Reed Control

Phragmites australis (the common reed) is widespread though not native in many regions of the World, including North America. Phragmites-dominated habitats support many ecosystem services and diverse native and non-native biota.

Studies comparing the density of individuals or the numbers of taxa (species) in reedbeds and alternate habitats show variable results. Reedbeds apparently support fewer individuals or taxa of certain kinds of invertebrates, fishes and birds, such as early life stages of the mummichog, three species of high salt marsh breeding birds, and muskrat, than do alternate habitats. But top-ranked food preferences, and relative density or taxon richness of breeding birds, monophagous herbivores and other groups, are not the only currency by which to judge Phragmites. Other important considerations include the rare species supported by reedbeds; the habitat functions of reedbeds for roosting, escape from predators and shelter from floods and other extreme conditions; the ability of Phragmites to vegetate urban habitats and derelict lands without human inputs; and other non-habitat ecological services provided by Phragmites. Given the severe changes landscapes and biotas resulting from land use, alteration of hydrology and chemistry, and climate change, concepts of the purity of native communities may not be practical for application to abundant, widespread, long-present non-native taxa such as Phragmites. These arguments do not contravene controlling Phragmites where it is clearly a threat to important elements of biodiversity. The use of Phragmites in wastewater management will continue to be important. Phragmites has good potential for bioenergy. The use of Phragmites fibre for paper, insulation and industrial materials should be explored.

A new paper in AoB PLANTS argues that we should look at Phragmites management as optimization: how can we manage to increase and make use of the valuable ecosystem services provided by the plant, while reducing the harm that it causes in certain situations?

Ecosystem services of Phragmites in North America with emphasis on habitat functions. (2013) AoB PLANTS (2013) 5: plt008 doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plt008
Abstract:
Phragmites australis (common reed) is widespread in North America, with native and non-native haplotypes. Many ecologists and wetland managers have considered P. australis a weed with little value to the native biota or human society. I document important ecosystem services of Phragmites including support for many common and rare species of plants and animals. This paper is based on an extensive review of the ecology and natural history literature, discussions with field workers, and observations in 13 US states and one Canadian province during the past 40 years. Phragmites sequesters nutrients, heavy metals and carbon, builds and stabilizes soils, and creates self-maintaining vegetation in urban and industrial areas where many plants do not thrive. These non-habitat ecosystem services are proportional to biomass and productivity. Phragmites was widely used by Native Americans for many purposes; the most important current direct use is for the treatment of wastes. Most of the knowledge of non-habitat ecosystem services is based on studies of P. australis haplotype M (an Old World haplotype). Phragmites also has habitat functions for many organisms. These functions depend on the characteristics of the landscape, habitat, Phragmites stand, species using Phragmites and life history element. The functions that Phragmites provides for many species are optimal at lower levels of Phragmites biomass and extent of stands. Old World Phragmites, contrary to many published statements, as well as North American native Phragmites, provide valuable ecosystem services including products for human use and habitat functions for other organisms. Phragmites stands may need management (e.g. thinning, fragmentation, containment or removal) to create or maintain suitable habitat for desired species of animals and plants.