agents.

Summary: Phytoplasma bacteria could be introduced or spread bythe ophloem-feeding insect

We sequenced the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene of the bacterial species that gave positive

results in general PCR tests for phytoplasma. GenBank sequences suggested that the positive

Summary:

Isolated plants in areas colonized within the last few years set approximately one-tenth the

seed of plants in continuous meadows, colonized decades ago. Furthermore, the small amount of

seed that was set by isolated plants germinated at only one-third the rate of seed set by meadow

plants, indicating the possibility of inbreeding depression when pollen from other genets is

unavailable. Observed generally, at all fronts of the invasion over the 23,000 ha sweep of the

estuary.

Mss. to be submitted to Ecology, December 02.

while others suffered no damage. Population growth of the hopper varied greatly as well among

cordgrass genotypes. However tolerance and growth were not correlated, meaning that some

genotypes could foster many planthoppers and not suffer from this herbivory. This sets the stage

for natural selection to remove the intolerant genotypes, which would be self defeating biological

control.

Mss. In review, Ecological Applications.

and, D. G. Rossi, R. W. Switzer, M. Wecker, D. Strong

of the Willapa. Thus, we found no evidence of risk to nontarget plants in Washington State from

Mss. in press. BioControl.

Summary: In the 100 years of the invasion of Willapa Bay, S. alterniflora has been under a

selection regime for rapid reproduction and high dispersal, which is opposite to that in its native

Atlantic habitats. Willapa Bay plants have much higher reproductive effort and that is positively

correlated with a greater risk of death. Furthermore, plants in the invasive population initiate

reproduction both younger and at a smaller size and are much more self-compatible

Mss.

in Willapa Bay.

Summary: Is there a correlation between r selected characters and those associated with

herbivore free growth in Willapa Bay?

Progress:

Mss.

Bay.

Summary:

a. Compare variation in derived population in Willapa to that in native range.

b. Coevolution of P. marginata with S. alterniflora, Willapa and native range.

Progress: First year of data on a, b in planning stage.

Mss.

Summary:

a. Using microsatellites, compare provenances from Atlantic with Willapa Bay.

b. Evolution of life history herbivory resistance-tolerance traits in the invasion?

Progress:

a. Underway

b. Planning stage.

Mss.

slowed with no effects on any other quantitative aspect of spread. A second result is that the

Allee effect means spread is increased by increase selfing rate. A third result is that the invasion

is rate increases rapidly with increased seedling recruitment. This suggests that control of

seedlings is good strategy for control of spread.

Progress: Oral presentation won award for best “Theory: poster at ESA meetings, Tucson.

Summary:

and Alan H.

Summary:

a. Accommodating effect of environmental variation upon parameters of spread.

Idea: Is the invasion pulsed, is seedset and recruitment episodic, perhaps by driven by ENSO

events in temperature and rainfall?

b. Informing control strategies: “nascent foci” line of argument.

Progress: Underway.

Summary:

a. Present at very low rates of infection, terrestrial strain only, genetically divers via

RAPD markers.

b. Potential for a control strategy?

and Don S., Janie C.

Summary: The gamut of evidence suggests discontinuous recruitment of S. alterniflora in

Willapa Bay. We are testing the hypothesis that seedset and seedling recruitment are highly

episodic, perhaps as driven by ENSO variability in temperature and rainfall.

Progress:

a. We have made good progress in establishing a field protocol collecting data on seed set

and seedling recruitment on the largest spatial scale of the invasion, at the scale of the entire Bay.

We have recruitment data for two years and seedset data for one year.

b. We have obtained high resolution aerial photos of plants in flower and have lots of

groundtruth data for these plants in 2002. We are planning the GIS and imaging project that will

test the idea that spectral information in the images indicates seedset.

and Janie C.

Summary: Have experimental and observational data that wrack changes the relative

composition of longer lived native marsh species and facilitates a suite of more ephemeral

species. We are going to couple this with information from the historical photographic record

about the spatial and temporal distribution of wrack disturbance in the Bay.

Summary: Pitfall data on inverts along transects from the wrack into the forest, high and low

Progress: Underway.

and D. Strong, J. Lambrinos, A. Hastings

Summary: Photos from 1942 through 2000 (10 sample years) have been scanned and examined

for presence of S. alterniflora. After GIS coverages are produced, a regional object class will be

applied to the polygons to extract demographic data on lateral growth rates of individuals,

meadow formation rates, recruitment and the effects of tidal elevation, substrate and bioregion

on these processes. LiDAR bathymetry data has been acquired of Willapa's intertidal zone, and

will be incorporated into the GIS project.

Progress: 1994, 1997 complete; 2000 in final editing. Data from other years in draft format.

LiDAR data is being processed.