Abstract
Phragmites, or common reed, is a perennial grass often associated with wetlands. When phragmites is interspersed with open water or with other vegetation, waterbirds and small mammals find cover among the stems. Its dense root systems strengthen dikes and roads. On many sites, however, this robust emergent forms monotypic, impenetrable stands having little value for waterfowl. Ducks occasionally nest on the edges of large stands, but avoid the dense interior. Phragmites is native to North America and is found worldwide, primarily in lowland temperate regions. Phragmites can occupy upland sites with seeps, or grow in brackish or fresh water several feet deep. Large monocultures are usually associated with impounded areas and resultant stabilized water regimes. Such sites, having levees or water-control structures that keep large areas moist for long periods, create ideal situations for phragmites to become a problem. The plants are less competitive when there is variation in water levels among wet and dry seasons and years. Growth is often stunted where soil fertility is extremely high or low or where salinity is high. Phragmites usually establishes itself on dry borders of marshes, but frequently invades shallow water foraging sites by out-competing and subsequently replacing more desirable emergent plants. Because waterfowl benefit from interspersion of phragmites with other plant species and water, we do not recommend eradication of this plant from wetlands. Instead, phragmites should be controlled only to the degree necessary to achieve management objectives. By understanding the ecology and life history of phragmites, such control is more easily achieved.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Phragmites stands provide cover to waterbirds and small mammals when interspersed with water or vegetation.
- Taxon
- phragmites
Phragmitese0 - Outcome
- waterbirds and small mammals find covere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“When phragmites is interspersed with open water or with other vegetation, waterbirds and small mammals find cover among the stems.”
Claim · model-written summary
Dense Phragmites roots strengthen dikes and roads.
- Taxon
- PhragmitesPhragmitest0
- Outcome
- strengthen dikes and roadse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Its dense root systems strengthen dikes and roads.”
t0“Phragmites”
Claim · model-written summary
Phragmites can form dense monotypic stands of little waterfowl value.
- Taxon
- PhragmitesPhragmitest0
- Outcome
- monotypic, impenetrable stands having little value for waterfowle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“this robust emergent forms monotypic, impenetrable stands having little value for waterfowl.”
t0“Phragmites”
Claim · model-written summary
Ducks nest occasionally at large-stand edges but avoid dense interiors.
- Taxon
- PhragmitesPhragmitest0
- Outcome
- Ducks occasionally nest on the edges of large stands, but avoid the dense interiore0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Ducks occasionally nest on the edges of large stands, but avoid the dense interior.”
t0“Phragmites”
Claim · model-written summary
Phragmites occurs worldwide, chiefly in temperate lowlands.
- Taxon
- PhragmitesPhragmitese0
- Outcome
- found worldwide, primarily in lowland temperate regionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Phragmites is native to North America and is found worldwide, primarily in lowland temperate regions.”
Claim · model-written summary
Large Phragmites monocultures are associated with impoundments and stable water regimes.
- Taxon
- PhragmitesPhragmitest0
- Outcome
- Large monoculturese0
- Setting
- impounded arease0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Large monocultures are usually associated with impounded areas and resultant stabilized water regimes.”
t0“Phragmites”
Claim · model-written summary
Phragmites is less competitive where water levels vary among seasons and years.
- Taxon
- PhragmitesPhragmitest0
- Outcome
- competitivee0
- Direction
- lesse0
- Qualifier
- variation in water levels among wet and dry seasons and yearse0
Not reportedSetting
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The plants are less competitive when there is variation in water levels among wet and dry seasons and years.”
t0“Phragmites”
Claim · model-written summary
Phragmites growth is often stunted at extremely high or low soil fertility or high salinity.
- Taxon
- PhragmitesPhragmitest0
- Outcome
- Growthe0
- Direction
- stuntede0
- Qualifier
- soil fertility is extremely high or low or where salinity is highe0
Not reportedSetting
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Growth is often stunted where soil fertility is extremely high or low or where salinity is high.”
t0“Phragmites”
Claim · model-written summary
Phragmites can replace other emergent plants at shallow-water foraging sites.
- Taxon
- PhragmitesPhragmitest0
- Outcome
- replacing more desirable emergent plantse0
- Setting
- shallow water foraging sitese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“frequently invades shallow water foraging sites by out-competing and subsequently replacing more desirable emergent plants.”
t0“Phragmites”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend controlling Phragmites only as needed for wetland management objectives.
- Taxon
- phragmitesPhragmitese0
- Outcome
- controlled only to the degree necessary to achieve management objectivese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“phragmites should be controlled only to the degree necessary to achieve management objectives.”