ATTENTION: We are having issues with the document viewer. To view a document, please download the file. For more information on how to download a file, check out this document.

Prescribed Browsing by Goats Shows Promise in Controlling Multiflora Rose in a Deciduous Forest at the Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Northwestern Pennsylvania

Persistent URL
Author(s)
Bowden, Richard D.
Caylor, Alton
Hemmelgarn, Grace
Kresse, Megan
Martin, Alexandria
Althouse, Melissa
Date Issued
July 20, 2022
Abstract
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora [MFR]) is an invasive, nonnative plant that has invaded many temperate forests across the eastern United States, often outcompeting native plants for sunlight and other resources. Herbicides can control MFR, but they can also reduce nontarget plant species and threaten aquatic ecosystems. In a black cherry-red maple forest in the Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Pennsylvania, the US Fish and Wildlife Service introduced prescribed goat-browsing as an exploratory control method. In four treatments, browsed, browsed/herbicide, cut/herbicide, and an unmanaged reference, we evaluated preliminary effects of these treatments on MFR and non-MFR herbaceous vegetation. For MFR, the browsed treatment had 56% lower leaf/stem mass ratios and 35% shorter stem lengths than the reference; the leaf/stem ratio in the cut/herbicide treatment was 55% lower than the reference. Stem density was not reduced because goats did not kill the MFR plants in this first year of treatment. The herbicide treatment had fewer non-MFR plants than the reference treatment. Light levels at ground level did not differ among the treatments. Overall, 33% of trees in the browsed treatment were affected by the goats, with 9% being completely girdled; red maple and ironwood were the most commonly browsed species. Preliminary results suggest that goats can be an effective control for MFR, however long-term success will be best evaluated after consecutive treatment seasons. Goats may increase tree mortality and shift tree species composition in stands dominated by trees with high browsing rates, but effects on diverse stands may be less pronounced.
Journal
Natural Areas Journal
Department
Environmental Science / Studies
Citation
Richard D. Bowden, Alton Caylor, Grace Hemmelgarn, Megan Kresse, Alexandria Martin, Melissa Althouse "Prescribed Browsing by Goats Shows Promise in Controlling Multiflora Rose in a Deciduous Forest at the Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Northwestern Pennsylvania," Natural Areas Journal, 42(3), 196-205, (20 July 2022)
Publisher
Natural Areas Association
Version of Article
Published article
DOI
10.3375/21-30
ISSN
0885-8608
2162-4399
Subjects

Goat Browsing

Herbicides

Invasive Plant Manage...

Multiflora Rose

Temperate Hardwood Fo...

File(s)
Thumbnail Image
Name

2022_07_01_Bowden_Prescribed.pdf

Description
For administrative access only. Please visit the publisher's website to obtain a copy of the article. Members of the Allegheny College community should search for the article in AggreGator to obtain access.
Size

717.15 KB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

284f21c8404a47548bdc2f23a6a493c2

Thumbnail Image
Name

2022_Bowden_PrescribedCP.pdf

Size

115.89 KB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

817d7d83d35d5a704be6f0e340129a17