Cattail Distribution end Abundance in North Dakota

Authors

Scott T. Ralston, North Dakota State University, Department of Biological Sciences
G. M. Linz, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
W. J. Bleier, North Dakota State University, Department of Biological SciencesFollow
H. J. Homan, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

April 2007

Comments

Published in J. Aquat. Plant Manage. 45: 21-24.

Abstract

Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North Dalcota provide important habitats for a plethora of invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Since 1991, glyphosate-based (N-phosphonomethyl-glycine) herbicides have been used to manage dense cattail (Typha spp. L.) stands on 29,522 ha of wetlands in the PPR to disperse blackbird roosts. Limited information exists on the abundance and distribution of this important habitat. We took aerial photographs and used geospatial analysis tools to identify wetland basins and cattail coverage on randomly selected sample sites within the PPR. We found that average wetland density and size were 13 wetlands/ km² and 1.1 ha, respectively. Average wetland size was 1.1 ha; whereas, wetlands with cattails averaged 2.4 ha. Cattail was most commonly found in palustrine systems, semi-permanent wetlands, and wetlands with surface water throughout the growing season. Our data showed that current cattail management activities annually impact <1% of the total wetland acreage. The affects of these management actions on wildlife populations, however, are largely unknown.