Glyphosate redirects wetland vegetation trajectory following willow invasion

Aims: Aerially applied glyphosate is an economic tool to deal with large areas of invasive plants. However, there are few studies investigating non-target effects or rates of reinvasion, particularly over multi-year timeframes. The aims were to evaluate the effectiveness of aerial application of glyphosate for control of dense stands of the invasive grey willow Salix cinerea, and determine the vegetation trajectory over the subsequent two years.
Location: Whangamarino Wetland, Waikato, New Zealand.
Methods: A before-after control-impact (BACI) experiment was conducted in a Ramsar-listed wetland in New Zealand. Effects on S. cinerea cover, canopy light interception and non-target damage were monitored over a 7.1 ha experimental area prior to, and for two years following, aerial application of glyphosate. Vegetation classification, ordination, and species richness analyses were undertaken to describe community-level effects.
Results: Aerial application of glyphosate to an established w...