Response of ducks to glyphosate-induced habitat alterations in wetlands

Published source details Linz G.M., Blixt D.C., Bergman D.L. & Bleier W.J. (1996) Response of ducks to glyphosate-induced habitat alterations in wetlands. Wetlands, 16, 38-44.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use herbicide to control problematic plants: freshwater marshes Action Link

Use herbicide to control problematic plants: freshwater marshes

A replicated, randomized, controlled, before-and-after study in 1990–1993 of 17 freshwater marshes dominated by cattails Typha spp. in North Dakota, USA (Linz et al. 1996) found that marshes sprayed with herbicide had lower overall and live vegetation coverage than unsprayed marshes, but greater coverage of dead vegetation. After 1–2 years, coverage of emergent vegetation was significantly lower in sprayed marshes (70% of marsh area) than in unsprayed marshes (88% of marsh area). Sprayed marshes also had lower coverage of live vegetation (sprayed: 29%; unsprayed: 70%) but greater coverage of dead vegetation (sprayed: 40%; unsprayed: 17%). Before intervention, marshes destined for each treatment had statistically similar coverage of emergent vegetation (sprayed: 84–90%; unsprayed: 89%; live and dead not separated). Methods: In July 1990 and 1991, glyphosate herbicide (Rodeo®) was sprayed on to a total of 12 cattail-dominated marshes (5.8 L/ha across 50–90% of each marsh). Five similar marshes were left unsprayed. Emergent vegetation coverage was estimated from aerial photographs of each marsh, taken before (June 1990) and 1–2 years after (August 1991–1993) intervention. This study used a subset of the marshes in (3).

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)