The Russian thistle came into our ecosystem by Russian immigrants in 1873.
Where did it come from?
It mostly grows in the drier regions of the west.
Consumers
Mostly cattle and sheep eat this plant. It's a minor component in mule, deer and elk until it becomes spiny when it flowers. It is an important prairie dog food as well as birds since the birds eat the seeds of the Russian Thistle/ Tumble weed.
The Life cycle
The way a Russian thistle reproduces is by its seeds. When it is old enough the spiny leaves break off, after germination, and are carried by wind which is how the seeds are spread.By autumn the plant will dry out and it will have reached its maximum size which is about 6-36 inches. One plant alone can produce 250,000 seeds.
Effects
Tumble weed in agricultural areas can reduce the quality of crops and threaten native plant ecosystems. Russian thistles (
tumble weed) can also spread wild/forest fires faster than usual. Another bad quality about tumble weed is that it can interfere
with water delivery and pumping systes, especially in California.
Control/ Management
The control of Russian thistles can be hard. Many attempts with different sprays and insects have been done, but none are
effective. However there is one solution that has been found: Blister mites
B3.5 Identify various factors related to human activity that have impacted on ecosystems (the introduction of invasive species) and explain how these factors affect the equilibrium in an ecosystem.
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How did it get introduced to our ecosystem?
The Russian thistle came into our ecosystem by Russian immigrants in 1873.Where did it come from?
It mostly grows in the drier regions of the west.Consumers
Mostly cattle and sheep eat this plant. It's a minor component in mule, deer and elk until it becomes spiny when it flowers. It is an important prairie dog food as well as birds since the birds eat the seeds of the Russian Thistle/ Tumble weed.The Life cycle
The way a Russian thistle reproduces is by its seeds. When it is old enough the spiny leaves break off, after germination, and are carried by wind which is how the seeds are spread.By autumn the plant will dry out and it will have reached its maximum size which is about 6-36 inches. One plant alone can produce 250,000 seeds.Effects
Tumble weed in agricultural areas can reduce the quality of crops and threaten native plant ecosystems. Russian thistles (
tumble weed) can also spread wild/forest fires faster than usual. Another bad quality about tumble weed is that it can interfere
with water delivery and pumping systes, especially in California.
Control/ Management
The control of Russian thistles can be hard. Many attempts with different sprays and insects have been done, but none are
effective. However there is one solution that has been found: Blister mites
B3.5 Identify various factors related to human activity that have impacted on ecosystems (the introduction of invasive species) and explain how these factors affect the equilibrium in an ecosystem.
Answers to questions on topic.
Choses relevant and interesting pictures, videos, and links.
Spelling, grammar, neatness and organization.
Apply functions and capabilities of Wiki to page.