The Invasion and Impacts of Tamarisk in Tijuana Estuary Salt Marshes, and Ecosystem Recovery After its Removal

Drew M. Talley, Jeffrey A. Crooks, Lisa A. Levin

OBJECTIVES:

Although coastal salt marshes in southern California have been relatively free from plant invasions, the high intertidal salt marshes of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TR NERR) currently support relatively large populations of the non-native plant, Tamarisk ramosissima (salt cedar or tamarisk). Given the ecological and management issues associated with the invasion, the goals of the proposed research are:

• To document the invasion history of tamarisk in Tijuana River Valley

• To determine abiotic and biotic correlates of tamarisk invasion and develop a predictive model of salt marsh areas vulnerable to invasion

• To determine the effects of tamarisk and its removal on birds, benthic community structure, and food webs

• To provide feedback to resource managers on the efficacy of tamarisk management plans