Roseau Canes

[Gottogo49]

Just got back from a trip to Venice, much of their fishing is centered around fishing the roots of roseau canes. Does anyone know why they have so much more roseau there than we do around Calcasieu lake. It's doesn't seem to be just salinity because they have roseau growing along the Gulf in some places. Big lake seems to have more salt grass or wire grass along the shore line. No big deal, just curious.

[rardoin]

MUCH more freshwater around Venice and all the passes from the Miss river compared to Big lake and the outflow from Calc river. Think about it...the MR drains about 50% of the continental US and the Calc about 10% of one small state.

[capt coonassty]

The roseau cane can tolerate higher salinity in parts of the year when the river is low. Unlike that area Big Lake salinity are higher for more of the year and it would put too much stress on the roseau and gets out competed by other grasses.

[Smalls]

Salinity definitely limits the extent of Roseau cane. It is likely not the sole factor, but its a major player. Cordgrass/oyster grass and wiregrass can tolerate salinities much better than Roseau can. Elevation also plays a role in plant zonation in marshes. Higher salt or brackish Marsh is typically dominated by wiregrass, with lower areas dominated by cordgrass/oyster grass. Substrate will play a part too. The southeastern part of the state tends to be slightly more organic than what you will find here.

I've found that deeper waters in these areas will hold Roseau, but they are mostly excluded by the two in this part of the state.

Bulrush will grow in pretty high salinities, but eventually it is excluded by other more tolerant species. Same for Roseau. Its just not as adapted to those conditions here as other species.

[Gottogo49]

Thanks Smalls, a little more research shows me that there are nonnative haplotypes of Phragmites australis that are tolerant of high salanities, 100% survival rates at 23,400 ppm but this article is way too technical for me and I like your explanation better anyway. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/p...hraus/all.html

[Smalls]

Well, I conducted my thesis research on the effects of various environmental factors on Marsh vegetation, so I did a lot of reading on the subject.

1000 ppm is equal to 1 ppt. So that source is saying that the nonnative haplotype survived to 23 ppt. Not unbelievable. I've had bulrush survive at 23 ppt. BUT, surviving and thriving are two different things. Some varieties are more salt tolerant than others, but I don't think any Roseau will thrive in the salinities that oyster grass and wiregrass will. I think the fact that the lake salinities may be consistently around 18-20 ppt for most of the year is what keeps Roseau from being really established around Big Lake. That and the tidal regime.

We have some nonnative varieties of Roseau in Louisiana, but the Common Reed (Phragmites australis var. berlandieri) is the most common, and doesn't typically tolerate high salinities for extended periods. One study I know of also suggests that sulfides in the soils limit roseau, while oyster grass is not limited by sulfides. This also leads to the zonation you see in salt marshes.

[jl8200]

Huh?

Originally Posted by Smalls

Well, I conducted my thesis research on the effects of various environmental factors on Marsh vegetation, so I did a lot of reading on the subject.

1000 ppm is equal to 1 ppt. So that source is saying that the nonnative haplotype survived to 23 ppt. Not unbelievable. I've had bulrush survive at 23 ppt. BUT, surviving and thriving are two different things. Some varieties are more salt tolerant than others, but I don't think any Roseau will thrive in the salinities that oyster grass and wiregrass will. I think the fact that the lake salinities may be consistently around 18-20 ppt for most of the year is what keeps Roseau from being really established around Big Lake. That and the tidal regime.

We have some nonnative varieties of Roseau in Louisiana, but the Common Reed (Phragmites australis var. berlandieri) is the most common, and doesn't typically tolerate high salinities for extended periods. One study I know of also suggests that sulfides in the soils limit roseau, while oyster grass is not limited by sulfides. This also leads to the zonation you see in salt marshes.

[Smalls]

Originally Posted by jl8200

Huh?

???

[Bdub]

Not trying to hijack, but does anyone know a proper way to transplant any of these grasses? I've got a couple spots in the marsh that got really beat up over the last few years of hunting that I'd like to get growing real good again, we had high water all last year I think that played a huge part in it also.

[noodle creek]

Originally Posted by Bdub

Not trying to hijack, but does anyone know a proper way to transplant any of these grasses? I've got a couple spots in the marsh that got really beat up over the last few years of hunting that I'd like to get growing real good again, we had high water all last year I think that played a huge part in it also.

Don't plant roseau unless you want it to take over everything.

[Smalls]

Originally Posted by Bdub

Not trying to hijack, but does anyone know a proper way to transplant any of these grasses? I've got a couple spots in the marsh that got really beat up over the last few years of hunting that I'd like to get growing real good again, we had high water all last year I think that played a huge part in it also.

What noodle said. STAY AWAY FROM ROSEAU!! It will take over if the site is suitable.

Planted marsh grass for 2 1/2 years. Biggest factors are water salinity, depth, tidal regime, and substrate. If you've got a brackish to salt marsh, depending on your elevation and tidal regime, you've got a choice between oyster grass and wire grass. Brackish leaning towards intermediate and fresh, you could go bulrush, black rush, or wiregrass. I'd stay away from cattails as well. Very hardy, but will take over. Bulrush can too, but its a superb plant in the right conditions. Very vigorous grower.

[capt coonassty]

We planted a blind with roseau in 1.5' of water four years ago. Now its a island 120 wide.

[Gottogo49]

Made a trip down to the jetties on Sunday and noticed that there is a big stand of roseau canes in the river across from the old Pogie plant. That is about as salty as it gets for the lake and river so it looks like as Mr Smalls said its not only salinity that limits the spread of roseau in Big Lake. Soil composition and other competing plants also play a part. That being said, I am not a big fan of roseau, it is too pervasive when it's conditions are favorable.