rapidly changing environment. Our study aimed to investigate management techniques for 'P. annua' to assist in the development of non-native plant management in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic. Experiments were designed to study the response of 'P. annua' and native species to physical disturbance and herbicide application. Our preliminary studies indicated that physical disturbance promotes the growth of 'P. annua' over native species, and glyphosate, rimsulfuron and trifloxysulfuron selectively control 'P. annua' under simulated sub-Antarctic temperatures while amitrole, clethodim, dithiopyr, ethofumesate, fluproponate-sodium, imazamox, simazine and methabenzthiazuron are less effective. These results provide promising avenues for further research that will contribute to the development of control programs in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic region.
Link
Citation
19th Australasian Weeds Conference Proceedings, p. 324-327
ISBN
9780646924540
Start page
324
End page
327

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