Abstract
Non-native Berberis aquifolium is an invasive species in Belgian coastal dunes. With its strong clonal growth through suckers, this evergreen shrub outcompetes native species and affects dune succession. To prevent further secondary spread and mitigate its impact, there was an urgent need for knowledge on the effectiveness of control measures, both at the plant and habitat level. Here, we report on a first control experiment. Individual B. aquifolium clones were subjected to one of four treatments (manual uprooting, foliar herbicide application, stem cutting followed by herbicide or salt application), with regrowth being measured up to one year after treatment. We analyzed the relationship between kill rate, treatment, dune area, plant volume and number of plant stems using a generalized linear model. Berberis aquifolium plants proved most susceptible to foliar herbicide application (5% glyphosate solution), resulting in 88% (64%–97%) of the clones dying after treatment. The predicted kill rate decreased with an increasing number of stems under all treatments. We discuss the limitations of our experiment and the potential for actual field application of the different treatments. We present some guidelines for future control that may become further refined as experience builds up and we provide some recommendations for tackling invasive alien species in Atlantic dune ecosystems.
Highlights
The Belgian coastal dunes form a dynamic and diverse ecosystem that is home to a large number of characteristic species, many of which are regionally threatened (Provoost and Bonte 2004)
Spraying Berberis foliage with herbicides clearly resulted in superior control with the majority of plants (26 out of 31) being killed
As the dunes are highly fragmented by urban development, the gardens surrounding the sites are the primary source of these plant species (Verloove 2002)
Summary
The Belgian coastal dunes form a dynamic and diverse ecosystem that is home to a large number of characteristic species, many of which are regionally threatened (Provoost and Bonte 2004). Berberis aquifolium was the most frequently encountered non-native shrub species, and the survey indicated that gardens and public plantings bordering natural areas represent a major source of introduction (Provoost et al 2015; Table 1) It grows in a wide variety of vegetation types ranging from moss dunes and dune grasslands to scrub and woodland. No specific studies exist, the impact of B. aquifolium in the Belgian coastal dunes is comparable to other invasive shrub and tree species for which impacts are well documented such as P. serotina (Ehrenburg et al 2008), Rosa rugosa (Isermann 2008a, b) and Ailanthus altissima Swingle (Kowarik and Saumel 2007; Landenberger et al 2007) These studies have shown negative effects on biodiversity, mainly by shading out herb-, moss- or lichen-dominated communities or by exhibiting allelopathy towards other plant species. These clones occur scattered within the landscape and are often inaccessible to heavy machinery
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