Rachel Hutchinson - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Rachel Hutchinson

Research paper thumbnail of Tarping as an Alternative for Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) Control

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1614 Ipsm D 10 00024 1, Apr 5, 2011

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a potential threat to biodiversity and ecosystem fu... more Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a potential threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function in the communities that it invades. The mechanism for its successful invasion of riparian and wetland environments includes reproduction via seed and root propagules and its ability to withstand long duration flooding and saline conditions once established. Controlling this species presents a number of challenges for land managers, including difficult property access, limited herbicide choice, and the varied success of weed control measures. In this study, we tested the efficacy of a nonchemical-modified tarp treatment, and compared posttreatment stem counts to herbicide treatments with Mow-glyphosate and chlorsulfuron in a wildland setting. We found that tarping applied in combination with a mow and till treatment was effective at controlling perennial pepperweed at levels similar to herbicide treatments with Mow-glyphosate and with Mow-chlorsulfuron. However, Mow-Till-Tarp treatment is extremely time consuming and has the potential to limit native plant community recovery. Nomenclature: Chlorsulfuron; glyphosate; perennial pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium L. LEPLA.

Research paper thumbnail of Tree Detection and Delineation of the Cosumnes River Preserve

Research paper thumbnail of Tarping as an Alternative for Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) Control

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a potential threat to biodiversity and ecosystem fu... more Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a potential threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function in the communities that it invades. The mechanism for its successful invasion of riparian and wetland environments includes reproduction via seed and root propagules and its ability to withstand long duration flooding and saline conditions once established. Controlling this species presents a number of challenges for land managers, including difficult property access, limited herbicide choice, and the varied success of weed control measures. In this study, we tested the efficacy of a nonchemical-modified tarp treatment, and compared posttreatment stem counts to herbicide treatments with Mow-glyphosate and chlorsulfuron in a wildland setting. We found that tarping applied in combination with a mow and till treatment was effective at controlling perennial pepperweed at levels similar to herbicide treatments with Mow-glyphosate and with Mow-chlorsulfuron. However, Mow-Till-Tarp treatment is extremely time consuming and has the potential to limit native plant community recovery. Nomenclature: Chlorsulfuron; glyphosate; perennial pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium L. LEPLA.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiscale Patterns of Riparian Plant Diversity and Implications for Restoration

Planning riparian restoration to resemble historic reference conditions requires an understanding... more Planning riparian restoration to resemble historic reference conditions requires an understanding of both local and regional patterns of plant species diversity. Thus, understanding species distributions at multiple spatial scales is essential to improve restoration planting success, to enhance long-term ecosystem functioning, and to match restoration planting designs with historic biogeographic distributions. To inform restoration planning, we examined the biogeographic patterns of riparian plant diversity at local and regional scales within a major western U.S.A. drainage, California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley. We analyzed patterns of species richness and complementarity (β-diversity) across two scales: the watershed scale and the floodplain scale. At the watershed scale, spatial patterns of native riparian richness were driven by herbaceous species, whereas woody species were largely cosmopolitan across the nearly 38,000 km 2 study area. At the floodplain scale, riparian floras reflected species richness and dissimilarity patterns related to hydrological and disturbance-driven successional sequences. These findings reinforce the importance of concurrently evaluating both local and regional processes that promote species diversity and distribution of native riparian flora. Furthermore, as restoration activities become more prevalent across the landscape, strategies for restoration outcomes should emulate the patterns of species diversity and biogeographic distributions found at regional scales.

Research paper thumbnail of Tree Detection and Delineation of the Cosumnes River Preserve

science.mcmaster.ca

Currently, many methods exist that utilise Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data sets in the e... more Currently, many methods exist that utilise Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data sets in the earth sciences. Methods for its application to ecological sciences are, however, limited. For example, the use of scattered data for tree detection and delineation is a needed improvement in LiDAR processing methods, as it holds the promise to provide ecologists with relevant information about forests (Pouliot et al. 2002). Terrestrial ecologists and foresters have relied on remote sensing methods, such as aerial photography, which can ...

Research paper thumbnail of Predicting map error by modeling the Sacramento River floodplain

proceedings.esri.com

We quantified the map accuracy for the Sacramento River Monitoring and Assessment Project to help... more We quantified the map accuracy for the Sacramento River Monitoring and Assessment Project to help land and water manager's better plan for restoration efforts. While map errors are quantifiable and even predictable, linking the causes of error to complex environmental and geographic variables would improve decision making. We evaluated patterns of GIS-induced map error on over 32,000 acres based on environmental and GIS variables like floodplain age and edge complexity. We conducted extensive field ...

Research paper thumbnail of PS 30-137: Perennial pepperweed invasion on a restored seasonal floodplain

The science of restoration ecology emphasizes the importance of managing, and often manipulating,... more The science of restoration ecology emphasizes the importance of managing, and often manipulating, both physical and biotic factors to facilitate ecosystem recovery. Among many other factors, our investigation of successful riparian floodplain restoration has focused on the positive impact of floodwaters on both vegetation and geomorphology. While we have found passive restoration–in our case the reconnection of riparian floodplains to seasonal floodwaters through intentional levee breaches–to be successful in creating initial ...

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling Pepperweed Populations at the Cosumnes River Preserve

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a pervasive noxious weed of Eurasian origin; it is ... more Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a pervasive noxious weed of Eurasian origin; it is widespread in the western United States and has recently established large populations at the Cosumnes River Preserve (Sacramento, CA). Perennial pepperweed grows in varied environments, including freshwater, brackish to saline, and alkaline, and in a wide range of habitats including riparian areas, wetlands, marshes, meadows, and floodplains (Young et al. 1995; Young et al. 1997; Bossard et al. 2000; Renz & Blank 2004). The Preserve is ...

Research paper thumbnail of Russian River Pathogen TMDL Monitoring Pilot Project: A Summary Report to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

Executive Summary We present here a summary of a pilot project to investigate pathogens in the tr... more Executive Summary We present here a summary of a pilot project to investigate pathogens in the tributaries of the Lower Russian River. We developed a weight-of-evidence approach and alternative methods to model potential sources of pathogenic bacteria and to assess their relative relationship to results of ongoing fecal indicator bacteria monitoring programs. We determined that pathogenic bacteria are pervasive, persistent, and overwhelmingly human in origin.

Research paper thumbnail of Final Report: Cosumnes River Preserve Perennial Pepperweed Control Project

1.0 Executive Summary At the Cosumnes River Preserve perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium L.... more 1.0 Executive Summary At the Cosumnes River Preserve perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium L.) impacts a variety of habitats and threatens current and future restoration activities. The consequences of this type of infestation can be costly and extremely detrimental to natural areas. As a result perennial pepperweed has been widely studied at the Preserve and beyond. Early detection and rapid response has become the mantra of weed control experts and land managers as it is cost effective and minimizes the physical ...

Research paper thumbnail of Adaptive Management Framework for Perennial Pepperweed Control at the Cosumnes River Preserve

1.1. Objective The objective of this task was to integrate previously developed knowledge and sci... more 1.1. Objective The objective of this task was to integrate previously developed knowledge and scientific findings to create an adaptive management framework that includes goals and management actions to reduce the negative impacts of the invasive Lepidium latifolium L.(perennial pepperweed) at the Cosumnes River Preserve.

Research paper thumbnail of Soil Seed Bank Analysis from the Cosumnes River Preserve Lepidium Control Experiment

Hutchinson, Rachel A., Joshua H. Viers and James F. Quinn. 2007. Soil Seed Bank Analysis from the... more Hutchinson, Rachel A., Joshua H. Viers and James F. Quinn. 2007. Soil Seed Bank Analysis from the Cosumnes River Preserve Lepidium Control Experiment. A Technical Report to the California Bay-Delta Authority Ecosystem Restoration Program. University of California, Davis. 91 ppd. ... Keywords: seed bank, Lepidium latifolium, diversity, riparian, restoration ... This report summarizes the findings of Task 4.6 Analyze Soil Seed Bank of ERP-02D-P66. ... The objective of this task was to characterize the seed bank of trial plots containing ...

Research paper thumbnail of Perennial Pepperweed Control at the Cosumnes River Preserve

University of California, Davis, Jun 1, 2010

1.1. Objective The objective of this task was to determine the effect of herbicide type and appli... more 1.1. Objective The objective of this task was to determine the effect of herbicide type and application method on the control of perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). Specifically, we set out to understand if existing herbicide treatment methods would improve in efficacy with repeat treatment, and if other, more precise methods could be used effectively to eradicate known populations. Existing herbicide treatment methods were modified based on the findings of Renz & DiTomaso (2004, 2006), who found that a ...

Research paper thumbnail of Non-Target Vegetation Response to Perennial Pepperweed Control at The Cosumnes River Preserve

University of California, Davis, Jun 1, 2010

1.1. Objective The objective of this subtask was to determine what effect experimental control tr... more 1.1. Objective The objective of this subtask was to determine what effect experimental control treatments for perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) had on non-target vegetation. This was assessed by monitoring plant species before and after treatment for tarp, herbicide, and control treated plots. Data presented here includes results of non-target species data collected for percent cover, life form, and the nativity of each species during year one (pre-treatment), two (1YAT), and three (2YAT). Our results, coupled with data ...

Research paper thumbnail of Chlorsulfuron Soil Residues in a Seasonal Floodplain

1.1. Objective The Lepidium Control Experiment (LCE) sought to understand the residual effects of... more 1.1. Objective The Lepidium Control Experiment (LCE) sought to understand the residual effects of chlorsulfuron herbicide treatment on future plant communities through a bioassay of soils collected on an experimental seasonal floodplain in Sacramento County, California. Land managers frequently use herbicides to control invasive weeds in natural areas. Although most commonly used herbicides have extremely low toxicities to humans and wildlife, there are concerns that herbicides may affect non-target plant species, with ...

Research paper thumbnail of Tarping as an Alternative for Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) Control

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1614 Ipsm D 10 00024 1, Apr 5, 2011

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a potential threat to biodiversity and ecosystem fu... more Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a potential threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function in the communities that it invades. The mechanism for its successful invasion of riparian and wetland environments includes reproduction via seed and root propagules and its ability to withstand long duration flooding and saline conditions once established. Controlling this species presents a number of challenges for land managers, including difficult property access, limited herbicide choice, and the varied success of weed control measures. In this study, we tested the efficacy of a nonchemical-modified tarp treatment, and compared posttreatment stem counts to herbicide treatments with Mow-glyphosate and chlorsulfuron in a wildland setting. We found that tarping applied in combination with a mow and till treatment was effective at controlling perennial pepperweed at levels similar to herbicide treatments with Mow-glyphosate and with Mow-chlorsulfuron. However, Mow-Till-Tarp treatment is extremely time consuming and has the potential to limit native plant community recovery. Nomenclature: Chlorsulfuron; glyphosate; perennial pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium L. LEPLA.

Research paper thumbnail of Tree Detection and Delineation of the Cosumnes River Preserve

Research paper thumbnail of Tarping as an Alternative for Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) Control

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a potential threat to biodiversity and ecosystem fu... more Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a potential threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function in the communities that it invades. The mechanism for its successful invasion of riparian and wetland environments includes reproduction via seed and root propagules and its ability to withstand long duration flooding and saline conditions once established. Controlling this species presents a number of challenges for land managers, including difficult property access, limited herbicide choice, and the varied success of weed control measures. In this study, we tested the efficacy of a nonchemical-modified tarp treatment, and compared posttreatment stem counts to herbicide treatments with Mow-glyphosate and chlorsulfuron in a wildland setting. We found that tarping applied in combination with a mow and till treatment was effective at controlling perennial pepperweed at levels similar to herbicide treatments with Mow-glyphosate and with Mow-chlorsulfuron. However, Mow-Till-Tarp treatment is extremely time consuming and has the potential to limit native plant community recovery. Nomenclature: Chlorsulfuron; glyphosate; perennial pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium L. LEPLA.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiscale Patterns of Riparian Plant Diversity and Implications for Restoration

Planning riparian restoration to resemble historic reference conditions requires an understanding... more Planning riparian restoration to resemble historic reference conditions requires an understanding of both local and regional patterns of plant species diversity. Thus, understanding species distributions at multiple spatial scales is essential to improve restoration planting success, to enhance long-term ecosystem functioning, and to match restoration planting designs with historic biogeographic distributions. To inform restoration planning, we examined the biogeographic patterns of riparian plant diversity at local and regional scales within a major western U.S.A. drainage, California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley. We analyzed patterns of species richness and complementarity (β-diversity) across two scales: the watershed scale and the floodplain scale. At the watershed scale, spatial patterns of native riparian richness were driven by herbaceous species, whereas woody species were largely cosmopolitan across the nearly 38,000 km 2 study area. At the floodplain scale, riparian floras reflected species richness and dissimilarity patterns related to hydrological and disturbance-driven successional sequences. These findings reinforce the importance of concurrently evaluating both local and regional processes that promote species diversity and distribution of native riparian flora. Furthermore, as restoration activities become more prevalent across the landscape, strategies for restoration outcomes should emulate the patterns of species diversity and biogeographic distributions found at regional scales.

Research paper thumbnail of Tree Detection and Delineation of the Cosumnes River Preserve

science.mcmaster.ca

Currently, many methods exist that utilise Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data sets in the e... more Currently, many methods exist that utilise Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data sets in the earth sciences. Methods for its application to ecological sciences are, however, limited. For example, the use of scattered data for tree detection and delineation is a needed improvement in LiDAR processing methods, as it holds the promise to provide ecologists with relevant information about forests (Pouliot et al. 2002). Terrestrial ecologists and foresters have relied on remote sensing methods, such as aerial photography, which can ...

Research paper thumbnail of Predicting map error by modeling the Sacramento River floodplain

proceedings.esri.com

We quantified the map accuracy for the Sacramento River Monitoring and Assessment Project to help... more We quantified the map accuracy for the Sacramento River Monitoring and Assessment Project to help land and water manager's better plan for restoration efforts. While map errors are quantifiable and even predictable, linking the causes of error to complex environmental and geographic variables would improve decision making. We evaluated patterns of GIS-induced map error on over 32,000 acres based on environmental and GIS variables like floodplain age and edge complexity. We conducted extensive field ...

Research paper thumbnail of PS 30-137: Perennial pepperweed invasion on a restored seasonal floodplain

The science of restoration ecology emphasizes the importance of managing, and often manipulating,... more The science of restoration ecology emphasizes the importance of managing, and often manipulating, both physical and biotic factors to facilitate ecosystem recovery. Among many other factors, our investigation of successful riparian floodplain restoration has focused on the positive impact of floodwaters on both vegetation and geomorphology. While we have found passive restoration–in our case the reconnection of riparian floodplains to seasonal floodwaters through intentional levee breaches–to be successful in creating initial ...

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling Pepperweed Populations at the Cosumnes River Preserve

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a pervasive noxious weed of Eurasian origin; it is ... more Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a pervasive noxious weed of Eurasian origin; it is widespread in the western United States and has recently established large populations at the Cosumnes River Preserve (Sacramento, CA). Perennial pepperweed grows in varied environments, including freshwater, brackish to saline, and alkaline, and in a wide range of habitats including riparian areas, wetlands, marshes, meadows, and floodplains (Young et al. 1995; Young et al. 1997; Bossard et al. 2000; Renz & Blank 2004). The Preserve is ...

Research paper thumbnail of Russian River Pathogen TMDL Monitoring Pilot Project: A Summary Report to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

Executive Summary We present here a summary of a pilot project to investigate pathogens in the tr... more Executive Summary We present here a summary of a pilot project to investigate pathogens in the tributaries of the Lower Russian River. We developed a weight-of-evidence approach and alternative methods to model potential sources of pathogenic bacteria and to assess their relative relationship to results of ongoing fecal indicator bacteria monitoring programs. We determined that pathogenic bacteria are pervasive, persistent, and overwhelmingly human in origin.

Research paper thumbnail of Final Report: Cosumnes River Preserve Perennial Pepperweed Control Project

1.0 Executive Summary At the Cosumnes River Preserve perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium L.... more 1.0 Executive Summary At the Cosumnes River Preserve perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium L.) impacts a variety of habitats and threatens current and future restoration activities. The consequences of this type of infestation can be costly and extremely detrimental to natural areas. As a result perennial pepperweed has been widely studied at the Preserve and beyond. Early detection and rapid response has become the mantra of weed control experts and land managers as it is cost effective and minimizes the physical ...

Research paper thumbnail of Adaptive Management Framework for Perennial Pepperweed Control at the Cosumnes River Preserve

1.1. Objective The objective of this task was to integrate previously developed knowledge and sci... more 1.1. Objective The objective of this task was to integrate previously developed knowledge and scientific findings to create an adaptive management framework that includes goals and management actions to reduce the negative impacts of the invasive Lepidium latifolium L.(perennial pepperweed) at the Cosumnes River Preserve.

Research paper thumbnail of Soil Seed Bank Analysis from the Cosumnes River Preserve Lepidium Control Experiment

Hutchinson, Rachel A., Joshua H. Viers and James F. Quinn. 2007. Soil Seed Bank Analysis from the... more Hutchinson, Rachel A., Joshua H. Viers and James F. Quinn. 2007. Soil Seed Bank Analysis from the Cosumnes River Preserve Lepidium Control Experiment. A Technical Report to the California Bay-Delta Authority Ecosystem Restoration Program. University of California, Davis. 91 ppd. ... Keywords: seed bank, Lepidium latifolium, diversity, riparian, restoration ... This report summarizes the findings of Task 4.6 Analyze Soil Seed Bank of ERP-02D-P66. ... The objective of this task was to characterize the seed bank of trial plots containing ...

Research paper thumbnail of Perennial Pepperweed Control at the Cosumnes River Preserve

University of California, Davis, Jun 1, 2010

1.1. Objective The objective of this task was to determine the effect of herbicide type and appli... more 1.1. Objective The objective of this task was to determine the effect of herbicide type and application method on the control of perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). Specifically, we set out to understand if existing herbicide treatment methods would improve in efficacy with repeat treatment, and if other, more precise methods could be used effectively to eradicate known populations. Existing herbicide treatment methods were modified based on the findings of Renz & DiTomaso (2004, 2006), who found that a ...

Research paper thumbnail of Non-Target Vegetation Response to Perennial Pepperweed Control at The Cosumnes River Preserve

University of California, Davis, Jun 1, 2010

1.1. Objective The objective of this subtask was to determine what effect experimental control tr... more 1.1. Objective The objective of this subtask was to determine what effect experimental control treatments for perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) had on non-target vegetation. This was assessed by monitoring plant species before and after treatment for tarp, herbicide, and control treated plots. Data presented here includes results of non-target species data collected for percent cover, life form, and the nativity of each species during year one (pre-treatment), two (1YAT), and three (2YAT). Our results, coupled with data ...

Research paper thumbnail of Chlorsulfuron Soil Residues in a Seasonal Floodplain

1.1. Objective The Lepidium Control Experiment (LCE) sought to understand the residual effects of... more 1.1. Objective The Lepidium Control Experiment (LCE) sought to understand the residual effects of chlorsulfuron herbicide treatment on future plant communities through a bioassay of soils collected on an experimental seasonal floodplain in Sacramento County, California. Land managers frequently use herbicides to control invasive weeds in natural areas. Although most commonly used herbicides have extremely low toxicities to humans and wildlife, there are concerns that herbicides may affect non-target plant species, with ...