What site conditions are associated with greater recovery and overall higher cover of willows? Goetz et al. performed a meta-analysis of tamarisk removal and willow (Salix) recovery across the southwest, compiling data from 260 sites where tamarisk was subject to active removal and/or biocontrol and 132 reference sures. Cut-stump method with biological control was the most effective method to improve native species dominance. Willow cover was generally highest in locations with low drought stress, as reflected by soil properties, distance to water, and climate. These results suggest that the presence and recovery of Salix is dependent on its relatively narrow environmental niche, in contrast with tamarisk’s broader one. Overall they suggest that removal of tamarisk can best improve SWFL habitat when sites are selected based on their suitability of willow habitat.
Goetz, A., Moffit, I. and Sher, A.A., 2022. Biological Invasions, pp.1-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02805-7.
Read the article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02805-7.