Documenting the Effects of Saltcedar Biocontrol

The Virgin River in the southwestern United States is one of the first systems where scientists can document the effects of biocontrol on riparian system elements from wildlife to hydrology based on conditions before the biocontrol beetle species introduction. This can help increase our understanding of how biocontrol influences native invertebrate and vertebrate populations,habitat structure, plant water use, secondary non-native weed establishment, and modifications to soils, hydrology.To read the full article 'A River System to Watch: Documenting the Effects of Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) Biocontrol in the Virgin River Valley' by Heather L. Bateman, Tom L. Dudley, Dan W. Bean, Steven M. Ostoja, Kevin R. Hultine and Michael J. Kuehn in December 2010 Ecological Restoration 28:4, pp 405-410 click here.