[APWG] Stilt Grass Seeds

[Johnny Randall]

No one that I know has ever seen evidence of deer eating Microstegium.  
Goats don't like it, but Guinea pigs do!

We too have a fungus on Microstegium, which others have tried to 
isolate, but I have lost track of just who.  (And there's a Nobel Prize 
waiting for the ones who can turn this into an effective AND safe 
biocontrol.)

Johnny

S. Luke Flory wrote:
> Deer are certainly dispersing seed in their hooves and from bedding in 
> Microstegium but I don't think they are eating much of it - I haven't 
> ever seen any browse damage although I work in areas with relatively 
> low deer densities.
>
> I also haven't seen hardly any insect damage to Microstegium plants. 
> If there are insects that eat seed they are not likely eating enough 
> to put a dent in populations. Most populations have seed/seedling 
> densities so high that populations self-thin to a great degree over 
> the course of a growing season (someone once emailed me that they had 
> counted >100 seedlings in a square inch!). That is, even if half of 
> the seeds were eaten, populations would likely have the same stem 
> density and biomass per area at the end of the season. However, if an 
> insect consumed enough seed it would affect seed dispersal rates...
>
> I have noticed a fungus that is hitting some Microstegium populations 
> pretty hard, particularly in open areas where I think morning dews 
> spread the fungus. We are currently trying to isolate, identify, and 
> culture the fungus in the lab and are planning experiments next year 
> to see if the fungus has an effect on Microstegium biomass, seed 
> production, and ultimately population dynamics.
>
> Luke
>
>
>
> Michael Schenk wrote:
>> 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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>>>
>>> Disclaimer
>>> Any requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the
>>> opinion of the individual posting the message.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>> Disclaimer
>> Any requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the 
>> opinion of the individual posting the message.
>

-- 
Johnny Randall, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
North Carolina Botanical Garden
CB 3375 
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill  NC  27599
Phone - 919-962-0522
FAX - 919-962-3531
www.ncbg.unc.edu