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>>>>&
Someone told me that big patch near the (former) railway crossing in Annapolis was the result of a circus train accident decades ago.
-----Original Message-----
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of David
Sent: November 26, 2017 7:23 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Cc: David Webster
Subject: Re[4]: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites Research
Hi Bev & All,
Is that patch of Phragmites by any chance located just west and south of the road and railway bridge leading to Digby ? Back in the 50s, when I collected in NS, that large very large patch and another in Antigonish Co. were the only ones known (drawing on memory). I expect it has persisted at Annapolis Royal because that swamp is tidal and few tall plants are that tolerant of salt.
Those who get excited about "invasive species" should go look in a mirror and reflect.
Yt, DW, Kentville
------ Original Message ------
From: "Bev Wigney" <bkwigney@gmail.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: 11/26/2017 10:05:48 AM
Subject: Re: Re[2]: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites Research
>All,
>
>Regarding Phragmites -- Having resided in eastern Ontario for decades
>and having also seen what invasive Phragmites has done to wetlands in
>Ontario and Quebec, I think Fred's warnings are well worth heeding.
>Fred has been closely monitoring the spread of Phragmites for decades
>and probably knows more about it than just about anyone else in eastern
>Canada. Even based on my own casual observations, I know that, where
>once there were patches that could be measured in meters, many of those
>"patches" must now be measured in hectares of an impenetrable
>monoculture mass. Along freeways, it is measured not in
>meters but kilometres. I'm on the Field Botanists of Ontario
>Facebook group where Fred has also posted about the Phragmites survey
>and I can attest to the fact that in the comments, no one is saying
>"ignore it" or "live with it". Virtually everyone is talking
>*eradication* because we've all seen at least a few wetland areas in
>our regions completely destroyed by Phragmites as it chokes ditches and
>dries up wetland habitat. As mentioned in the article I've linked at
>the end of this post, the rhizomes are meters long with new shoots
>sprouting up along them. They also secrete soil toxins that destroy
>other plants -- see this link:
>https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071012084128.htm
>
>Now, I've only lived in the Annapolis Royal area a few years, but in
>this time, the "little patch" of Phragmites that I first saw in the
>late 1990s is now all over the place in the vicinity of the French
>Basic wetland trail. Again, something that once could have been
>measured in meters is now approaching the "measured in hectares"
>stage. Unfortunately, I don't think there has been much effort to try
>to do anything about it. I've asked around a bit and it seems like
>everyone knows it is a growing problem, but all are at a loss about
>what to do about it.
>
>Anyhow, here's a pretty good article on Phragmites, its impact on
>wetland habitat, farmland, etc.. and also on eradication efforts being
>attempted in Ontario:
>https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/climate-watch/phragmites-are-on
>tarios-worst-invasive-plants--but-the-phragbusters-are-on-the-case
>
>Bev Wigney
>Round Hill, NS
>
>On 11/25/17, David <dwebster@glinx.com> wrote:
>>Hi Fred & All,
>> Before the 101 series Highways were built, Phragmites was local
>>and uncommon in NS. The mowing along with wide and often wet ditches
>>with bare soil has generated Phragmites heaven. It is a great plant.
>>If left unmowed it will survive and generate bird habitat, especially
>>in winter.
>>Something breaks those culms and leaves down over a period of 2-3
>>years and that implies a cascade of organisms..
>> It has been widely used in the Netherlands for reclamation of
>>polders because it improves soil structure and therefore drainage. One
>>low corner of our garden was wet all summer; for 23 years. I planted
>>Phragmites there in 1991 and by 2000 that corner was well drained;
>>excellent soil structure. It is absent in the original corner because,
>>like most plants, it generates conditions which are unsuitable for its
>>needs. It is not a threat to anything but in ditches on a grade it may
>>be expected to decrease soil erosion and it will increase
>>infiltration; also desirable.
>> As dad used to say; "Don't pick that scab."
>>Yt, DW, Kentville
>>
>>------ Original Message ------
>>From: "Douglas Guptill" <dguptill@accesswave.ca>
>>To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>>Sent: 11/25/2017 5:22:45 PM
>>Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites Research
>>
>>>Go away with your herbicides.
>>>
>>>Douglas
>>>
>>>On Sat, Nov 25, 2017 at 04:00:55PM -0500, Frederick W. Schueler
>>>wrote:
>>>>Maritimers,
>>>>
>>>>As some may recall, ever since I first found invasive European Reed
>>>>(Phragmites australis ssp australis) at Chatham, NB, in 2001, I've
>>>>been trying alarm Maritimers about the threat this invader poses to
>>>>coastal (and
>>>>inland) ecology, so that it can be controlled early on, when the
>>>>stands are still small and scattered. -
>>>>http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.ca/2010/10/view-from-beausejou
>>>>r.html
>>>>
>>>>-
>>>>or look at everything in our blog at
>>>>http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.ca/search?q=phragmites
>>>>
>>>>In Ontario, where the invader spread like wildfire through the 1980s
>>>>and 1990s, action is now beginning to be taken by cutting and
>>>>herbiciding stands in wetlands and along highways, and there's even
>>>>more control effort in the States, where the problem (unrecognized
>>>>at the time) began in the 1940s and 1950s.
>>>>
>>>>Anamika Ray is doing her Masters research on “the technical efficacy
>>>>and _social opinions_ on herbicide use as a best management practice
>>>>for controlling Phragmites,” at the University of Toronto.
>>>>
>>>>She has an online survey of knowledge & opinions on Invasive
>>>>Phragmites which she'd appreciate having filled out by as wide a
>>>>range of people as possible -
>>>>https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M8MZZ8N - and she'd v