Is Ammophila arenaria (Marram grass) a threat to South African dune fields? |
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Authors: | Lubke R A Heartling U M and Avis A M |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Botany, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa |
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Abstract: | Ammophila arenaria (marram grass) was introduced to South Africa from Europe as a means of stabilizing the Cape Flats in the 1870s, but was
only successfully established in the 1890s as it was found that seeds from the first introductions did not readily germinate.
By the end of the last century, it was successfully used as a dune stabilizing grass. It is now widely used in stabilization
projects along the Cape coastline, being established by planting cuttings or whole plants. Because of problems experienced
of marram becoming invasive, especially on the west coast of North America, and the fact that we have many invasive species
which threaten our indigenous dune fields, studies have been initiated on this plant in South Africa. Most work to date has
involved investigating the methods used to establish the plant in stabilization sites, and very little has been done on the
biology of the species in this country. Marram is generally thought not to seed in South Africa, and thus its spread has been
limited.
However, in the light of recent reports of successful germination of the seed, detailed studies on the phenology of seed production
and establishment in natural areas will be undertaken. Studies on the natural control by fungal species and nematodes will
be carried out in conjunction with work done in the Netherlands, so that a comparison of the biology of the species in South
Africa can be made with that in Europe, where it is used extensively to stabilize dunes. |
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Keywords: | Autecology Invasive species Stabilization Vegetation history |
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