Ecosystem Management

This was found planted outside the UNCW parking deck. I noted a heavily maintained tree that seemed to have been pruned all around. As I approached the tree I noticed that there was a large portion of the tree that had turned brown and the needles had died off. I then spotted this ball shaped bunch of needles intertwined between the branches. This ball, which I had speculated might be a defense mechanism against a possible invasive species, was actually the result of growth herbicide damage to the needles of the tree. This herbicide damage causes needle growth to be stunted or twisted even if the needles stay green. The symptoms can occur between a couple days to a couple weeks after the application of the herbicide. It can be easily avoided by less application to the tree in certain areas which could be a result of application during a windy day (after all it is Wilmington). This is a good ecological example of ecosystem management and habitat fragmentation. It is necessary to apply for cosmetic reasons of killing weeds but altering a previously continuous habitat.

Done