Arriving in Victoria, British Columbia only four years ago, I noticed a dramatic increase in Himalayan Blackberries compared to my hometown in Ontario. Initially, my thoughts were innocent and going blackberry picking to eat a wonderful fruit with friends seemed normal. Shortly after, I realized how abnormal these species are compared to back home. Vancouver Island is covered with Himalayan Blackberries and it is changing the local ecosystems. Open grass-dominated areas are turning them into ecosystems dominated by shrubs (Rubus Discolor – Himalayan, 2002). With Himalayan blackberries taking over a vast amount of land the biodiversity of native plants in Victoria is a concern. Native plants are important for providing shelter and food for all wildlife, especially pollinators. They are also known to decrease erosion by their deep roots. To ensure native plants can flourish, Himalayan Blackberries will need to be controlled.
Many causes affect the overabundance of Himalayan blackberries and they are due to factors in the environment, biodiversity and poor management skills. Invasive species have major threats to local biodiversity; it is known as the second most significant threat after habitat loss (Climate Change Canada, 2017). Invasive species, much like the Himalayan blackberries have higher reproduction rates. In approximately “…two years a single cane can produce a thicket 5 m in diameter” (Rubus Discolor – Himalayan, 2002). This makes it difficult for native plants to maintain their habitat as Himalayan blackberries out-compete low structured native species by blocking light through its dense shrubby (Soll, 2004). Himalayan blackberries also thrive in moist ecosystems with an average of 76 cm rainfall annually (Soll, 2004). Another dispersal method of Himalayan blackberries is from wildlife, for instance, birds, foxes, bears and other mammals consume and disperse of the berry seeds (BC Invasive Species, 2019). The last factor for the surplus of Himalayan blackberries is poor management skills. Controlling this invasive species before it takes over an area is the appropriate way to manage the spread. A few ways of doing so are through manual methods (cutting, pulling, and digging), prescribed burning and prescribed grazing (ex. goat) (Soll, 2004).
Rubus armeniacus
Observations From Members