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SUMMARY

Rating	Alert	Impact	Invasiveness	Distribution	Doc.
Moderate	N	B	B	A	2.7
Comments:
Rating 1 = High 2 = Moderate 3 = Limited 4 = Evaluated, not listed		Alert Y = Yes N = No	Scores A = Severe B = Moderate C = Limited D = None U = Unknown	Documentation 4 = Reviewed scientific publications 3 = Other published material 2 = Observational 1 = Anecdotal 0 = No information

Scores

1.1	1.2	1.3	1.4	2.1	2.2	2.3	2.4	2.5	2.6	2.7	3.1	3.2
B	B	U	D	C	B	B	A	A	C	C	A	A

IMPACT

1.1 Impact on abiotic ecosystem processes - B

Identify ecosystem processes impacted: Holds soil well and is used as erosion control, but also competes with and displaces native plants, alters the soil ecology by de-oxygenating, alters geomorphological processes and hydrology, alters species composition and richness, and alters alpha and beta diversity.

Sources of information: Marshall, R.M., S. Anderson, M. Batcher, P. Comer, S. Cornelius, R. Cox, A. Gondor, D. Gori, J. Humke, R. Paredes Aquilar, I.E. Parra, and S. Schwartz. 2000. An ecological analysis of conservation priorities in the Sonoran Desert Ecoregion. Prepared by The Nature Conservancy Arizona Chapter, Sonoran Institute, and Instituto del Medio Ambiente y el Desarrollo Sustentable del Estado de Sonora with support from the Department of Defense Legacy Program, Agency and Institutional partners. 146 pp.

Guertin, P., and W.L. Halvorson. 2003. Status of Fifty Introduced Plants in Southern Arizona Parks. U.S. Geological Survey, Sonoran Desert Research Station, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson. Available online at: http://sdrsnet.srnr.arizona.edu/index.php?page=datamenu&lib=2&sublib=13; accessed May 2011.

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

1.2 Impact on plant community composition, structure, and interactions - B

Identify type of impact or alteration: Bermudagrass is an early successional species that can dominate once established. It greatly reduces native biodiversity by creating a monoculture once established. It can dominate stands by >75%. Has potential of being allelopathic.

Sources of information: Guertin, P., and W.L. Halvorson. 2003. Status of Fifty Introduced Plants in Southern Arizona Parks. U.S. Geological Survey, Sonoran Desert Research Station, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson. Available online at: http://sdrsnet.srnr.arizona.edu/index.php?page=datamenu&lib=2&sublib=13; accessed May 2011.

Horowitz, M. 1973. Spatial growth of Sorghum halepense. Weed Research 13:200-208.

Personal Observation: Gallo

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat''

1.3 Impact on higher trophic levels - U

Identify type of impact or alteration: Due to its highly competitive ability it is thought Bermudagrass would have an effect on high trophic levels, but the literature does not cover impacts on native higher trophic levels.

Sources of information:

Documentation: No Information

1.4 Impact on genetic integrity - D

Identify impacts: No known impact on genetic integrity.

Sources of information: Waitt, D. 2011. Native Plant Information Network. Accessed 12 July 2011: http://wildflower.org/plants/

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

IMPACT: B B U D = B

INVASIVENESS

2.1 Role of anthropogenic and natural disturbance in establishment - C

Describe role of disturbance: Bermuda grass is sensitive to shade and frost damage, and only invades disturbed land. Thus, although abundant throughout the world, the threat from the invasion of this plant is limited to warm, sunny, disturbed sites.

Sources of information: Newman, D. BugWoodWiki: Cynodon dactylon. Accessed 12 July 2011: http://wiki.bugwood.org/Cynodon_dactylon

Holm, L. G., P. Donald, J. V. Pancho, and J. P. Herberger. 1977. The World's Worst Weeds: Distribution and Biology. The University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii. 609 pp.

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

2.2 Local rate of spread with no management - B

Describe rate of spread: In Arizona, spreads slowly once established.

Sources of information: Arizona-Sonoma Desert Museum Programs and Research. 1996-2003. Biological survey of Ironwood Forest National Monument: exotic plants assessment. http://www.desertmuseum.org/programs/ifnm_exotic.html.

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

2.3 Recent trend in total area infested within state - B

Describe trend: Although not spreading quickly, as long as it can be introduced to new areas the infestation will continue to

Sources of information: Observation: T. Gallo

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

2.4 Innate reproductive potential - A

Describe key reproductive characteristics: Refer to Worksheet A.

Sources of information: Newman, D. BugWoodWiki: Cynodon dactylon. Accessed 12 July 2011: http://wiki.bugwood.org/Cynodon_dactylon

Holm, L. G., P. Donald, J. V. Pancho, and J. P. Herberger. 1977. The World's Worst Weeds: Distribution and Biology. The University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii. 609 pp.

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

2.5 Potential for human-caused dispersal - A

Identify dispersal mechanisms: Bermudagrass is the most commonly planted grass as turf grass. Is moved through contaminated hay and equipment. Usually spreads from site of introduction.

Sources of information: Hudson, W. 2011. New exotic invasive fly found damaging bermudagrass forage crops in Georgia. University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Accessed 12 July 2011: http://www.caes.uga.edu/Applications/ImpactStatements/index.cfm?referenceInterface=IMPACT_STATEMENT&subInterface=detail_main&PK_ID=3278.

Duble, R.L. Bermudagrass: The Sport Turf of the South. Texas Cooperative Extenstion. Accessed 12 July 2011: http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/turf/publications/bermuda.html.

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

2.6 Potential for natural long-distance dispersal - C

Identify dispersal mechanisms: Seeds and rhizomes can spread by wind or water. Seeds can survive submerged for over 50 days.

Sources of information: Newman, D. BugWoodWiki: Cynodon dactylon. Accessed 12 July 2011: http://wiki.bugwood.org/Cynodon_dactylon

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

2.7 Other regions invaded - C

Identify other regions: Introduced in 1943, its found in most regions of Texas.

Sources of information: Corriher, V.A. and L.A. Redmon. Bermudagrass varieties, hybrids, and blends for Texas, #SCS?2009?11. Extension Forage Specialists, Overton and College Station, TX. Accessed 12 July 2011: http://forages.tamu.edu/PDF/Bermudagrass%20Varieties.pdf

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

INVASIVENESS: C B B A A C C = B

DISTRIBUTION

3.1 Ecological amplitude - A

Describe ecological amplitude, identifying date of source information and approximate date of introduction to the state, if known: Did not fill out worksheet B. USDA PLANTS Database shoes more than 3 major ecotypes invaded.

Sources of information: USDA PLANTS Database (Accessed 8 July 2011: http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol= CYDA)

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

3.2 Distribution/Peak frequency - A

Identify type of impact or alteration: Did not fill out worksheet B. USDA PLANTS Database shoes more than 3 major ecotypes invaded.

Sources of information: USDA PLANTS Database (Accessed 8 July 2011: http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol= CYDA)

Documentation: Other Pub. Mat'l

IMPACT: A A = A

TEXAS ECOREGIONS

Source: Level III and IV Ecoregions of Texas. Griffith, G.E., Bryce, S.A., Omernik, J.M., Comstock, J.A., Rogers, A.C., Harrison, B., Hatch, S.L., and Bezanson, D., 2004, Ecoregions of Texas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR.

Score: A. means >50% of type occurrences are invaded; B means >20% to 50%; C. means >5% to 20%; D. means present but ≤5%; U. means unknown.

Code	Level III	Level IV	Score
ER01	Arizona/New Mexico Mountains	Chihuahuan Desert Slopes
		Montane Woodlands
ER02	Chihuahuan Deserts	Chihuahuan Basins and Playas
		Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands
		Low Mountains and Bajadas
		Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands
		Stockton Plateau
ER03	High Plains	Rolling Sand Plains
		Canadian/Cimarron High Plains
		Llano Estacado
		Shinnery Sands
		Arid Llano Estacado
ER04	Southwestern Tablelands	Canadian/Cimarron Breaks
		Flat Tablelands and Valleys
		Caprock Canyons, Badlands, and Breaks
		Semiarid Canadian Breaks
ER05	Central Great Plains	Red Prairie
		Broken Red Plains
		Limestone Plains
ER06	Cross Timbers	Eastern Crosstimbers
		Western Crosstimbers
		Grand Prairie
		Limestone Cut Plain
		Carbonate Cross Timbers
ER07	Edwards Plateau	Edwards Plateau Woodland
		Llano Uplift
		Balcones Canyonlands
		Semiarid Edwards Plateau
ER08	Southern Texas Plains	Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains
		Semiarid Edwards Bajadas
		Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
		Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces
ER09	Texas Blackland Prairies	Northern Blackland Prairies
		Southern Blackland/Fayette Prairie
		Floodplains and Low Terraces
ER10	East Central Texas Plains	Northern Post Oak Savanna
		Southern Post Oak Savanna
		San Antonio Prairie
		Northern Prairie Outliers
		Bastrop Lost Pines
		Floodplains and Low Terraces
ER11	Western Gulf Coastal Plain	Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
		Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
		Floodplains and Low Terraces
		Coastal Sand Plain
		Lower Rio Grande Valley
		Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain
		Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
		Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes
		Laguna Madre Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes
ER12	South Central Plains	Tertiary Uplands
		Floodplains and Low Terraces
		Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces
		Southern Tertiary Uplands
		Flatwoods
		Red River Bottomland

EVALUATORS

Evaluation Date: 2011-07-12

Evaluator 1
Travis Gallo, Ecologist
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
512-232-0116
tgallo@wildflower.org
4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin, TX 78739

Evaluator 2

REVIEW

Reviewers:
Review Date: 0000-00-00
Comments:

REFERENCES

Originally assessed for the City of Austin Invasive Management Plan