An invasive species is an aggressive species that takes over the habitat of species formerly growing or living in an area and is usually not native to the habitat in which it is invasive. There are both plants and animals that are invasive species. These species cause both ecological and economic damage. Invasive species management is necessary to keep them in check.
Some aggressive native plants can cause similar problems.
Some Common Invasive Species at LREC, Where They Live, and Their Control Methods
Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera mackii)—a perennial shrub from Eurasia that grows throughout the woodland. We control this species on the creek banks by cutting and painting it to reduce the amount of erosion and in the woodland by digging out its roots with a mattocks.
Crown vetch (Coronilla varia)—a perennial forb from Eurasia that has been spotted in the prairies. A known invasive species. We are controlling it by cutting and painting it with herbicide or spraying small isolated patches with herbicide.
Curly dock (Rumex crispus)—a perennial forb from Eurasia that is in the prairies. We cut and paint this species with herbicide and bag seed heads.
Foxtail (Settaria spp.)—an annual grass from Eurasia that invades prairie edges and new plantings. We mow or cut this species and bag its seed heads.
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)—a biennial forb from Eurasia that is aggressively invading the creek banks and in the woodland. We burn, hand pull, bag seed heads, or spray herbicide on leaves of this species.
Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)—a perennial woody vine from Japan that strangles trees in the woodland by winding tightly around them. We are cutting and painting it with herbicide or spraying it with herbicide.
Japanese hops (Humulus japonicus)—a perennial herbaceous vine from Japan that aggressively invades sunny areas along the creek and in the prairie. We spray this species with herbicide along the creek banks where few non-target species grow and pull this species by hand or cut and paint it with herbicide in the prairie.
Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)—a perennial forb from Eurasia taking over creek banks in the late winter-spring. It spreads by underground corms that break off and move down streams. We are controlling it by spraying the leaves with 2% glyphosate on warm days.
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)—a perennial shrub from Eurasia introduced as a natural hedge for pastures. Present in the prairie and woodland in small numbers. We cut and paint stumps of this species with herbicide.
Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)—a perennial woody evergreen vine from Eurasia commonly used as a groundcover in landscaping that covers over 50% of our 14 acres of woodland in the herbaceous layer and climbs up many of the trees in the woodland. Our most aggressive and widespread invasive species. We burn, hand pull, spray herbicide on leaves, or paint cut stumps of this species with herbicide (see Research for more details).
Links (links below will open in a new window):
Invasive Species (http://www.invasive.org/)
Invasive Species Information Node (http://invasivespecies.nbii.gov/)
Invasive Species (http://www.invasivespecies.gov/)
The Nature Conservancy’s Invasive Species Initiative (http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs.html)
USDA Plants Database (http://plants.usda.gov/index.html)
Missouri Exotic Pest Plants (http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/mepp/welcome.shtml)
Missouri Vegetation Management Manual (http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/exotic/vegman/) |
