Re[6]: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites Research

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From: David <dwebster@glinx.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Cc: "David Webster" <dwebster@glinx.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2017 01:05:07 +0000
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Hi John & All,
     That myth about the circus train was a way to explain how 'Elephant 
Grass' got to Annapolis Royal. Every circus has elephants who will 
demand their daily feed of Elephant Grass; right ? When I first saw it 
in the late 40's the stand was huge.
Yt, DW, Kentville

------ Original Message ------
From: "John and Nhung" <nhungjohn@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: 11/26/2017 8:07:53 PM
Subject: RE: Re[4]: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites 
Research

>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 very much
>>>>>appreciate Maritime participation in this.
>>>>>
>>>>>fred.
>>>>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>          Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad
>>>>>          Fragile Inheritance Natural History Mudpuppy Night in
>>>>>Oxford Mills - http://pinicola.ca/mudpup1.htm 'Daily' Paintings -
>>>>>http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.com/
>>>>>4 St-Lawrence Street Bishops Mills, RR#2 Oxford Station, Ontario 
>>>>>K0G
>>>>>1T0
>>>>>   on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44* 52'N 75* 42'W
>>>>>(613)258-3107 <bckcdb at istar.ca> http://pinicola.ca/
>>>>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>

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