Ability to Respond Total:10 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:Medium
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Efficient dispersal occurs locally and rapidly, and populations have some opportunity to infest new areas. Some populations are documented as having rapid population size increases.
4
Spread Amount
The taxon can occupy a handful of ecologically important and rare riparian forest niches in California
3
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Can displace native plants in sensitive riparian forest areas, but there’s no evidence for other disruptions to the environment.
1
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Minor detriment to recreational riparian areas since it’s a large non-native plant.
1
Health
The leaves of the edible fig plant contain two furocoumarin compounds that can cause a skin rash in humans.
1
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
Native fig wasps pollinate native figs in a different mechanism than edible figs, so no benefit to native pollinators. No other evidence of benefit to the environment.
0
Agricultural
Invasive edible figs may produce an edible crop that is cultivated in California ($15 million industry as of 2013).
1
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
9
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Very easy to ID when it has fruit and leaves, and bark is still distinctive in the dormant season.
4
Control
May grow in inaccessible riparian areas. Small seedlings can be pulled. Grazing and burning are ineffective. Triclopyr, glyphosate, and imazapyr are likely effective with retreatment. Established trees may require retreatments for complete removal due to high resprouting.
3
Tools in Place
Notes
Score
Entry
It is a commonly grown horticultural crop, so not listed.
0
Control
There are some regional efforts to control this plant in the Cleveland NF, and some State Parks
