Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp)

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Introduction
In the past 200 years salt cedar (Tamarix spp.) have been encroaching in western waterways. Salt cedar was introduced accidentally as an ornamental that escaped control, and purposefully as a bank stabilizer (Sher, Marshall, & Taylor, 2002). The species in the Tamarix genus where thought to be very useful until it was observed that they displaced native genus’s Salix (willow) and Populous (aspen, and popular) trees. It is now considered a weed in 7 western state (Zouhar, 2003). Effects of Tamarix presence and invasion have been sensed in terms of native tree species displacement, loss of biodiversity, water loss, and salt accumulation. Not only is there effect on abiotic factors but on native animal species, such as the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher.
Many management strategies have been employed in trying to control Tamarix spp in the west. Strategies include bio-control, herbicide, mechanical treatments, and changes in water management practices. Notwithstanding the undesired presence it is important to understand the reason that the plant is there, the physiology of the plant, and what has been successful in restoring the native comminuties in its natural stable state of native species. Herein we will explore the plants physiology, long held preconceptions on why salt cedar has invaded, some management techniques and considerations for present and future research and control. In order to understand how to make the symptom of salt cedar invasion occurred it is important to understand the characteristics that make the plant survive and what the underlying cause of the invasion may be. In this report Tamarix species will be pointed out in specific examples but more often general characteristic about membe...

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...a trailii extimus). Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Sher, A., Marshall, D., & Taylor, J. (2002, June). Establishment Pattern of Native Populus and Salix in the Presence of Invasive Nonnative Tamarix. Ecological Applications, 12(3), pp. 760-772.
Taylor, J. L. (2000). Populus fremontii. Retrieved from U.S. department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Reaserach Station, Fire Science Laboratory: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/popfre/introductory.html
Vandersande, M. W., Glenn, E. P., & Walworth, J. L. (2001). Tolerance of five riparian plants from the lower Colorado River to salinity drought and inundation. Journal of Arid Environments, 49, 147-159. doi:10.1006
Zouhar, K. (2003). Tamarix spp. Retrieved from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/tamspp/all.html

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