Integrated Restoration Strategies Towards Weed Control on Western Rangelands

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Study Description

Project No.70133

Although cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) has been widely distributed across western rangelands for >70 years, the full ecologic and economic impacts of this non-native invasive plant have not yet occurred. Unfortunately, several independent lines of evidence indicate that the rate at which acreage becomes infested with cheatgrass is increasing rapidly. Furthermore, the invasion and spread of a number of emerging secondary weeds is coincident with cheatgrass infestation. Thus to control the spread of these secondary weeds, we must first control cheatgrass. Competitiveness and prolific seed production allow cheatgrass to invade both disturbed and intact native communities and to dominate after wildfire. Thus, efforts to control cheatgrass need to focus on these biological characteristics while simultaneously restoring native plants on Great Basin rangelands. Our overall goal is to identify concepts and management strategies to control the spreading dominance of cheatgrass and other weeds on Great Basin rangelands and to restore native species and increase biodiversity. Our primary focus will be cheatgrass because it is the most widespread and damaging invasive weed, but we will also examine the extent that secondary weeds complicate cheatgrass control and native species restoration efforts.

Contact Information:
David A. Pyke, Rangeland Ecologist
USGS FRESC Corvallis Research Group
3200 SW Jefferson Way
Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone: (541) 758-8780
Email: david_a_pyke@usgs.gov