Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Prescribed Fire Effects on Biological Control of Leafy Spurge
David P. Fellows and Wesley E. Newton*
The flea beetle, Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras, is a potentially useful
agent for biological control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) in
grasslands devoted to wildlife conservation. However, effects of other grassland
management practices on the persistence and dynamics of flea beetle populations
are not well understood. We conducted small plot tests to evaluate 1) the effect
of prerelease burning on establishment of A. nigriscutis colonies, and
2) the ability of established A. nigriscutis colonies to survive prescribed
fire. More colonies established on plots that were burned prior to beetle release
(83% establishment) than on unburned plots (37% establishment), possibly due
to litter reduction and baring of the soil surface. However, most colonies established
with the aid of fire did not survive past the first generation unless the habitat
was otherwise suitable for the species, and we conclude that the primary benefit
of prerelease burning is increased recruitment of A. nigriscutis during
the first few generations. Established colonies were not harmed by burns in
October and May. Both spring and fall burns resulted in an increase in leafy
spurge stem density during the first growing season, but stem density declined
to the preburn level by the second growing season.
Keywords: Euphorbia esula, northern Great Plains, Aphthona
nigriscutis, flea beetles
This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication
1063):
Fellows, David P., and Wesley E. Newton. 1999. Prescribed Fire Effects
on Biological Control of Leafy Spurge. Journal of Range Management
52:489-493.
This resource should be cited as:
Fellows, David P., and Wesley E. Newton. 1999. Prescribed Fire Effects
on Biological Control of Leafy Spurge. Journal of Range Management
52:489-493. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/insects/feffct/index.htm
(Version 06APR2000).
Table of Contents
Tables
- Table 1 -- Mean initial vegetative conditions
on 9 treatment blocks.
- Table 2 -- Mean initial vegetative conditions
at distances of 1, 3, and 5 m from plot center.
- Table 3 -- Colony establishment by block
and treatment.
- Table 4 -- Change in mean number of leafy
spurge stems m-2 (SE) by treatment and year.
* Authors are Wildlife Biologist and Statistician, respectively, U. S. Geological
Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 8711 37th St SE, Jamestown,
N.D. 58401
The authors thank N. Spencer, USDA-ARS, for providing beetles and assistance
in study design. N. Spencer, R. Carlson, D. Larson, and G. Sargeant provided
critical reviews of the draft manuscript.
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