[APWG] Stilt Grass Seeds

[Michael Schenk]

Yes, deer do seem to be a great mechanism for dispersing stilt grass. They like to bed down in it, for one thing.

What I'm wondering is if there is some species which destructively feeds on stilt grass seeds and which might be useful as a biocontrol. Since they're so small, this would likely be an invertebrate, maybe millipedes or some other forest floor small grazer. What generally eats small grass seeds?

Mike
-----Original Message-----
>From: "Scott Ruhren Ph.D." <sruhren at asri.org>
>Sent: Oct 2, 2008 9:21 AM
>To: 'Michael Schenk' <schenkmj at earthlink.net>, apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
>Subject: RE: [APWG] Stilt Grass Seeds
>
>Mike,
>
>I saw a poster at an invasive species conference in CT with a long list of
>invasive plant seeds detected in deer droppings. Many/most were viable.
>Unfortunately, I do not have the author tec. This dispersal mechanism seems
>plausible as deer sample broadly across the flora. 
>
>Just a thought.
>
>Scott
>
>---
> 
>Scott Ruhren, Ph.D.
>Senior Director of Conservation
>Audubon Society of Rhode Island
>12 Sanderson Road
>Smithfield, RI 02917
> 
>401-949-5454
> 
>-----Original Message-----
>From: apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
>[mailto:apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of Michael
>Schenk
>Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 11:00 AM
>To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
>Subject: [APWG] Stilt Grass Seeds
>
>Here's today's question: what eats stilt grass seeds, either on the stem or
>on the ground?
>
>Mike
>
>
>
>
>
>
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