AUSTIN (KXAN) - -
Austin remains in the middle of an invasion. Yards that aren't native to Central Texas are taking control of.
"We don't know how far it'll go, but we understand where it develops and spreads it ends up being a real negative to biodiversity because area," said Aaron Rhodes, Research Associate at UT
Austin's Brackenridge Field Lab.
Researchers stated there are significantly concerned that an invasive types of turf, known as Guinea grass, is taking control of Texas.
"Guinea yard outcompetes, not just native turfs but native plants in general since it does not have its natural enemies that feed on it," included Rhodes.
Foreign grasses were brought over from Africa purposefully centuries ago to feed cattle, but starting in the mid-20th century Guinea grass began showing up in south Texas.
And within the last five years, it's made it here to
Austin.
Guinea grass mostly spreads out by seed. Washing your vehicle if you travel, your boots if you're hiking, and your lawn care devices, if you have a landscaping company, can assist to include its migration.
There is a scientific strategy to prevent the spread. It involves bringing over pests from Africa with particular traits.
"If it turns out that they are just eating Guinea yard, and they're not affecting other aspects of food chains, then we make a petition to utilize these bugs [and] release them in nature to self-control Guinea yard," said Colin Morrison, Postdoctoral fellow at the lab.
And from there a targeted approach to avoid guinea turf spreading northward.
"They will release those bugs to fight it at the front of its spread, but also to begin to push it back into the locations where it's well established," said Morrison.
He hopes implementation can start within 5 years.
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