Remote sensing technology is a tool for detecting invasive species affecting forest, rangeland, and pasture environments. This article provides a review of the technology, and algorithms used to process remotely sensed data when detecting weeds and a working example of the detection of spotted knapweed and babysbreath with a hyperspectral sensor. Spotted knapweed and babysbreath frequently invade semiarid rangeland and irrigated pastures of the western United States. Ground surveys to identify the extent of invasive species infestations should be more efficient with the use of classified images from remotely sensed data because dispersal of an invasive plant may have occurred before the discovery or treatment of an infestation. Remote sensing data were classified to determine if infestations of spotted knapweed and babysbreath were detectable in Swan Valley near Idaho Falls, ID. Hyperspectral images at 2-m spatial resolution and 400- to 953-nm spectral resolution with 12-nm increments were used t...

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A review of remote sensing of invasive weeds and example of the early detection of spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) and babysbreath (Gypsophila paniculata) with a hyperspectral sensor

An indirect consequence of plant invasions is the disruption of native plant-pollinator interactions. We examined effects of invasive baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) and spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) on floral visitors to federally threatened Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) in Lake Michigan dunes. In sweep net surveys, abundances of pollinator taxa were five times higher in invaded than in naturally invader-free sites. However, plot-level G. paniculata removal treatments increased pollinator visits to C. pitcheri relative to invaded plots and restored visitation to levels found in naturally uninvaded plots. Invader removal also increased native plant species richness, which was positively correlated with pollinator visitation to C. pitcheri, suggesting an indirect effect on pollinators mediated through invader-altered plant composition. In temporary floral arrays, the rate of pollinator visitation to C. pitcheri was not affected by neighbor plant species identity. However, compa...

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/658182

Pollinator Visits to Threatened Species Are Restored Following Invasive Plant Removal

Presence and management of the invasive plant Gypsophila paniculata (baby’s breath) on sand dunes alters arthropod abundance and community structure

The removal of invasive species is often one of the first steps in restoring degraded habitats. However, studies evaluating effectiveness of invasive species removal are often limited in spatial and temporal scale, and lack evaluation of both aboveground and belowground effects on diversity and key processes. In this study, we present results of a large 3-year removal effort of the invasive species, Gypsophila paniculata, on sand dunes in northwest Michigan (USA). We measured G. paniculata abundance, plant species richness, plant community diversity, non-native plant cover, abundance of Cirsium pitcheri (a federally threatened species endemic to this habitat), sand movement, arbuscular mycorrhizal spore abundance, and soil nutrients in fifteen 1000 m 2 plots yearly from 2007 to 2010 in order to evaluate the effectiveness of manual removal of this species on dune restoration. Gypsophila paniculata cover was greatly reduced by management, but was not entirely eliminated from the area. Removal of G. paniculata shifted plant community composition to more closely resemble target reference plant communities but had no effect on total plant diversity, C. pitcheri abundance, or other non-native plant cover. Soil properties were generally unaffected by G. paniculata invasion or removal. The outlook is good for this restoration, as other non-native species do not appear to be staging a “secondary” invasion of this habitat. However, the successional nature of sand dunes means that they are already highly invasible, stressing the need for regular monitoring to ensure that restoration progresses.

https://www.conservationgateway.org/ConservationByGeography/NorthAmerica/UnitedStates/michigan/projects/Documents/Emery%20et%20al.%202013%20published%20final.pdf

Aboveground and belowground impacts following removal of the invasive species baby's breath (Gypsophila paniculata) on lake Michigan sand dunes.

This contribution on Gypsophila paniculata L., baby’s breath (Caryophyllaceae), is part of a series that presents biological information on plants that are weedy in Canada. G. paniculata, an ornamental which has escaped from gardens, is a weed problem in sandy, submarginal farmlands, roadside drainage ditches and various ruderal habitats. It occurs across Canada and has been found at 60° N latitude. Largest infestations of the species occur in the southern portions of the three most western provinces.

THE BIOLOGY OF CANADIAN WEEDS.: 14. Gypsophila paniculata L.

Gypsophila paniculata L., a dicotyledonous, herbaceous member of the Caryophyllaceae, was introduced into North America from Eurasia as a garden ornamental and has escaped to become troublesome in some areas. A life history study has revealed that this species is spread entirely by seed, its tumbleweed character being an important factor. Germination occurs mainly in the spring in Saskatchewan stands, perhaps as a result of no dormancy in the seeds. Although seedling development is characterized by a rapid penetration of the root system, mortality in natural stands is high. Under favorable conditions, at least 2 yr are required for the production of floral primordia. The mature plant is characterized by a root system which penetrates to depths of 4 meters or more. Shoots arise each year from a thick woody caudex.

R. T. Coupland

Papers

Life History of Gypsophila paniculata