Project Number: 5325-22000-020-17
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Aug 01, 2004
End Date: Jun 30, 2009

Objective:
1) Collect natural enemies of invasive weeds. 2) Evaluate host specificity under quarantine conditions. 3) Conduct field monitoring of released weed biological control agents. 4) Conduct research on revegetation of native species in ripian habitats such as the Walker River of Nevada.

Approach:
New natural enemies of weeds such as Tamarix, Arundo & Yellow starthistle will be identified and collected through foreign exploration in countries of origin. For most of the target weeds of interest this will be done working with cooperators at USDA-ARS overseas laboratories, in Europe and China. Following location and proper taxonomic assessment, colonies of these beneficial natural enemies will be established and held under quarantine conditions. Environmental assessments will be written to support requests for field release of these natural enemies by ARS scientists. Once approved by USDA-APHIS & other regulatory groups, these agents will be field released and monitored to determine their establishment and impact on both target and non-target plants. A combination of field & laboratory experiments will be used to identify methods of establishing native species in areas where invasive weeds have been eliminated. The initial focus will be on seed physiology production & dispersal, & artifical seeding of beneficial species. Documents Reimbursable with BLM. Log 27430. Formerly 5325-22000-017-30R (6/05).