[APWG] FW: Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens - More Findings on the Link Between Japanese Barberry and Lyme Disease

[Marc Imlay]

  _____  

From: npwg at aweber.com [mailto:npwg at aweber.com] On Behalf Of Native Plants
Wildlife Gardens
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 6:33 AM
To: Marc and Alice Imlay
Subject: Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens - More Findings on the Link
Between Japanese Barberry and Lyme Disease



More
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=dET6p0TQPeVqfcjW
FADzVQ> Findings on the Link Between Japanese Barberry and Lyme Disease 

 Japanese barberry infested forest in Spring.
<http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Infestation
1-300x225.jpg> 

Japanese barberry infested forest in Spring. C Leslie J. Mehrhoff,
University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Recently, I attended a symposium where current research findings on the link
between Japanese barberry
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=o8dpH25ienJXpuOo
fbH9lA> (Berberis thunbergii) and Lyme disease were presented. Over the past
few years we've learned that this highly invasive non-native shrub is not
only impacting our regional ecosystems, it's also indirectly affecting our
public health. While Japanese barberry is considered invasive in at least 20
states and the District of Columbia
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=6zWVy7wo9b00zXqR
WU2oXQ> , it is also still available for sale in many nurseries across the
US.

According to recent studies by scientists Jeffrey
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=6MXiJagLDFnNWnGM
EXsdAQ> Ward and Scott
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=7Pr1pbixmuOJfg02
TK0kPg> Williams at the Connecticut Agriculture and Experiment Station
(CAES) eliminating stands of Japanese barberry from forested areas can
reduce the number of  Lyme disease-infected ticks on the property by 80%.


The Problem With Japanese Barberry


Once established, Japanese barberry tolerates a wide array of site
conditions, from full sun to shade and it's not overly picky about soil
conditions. It reproduces through seeds, rhizomes or layering
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=AlhQFCtca3umr_nt
XLsXtw>  and  forms dense thickets that choke out native wildflowers and
tree saplings.

 Japanese barberry flowers
<http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Flowers-300
x200.jpg> 

Japanese barberry flowers are prolific seed producers. C Leslie J. Mehrhoff,
University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Berberis thunbergii is a prolific seed producer and it's seeds are estimated
to have a 90% germination rate. Birds eat the seeds and carry them for a few
hundred yards, depositing them in areas where the Japanese barberry can take
hold and quickly choke out most other plants.

Breeding programs to develop 'sterile' Japanese barberry cultivars may be
misguided since past history with other sterile
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=Wv3BYsqq35RBVTAw
iNj19A> cultivars of invasive plants has shown they sometimes
cross-pollinate with the wild species.


The Link Between Japanese Barberry, Ticks and Lyme Disease


Ward and Williams' research has shown that  Japanese barberry infested
forests have approximately 120 ticks infected with the Lyme disease bacteria
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=P34bu.3UjNpss.2E
kS8quw>  per acre. Compare that to approximately 10 infected ticks per acre
found in forested areas with native trees and shrubs and no Japanese
barberry.

It seems that stands of Japanese barberry retain humidity. And ticks need an
environment with about 80% humidity to actively feed, quest and reproduce.
By measuring humidity levels above and at ground level under the barberry
foliage, Ward and Williams found humidity levels under Japanese barberry
dipped below 80% for only one hour per day. In open, sunny areas with no
Japanese barberry, the exact opposite is true. The humidity levels rise to
80% for only one hour each day.

White-footed mice, a known apex
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=5NIq1omCoJ08UVSX
CHaTmQ> host for Lyme disease also thrive under the canopy of Japanese
barberry. The combination of mice and a tick population this is active
almost all day long appears to be a potent mix that is leading to a public
health epidemic in many states.


Why You Should Care


At this point, you may be thinking so what? I don't have Japanese barberry
in my garden and I don't live near or spend time in a forested area with
lots of Japanese barberry so how does this affect me.

In addition to creating the ideal environment for ticks, stands of Japanese
barberry also tend to increase the levels of nitrogen in the soil. At the
same time, the number of earthworms in the nearby soil almost doubles.

In our gardens, earthworms are welcome visitors. But in Japanese barberry
infested forests, they are devouring the leaf litter which should act as a
protective covering for the soil. Less leaf litter means loose soil, more
erosion,  less tree regeneration and less wildflowers.

Nitrification and low levels of leaf litter also add to storm water run off
which affects the quality of water in our reservoirs. If you drink water,
you should care about Japanese barberry infestations.


Controlling Japanese Barberry

 Japanese barberry infested forest
<http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Infestation
-300x225.jpg> 

Japanese barberry infested forest. C Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of
Connecticut, Bugwood.org

The team at CAES worked on 150 acres of land divided into 28 different study
areas. They evaluated 56 different treatment and timing combinations for
controlling Japanese barberry and found that a fairly simple two-step
process is most effective.

First, kill all of the plant that is above ground by cutting it down or
applying heat with a propane torch. Before you run out and buy an industrial
flame torch, please read these safety
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=vwsQdwI1K4YQ.VVw
xMA8uQ> guidelines from CAES or check out this video
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=HNqDt6kqc1cfEn.T
lY80xA> on controlling barberry.

Next, once the roots begin to push out new growth, treat this growth with
heat or a chemical herbicide. Here in Connecticut, starting this 2nd step in
mid-October seems to be ideal. The plant is already stressed so the second
attack will likely kill it. If the barberry you're eliminating is mature,
you may need to continue step two a few more times.

The size of the area you're treating, the density of the Japanese barberry
and your comfort level using propane and/or chemicals should dictate how you
actually proceed. Ward and Williams also found using a chemical herbicide
worked best for controlling plants growing in full sun.


Be Ready to Plant

 The flowers of dwarf witchalder, a native alternative to Japanese barberry.
<http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/DSCF5417-30
0x225.jpg> 

The flowers of dwarf witchalder, a native alternative to Japanese barberry.

The third step in controlling Japanese barberry is to be ready to re-plant
the area with native plants. This is an important step for increasing
biodiversity.

If you don't re-plant quickly then it's quite possible other invasives will
move into the area and you will have traded one problem for another.  If
deer are a problem, plant only deer-resistant natives or fence off the area.

Some native shrubs that are good alternatives to Japanese barberry include
highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=ETdnUrmytlRcZqjd
F_jBzQ> ), New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=5vEqcsyvZ_ZnE.YD
Hi9JrA> ), Vigrinia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=4GgCiOPdcC.xdD03
e7KCew> , and dwarf witchalder (Fothergilla gardenii
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=Iv.rwnNp6JsSr_Nk
v8IxEQ> ).

C 2013, Debbie
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=FWC6HVCCv1TqZ1Gw
vwP76w> Roberts. All rights reserved. This article is the property of Native
Plants and Wildlife Gardens. If you are reading this at another site, please
report that to us 

More
<http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV&b=dET6p0TQPeVqfcjW
FADzVQ> Findings on the Link Between Japanese Barberry and Lyme Disease 
 
Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens: Healthy gardens for a healthy planet
with native plants, sustainable landscaping, ecological restoration, and
creating welcoming habitat for wildlife.

Thank you for reading and sharing our journey,
Carole Sevilla Brown
Managing Editor 
 
 
6362 McCallum St, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA
 

Unsubscribe
<http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?jOzsnCwczLQsHJws7MzMTLRGtIzsnCyMbJxM>  | Change
<http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?jOzsnCwczLQsHJws7MzMTLRGtIzsnCyMbJxM> Subscriber
Options 

  <https://openrate.aweber.com/y/o/?l=KnHIB&m=3i0qQnyqFfPiFLV> 	
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20130322/3b0b7925/attachment.html>