Administrative
Author: Jim Malusa
Co-Author(s): Abigail Rosenberg
Owner: Navy Secretariat Reviewers (USMC)
Project Title: Field Study and Mathematic Modeling of the Cause and Impact of the Invasion of
Sahara Mustard on the Barry M. Goldwater Military Range and Yuma Proving Ground
Service/Sponsor: U.S. Marine Corps
Division: U.S. Marine Corps
Installation: Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Secondary Installation: Luke Air Force Base and Yuma Proving Ground
State: AZ
Continuation Proj.: No
Expected Complete Date: 11/25/2012
Resource Type: Natural Resources
Field Location: Barry M. Goldwater Range and Yuma Proving Ground
Primary Theme: Invasive species
Secondary Theme:
Project Category:
Research
Other Funds: Yes.
Fund Explanation: Marine Corps Air Station contributed … toward the primary establishment of field
research plots on BMGR-West
Areas of Emphasis
Invasive species control
Purposes
To understand the essential environmental factors that influence the invasion of Sahara Mustard.
To examine the impact of Sahara Mustard on native plants and species at risk fauna (i.e., Yuman and
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizards).
Federal Regulations
Military Lands Withdrawal Act (MLWA)
Sikes Act, 16 U.S.C. 670 (SIKE)
Budget Items
Type
Item
Contract
Other Labor
Item Cost ($)
51,679
Contract
In-kind
15,000
Contract
Materials/Supplies
$7,000
Contract
Other
$6,000
Contract
Salary
$19,494
Contract
Salary
$13,440
Contract
Salary
$3,398
Contract
Other
$9,727
Contract
Contract
Travel
Travel
$9,790
$9,180
Contract
Other
$37,103
Total
$ 166,811
Expected Products
Product Type
Publication
Experimental Data
Technical Report
Description
State Agency staff to collect and
analyze fringe-toed lizard data
ATV use (2 ATV's x $125/day x 60
days)
Plot set up (flashing, markers, tags,
nets, etc.) ($20 x 100 blocks).
Equipment (Soil
moisture/tempreature probe, GPS
unit, etc) ($1000). Controlled
Experiment (Renting space, pots,
soil, fertilizers) ($4000)
Soil nitrogen concentration analysis:
$20 per sample x 300 soil samples
per season
Graduate research associate
($1949.44/mo x 10 mo)
Undergraduate research assistants
($8/hr x 840 hrs x 2 assistants)
Principal Investigator (6796/mo x 0.5
mo)
Employee Related Expense paid to
the University of Arizona. 42.6% x
graduate associate salary + 28.4% x
faculty salary + 3.4% x
undergraduate salary
2 vehicle x 0.445/mile x 11,000 miles
Per diem – P. Investigator (34/day x
10 days), researcher (34/day x 130
days), field assistant (34/day x 130
days)
Indirect Cost paid to the University
of Arizona. 51.5% x (total budget –
30.7% of graduate associate salary)
Description
At least one manuscript on the cause
and impact of Sahara Mustard invasion
submitted to a scientific journal.
Data on the response of Sahara
Mustard and other native annual plants
to different environmental conditions
in the field and greenhouse
A report that documents the
environmental factors that influence
the invasion of Sahara Mustard, the
Due Date
11/25/2012
11/25/2012
11/25/2012
Fact Sheet
impact of mustard on native annual
plants, highlights high-risk and
low-risk areas and species that will be
affected by Sahara Mustard, and
provides recommendation of
effectively controlling this invasive on
the military range
Depicting a brief overview/summary of 11/25/2012
project undertaking and findings
Project Details
Project Synopsis:
We will examine the cause and impact of the invasion of Sahara Mustard on southwestern military
installations and thus provide foundational knowledge to the management of this invasive species that
may reduce the suitability of land for sensitive wildlife species at risk and military training throughout
the southwestern arid region.
Abstract:
Sahara Mustard (Brassica tournefortii, hereafter BRTO) is a Mediterranean winter annual plant that
has invaded both Mojave and Sonoran Desert. Military ranges in these deserts, such as Barry M.
Goldwater Range (BMGR), Yuma Proving Grounds (YGP), Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
Twentynine Palms, and Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range have all been affected by BRTO.
If left unmanaged, BRTO has the potential to fundamentally alter ecosystem structure through
outcompeting native plants and enhancing wildfires. Such ecosystem degradation will further threaten
the population of many federally and state endangered/threatened species inhabiting these military
ranges (e.g. Sonoran Pronghorn Antelope, Desert Bighorn Sheep, Le Conte’s Thrasher, Desert
Tortoise, etc.) and sensitive species at risk (Mojave and Yuman Fringe-toed lizards). Moreover, the
potential increase in fire frequency will make the ranges less suitable for military training.
Both the Military Lands Withdrawal Act (MLWA) and the Sikes Act require the development and
implementation of an Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) that facilitates
programs that provide for the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources and the sustainable
multi-purpose use of the resources. Sikes Act states each INRMP should ensure no “net loss in the
capabilities of military lands to support the military mission” as a result of natural resources
management provided in the plan. Without proper knowledge of the cause and impact of BRTO
invasion, effective management of BRTO cannot be incorporated into an INRMP to ensure the
abidance of the law.
Our proposed study of BRTO on BMGR (co-managed by U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force,
respectively) and YPG, (managed by the Army) combines field measurements, controlled experiments
and mathematical modeling to address two fundamental questions in managing BRTO: 1) What are
the essential environmental factors that affect the success of BRTO invasion? ,2) What is the
long-term impact of BRTO invasion on the native winter annual plants, and 3) What is the impact of
BRTO invasion on two sensitive species at risk (i.e., the Mojave and Yuman Fringe-toed lizards).
More specifically, we want to examine how soil temperature, soil moisture, soil nitrogen
concentration, seed predators and the spatial heterogeneity of the environment jointly affect the
invasion of BRTO as well as the long-term coexistence between BRTO and native annual plants and
sensitive wildlife species .
This study builds the fundamental knowledge for effectively controlling the BRTO invasion, which
may hinder military activities or degrade military training ranges. It also builds the foundation for the
development of ecosystem-wide land management plans in ranges affected by BRTO. Moreover, the
product can be used in managing BRTO in the entire southwestern arid lands and thus has
regional-wide applicability.
Background:
Since its first introduction to Coachella Valley, California in the 1920s, BRTO has managed to invade
vast areas in southwestern North America (Fig. 1). BRTO is widely spread on BMGR and YGP and
high density patches have been found on both ranges. Despite the consensus that roads facilitate the
dispersal of BRTO and anthropogenic disturbance facilitates its establishment, it is unclear what
natural environmental factors favor or deter its invasion. BRTO was traditionally thought to prefer
sand or sandy loam soil substrates. However, in recent years high density stands of BRTO have been
found on rocky hillsides (e.g. on Mohawk Mountains on BMGR), a habitat that used to be considered
as impasse for BRTO invasion. Knowing both favorable and formidable physical and biological
environments for BRTO invasion is crucial for land managers to determine areas vulnerable to its
invasion as well as to find appropriate means to control the species. Moreover, recent studies have
underscored the negative impact of BRTO on the density and growth of native annual plants.
Nevertheless, it has not been predicted whether BRTO and native annual plants can coexist in the
long-term basis.
Conventional studies of species invasion usually focus on the effect of fixed environmental conditions
and neglect the significant influence of environmental variation on biological invasion. Situated in
Sonoran Desert, both BMGR and YPG are characterized by high degree of environmental variation in
space and time. Our study will directly address the issue of environmental variation and set an
example of understanding species invasion under variable environments.
Approach: The field study sites will be located in the Mohawk Valley and southeastern tip of San
Cristobal Valley on BMGR, and the Laguna Region on YPG. These areas provide excellent density
gradients of BRTO that allows us to explore the correlation between environmental factors and the
degree of success of BRTO invasion. We will test the following hypothesis:
H1) BRTO invasion is due to its average-fitness advantage and strong spatial heterogeneity.
Experimental blocks will be established on site in a manner to capture spatial heterogeneity. Within
each block, multiple 1x1 m plots will be constructed for estimating the fitness difference between
BRTO and native annual plants as well as coexistence mechanisms rising from spatial heterogeneity.
These variables are determined by measuring four life history variables (i.e. seed germination rate,
survival rate of ungerminated seeds, vigor of the germinated plants, and per capita seed yield of the
germinated plant) and comparing them between different blocks.
H2) The average-fitness advantage of BRTO is positively correlated with one or more of the
following factors: soil temperature at germination, soil moisture at growth, soil nitrogen
concentration at growth and the presence of seed predators. Within each field plot, soil
temperature will be measured during the germination season and soil moisture and nitrogen
concentration, during the growing season. Seed predator exclosures will be constructed in each block.
Moreover, a controlled field experiment will be conducted, in which we will treat co-planted BRTO
and native annual plants with three levels of soil temperature, moisture and nitrogen and estimate the
fitness of each species at each level. Statistical test will then be applied to examine whether any of the
four environmental factors has significant effect on the fitness advantage of BRTO.
H3) Some species of the native winter annual plants on the BGMR will not be able to persist
in areas invaded by BRTO. We will input our findings of the response of each plant species to
environmental conditions into a mathematical model of species coexistence. The model
simulates the population-level response of the studied annual plant communities to
large-scale spatial variation and predicts which species are able to coexist with BRTO given the
environments on BMGR and YPG.
Military Benefits:
Our findings will provide fundamental knowledge of controlling BRTO not only on BGMR and YPG
but also on many other military installations in the Mojave and Sonoran Desert (e.g. Marine Corps Air
Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, and Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range). Given
our findings, we will be able to highlight high-risk and low-risk areas of BRTO invasion as
well as native winter annual plant species that are most vulnerable to BRTO invasion. This
project will provide valuable information on evaluating the impact of BRTO invasion of two
lizard species at risk which can be used in preventing federal listing under the ESA.
The
knowledge can then be incorporated into the INRMP so that the military can effectively
control BRTO invasion and protect native plant and animal species impacted by BRTO as
well as other threatened/endangered species that are associated with those native plants. An
effective plan of controlling BRTO will prevent ecosystem degradation (e.g. increase in fire
frequency, loss of biodiversity) that can result in loss of suitable training ground and any
failure of conserving valuable natural resources on the military range.
Follow-on Work:
We intend to continue the field experiment for three consecutive years to capture the temporal
heterogeneity. We will then input the 3-year findings into a mathematical model to examine BRTO
invasion under the joint influence of temporal and spatial variation.
Work Description:
Examine the cause and impact of BRTO invasion under the joint influence of temporal and spatial
variation and predict areas and species highly vulnerable to BRTO invasion.
FY 2012: 94,000; FY 2013: 94,500. FY 2014:
Primary Personnel:
Jim Malusa, Ph.D, University of Arizona, Research Biologist
Abigail Rosenberg, Ph.D, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Natural Resource Specialist
Yue Li, University of Arizona, Ph.D Student
Partners:
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Yuma, Arizona
Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Arizona
The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Technical POC
TPOC Name: Dr. Jim Malusa
Organization: School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona
Address: Biological Sciences East, The University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721
COM Phone: 520-621-6424
Fax: 520-621-8801
Email: jimmalusa@hotmail.com
Financial POC
FPOC Name: Andrew Hovanec
Organization: Comptroller, U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Address: Bldg #980, Shaw Avenue and Quilter Street
COM Phone: (928) 269-2236
Fax: (928) 269-2687
Email: Andrew.hovanec@usmc.mil
Timeline
Sep,2010 - Oct, 2010
Nov, 2010 – Apr, 2011
May 2011 – Oct, 2011
Nov, 2011 – Apr, 2012
May, 2012 – Nov, 2012
Figures
Field experimental site setup
First year field study
Data analysis and field site improvement.
Presenting first year results
Second year field study and first year controlled
experiment
Data analysis, field site improvement, completion
of mathematical model. Submitting report and
paper for publication.
Figure 1. Recorded locations (dark blue circles) of Sahara Mustard in North America. The figure
shows the main region where Sahara Mustard has been found. Outliner locations are omitted to
optimize the scale of the map. The light pink polygon represents the Barry M. Goldwater Range, and
the light green polygon, the Yuma Proving Ground.