Read the below information on the Para Grass to complete your table
Para grass was introduced to Queensland in 1884 to control riverbank erosion. In the 1880s it was growing in the Darwin Botanical Garden and was introduced to Arnhem Land in 1922. It has since been widely used as a pasture grass in northern Australia, including on ponded pastures in Queensland. Para grass is naturalised in Queensland, northern New South Wales, the Northern Territory and in the northern part of Western Australia. Para grass poses a major threat to the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, where it is actively managed.
(Source: http://www.environment.gov.au/) The Problem
Para grass is a highly invasive grass that spreads vigorously. It can occupy both freshwater and brackish environments and has spread extensively across Top End floodplains. Para grass is capable of replacing the floodplain ecosystems with vast areas containing only the one single plant species, instead of the diverse array of grasses, sedges and shrubs required to support the native animals of the floodplains. Of particular concern is the loss of habitat for magpie geese. Para grass restricts access to water and impedes traditional hunting. Para grass seeds contain very little nutrition for seed-feeding animals when compared to other grasses such as native wild rice. Para grass is a serious environmental weed in northern Australia, in part due to its ability to carry intense fires in seasonally dry and ungrazed wetlands. These hot fires can kill native animals such as turtles, destroy trees and rainforest patches, damage habitats, and in turn facilitate further spread of para grass. |
Habitat and Distribution
Para grass is probably native to flood plains of sub-Saharan tropical Africa and was introduced into Australia for use as a pasture species. Para grass is planted for grazing in flat, poorly drained or high rainfall environments. Para grass is reported to tolerate a range of conditions and thrives on flood plains, along drainage lines and creek banks, and in disturbed sites in urban and rural areas. Para grass forms dense floating mats, 1-2 m thick, over water bodies and tolerates water depths up to 1 m or more. It withstands both seasonal drought and prolonged flooding or waterlogging, but has limited growth during dry weather. Para grass is relatively shade tolerant. Non Chemical Control
Hand grubbing and slashing and heavily grazing. Fire has a place in para grass management programs. While it does not kill the grass it removes dry and dead material that impedes spraying and promotes regrowth that is susceptible to herbicide treatment. Strong flooding at the beginning of the Wet season can drown para grass that has been heavily grazed or burnt (or sprayed). However, the timing of floods can be difficult to predict. (Source: www.lrm.nt.gov.au) |