Ecology Distribution Management Info Impact Info References and Links Contacts

General Impact Hoshovsky (1986) states that C. scoparius' abundant production of long lasting viable seeds, aggressive spread, and establishment away from planted areas into stands of native vegetation causes it to be of serious concern. It prevents reforestation, creates a high fire hazard, in the United States renders rangeland worthless, and greatly increases the cost of maintenance of roads, ditches, canals, and power and telephone lines. In North America wildlife also suffers as the growth becomes too dense for quail to thrive and chokes out forage for deer. C. scoparius is slightly toxic and unpalatable to livestock, so it is very poor browse.          Location Specific Impacts: Garry Oak Ecosystems (Canada) (Canada)   Habitat alteration: Scotch broom has dramatically altered the vegetation structure of these ecosystems by forming a dense shrub layer where shrubs were formerly absent, sparse, or at most patchy. This shrub layer shades out native understorey species adapted to open conditions. These changes can negatively affect habitat suitability for animal species, including many birds and butterflies, that require open vegetation structure. Modification of fire regime: Scotch broom generates large amounts of woody fuel that can support high intensity fires and alter the natural disturbance regime. Modification of nutrient regime: Scotch broom is a nitrogen-fixer and has the potential to change ecosystem-wide resource supply. United States (USA)   Agricultural: Cytisus scoparius renders rangeland worthless because it is slightly toxic and unpalatable to livestock so serves as very poor browse (Hoshovsky, 1986). Competition: Its abundant production of long lasting viable seeds, its aggressive spread, and establishment away from planted areas into stands of native vegetation causes it to be of serious concern (Hoshovsky, 1986). Economic/Livelihoods: Hoshovsky (1986) states that Cytisus scoparius renders rangeland worthless and greatly increases the cost of maintenance of roads, ditches, canals, power, and telephone lines. Modification of fire regime: Cytisus scoparius creates a high fire hazard (Hoshovsky, 1986). Modification of successional patterns: Where it has colonized former woodlands, it prevents reforestation (Hoshovsky, 1986). Other: Hoshovsky (1986) states that wildlife also suffers as the growth becomes too dense for quail to thrive and chokes out forage for deer.