updated invasive plants - uga...

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Aquatic/Wetland Terrestrial

United States Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program Office ; John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University; Karan Rawlins, University of Georgia; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA; Skip Snow, National Park Service; E. Richard Hoebeke, Cornell University

Exotic Species are also used for:• Landscape Restoration

• Biological Pest Control

• Hunting/Fishing

• Pets

98% of U.S. Food Systemis based on Introduced Species Ornamental

• Hardy-easy to grow• Does not require

attention, “care free”• Easy to propagate• Abundant flowers• Attracts birds• Disease and pest

resistant

Invasive• Habitat generalist• Out-competes other

plants• Reproduces easily• Abundant seeds• Bird-dispersed seeds• Not affected by native

pests and diseases

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Spread of Chinese Privet in the South

• Competitionlack of natural predators, pests and diseases may give exotic species an advantage over natives

• Habitat Changesmanagement practices and land use changes may favor establishment

Pine forest understory is native plant community

Chris Evans, River to River CWMA;

Pine forest understory

is solid Cogongrass

www.gainvasives.org

Karan Rawlins, University of Georgia; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA

Native mixed hardwood forest understory plant

community

Forest understory is solid

Chinese privetwww.gainvasives.org

• Pastures• Old fields• Right of Ways• Fencerows• Ditches• Road maintenance

Most invasive species readily invadeopen disturbed habitats

• Roadsides• Cut-over forests• Agriculture fields• Streamside

management zones• Construction sites

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Japanese Honeysuckle 739,400 Acres (x27)Privet (7 species) 345,000 Acres (x13)Kudzu 26,600 AcresNon-native Elaeagnus 17,800 AcresJapanese Climbing Fern 9,200 AcresTallowtree 7,000 AcresNon-native Roses 5,800 AcresNon-native Wisteria 5,000 AcresCogongrass < 300 Acres

18 Million Acres Occupied by 33 Taxa9 Percent of Forested Acres in South

Jap. honeysuckle: 920,413Privet (7 species): 726,148 Japanese stiltgrass: 111,836 Chinaberry tree: 67,534 Kudzu: 42,158 Nonnative lespedeza: 41,069 Jap. climbing fern: 20,563 Mimosa: 18,344 Nonnative Roses: 15,686 Tallowtree: 15,348 Nonnative Elaeagnus: 13,874 Nonnative wisteria: 10,082

Of 24.8 Million Forested Acres:

Japanese Honeysuckle 739,400 (x27)Privet (7 species) 345,000 (x13)Kudzu 26,600Non-native Elaeagnus 17,800Jap. Climbing Fern 9,200Tallowtree 7,000Non-native Roses 5,800Non-native Wisteria 5,000Cogongrass < 300

•Semi-evergreen shrub up to 20 feet tall

•Trunks with multiple stems and many long branches

•Small white flowers in long clusters

•Forms dense thickets

•Very difficult to remove once it is established

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia;Chris Evans, River to River CWMA; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

•Grows up to 90 feet a season

•Perennial climbing fern

•Forms dense mats shading out native plants

•Spreads by wind-dispersed spores and rhizomes

•Invades natural areas

•Increases fire hazardChris Evans, River to River CWMA; Ronald F. Billings, Texas ForestService; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc.

Japanese Climbing Fern – fire hazard

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Acts as a fire ladder and will burn while it is still green

Japanese Climbing Fern

David Moorhead, University of Georgia; Dennis Teague, U.S. Air Force; David Moorhead,University of Georgia

Impacts straw industry

At your local shop- Buyer beware!

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Japanese stilt-grass Microstegium vimineum

•Annual grass•Threatens native understory vegetation in full sun to deep shade

•Spreads by seeds and vegetativelythrough rooting at stem joints

•Single plant produces up to 1,000 seeds which can persist for at least 3 years in soil

•Woody vine up to 40 feet long

•Compound leaves with 7-13 leaflets

•Fragrant, showy, abundant, long, purple flower clusters

•Flattened hairy bean-like seed pods

•Kills trees and shades forest understory

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA; Wendy VanDyk Evans, United States

•Introduced in 1876

•Compound leaves with 3 leaflets, roots at nodes

•Purple flowers with yellow centers in small clusters held under leaves

•Capable of growing one foot a day

•Flattened hairy bean-like seed pods


•Forms dense stands

•Prefers dry soils

•Seeds dispersed by animals

•Deciduous shrub 3-20 feet

•Sometimes have thorns

•White underside to leaves, red, juicy fruits


•Small tree, nitrogen fixer

•Bi-pinnately compound leaves are fern-like

•Light-tan bark

•Showy, fragrant, pink flowers, followed by fuzzy bean pods

•Seeds dispersed by animals and water

•Seeds long lived and likes to re-sprout


•Deciduous tree up to 60 feet

•Extremely fast growing

•Heart shaped leaves often over 12 inches wide

•Pale violet clusters of flowers

•Prolific seed producer, spread by wind and water

•Prefers disturbed soil

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service;Chris Evans, River to River CWMA

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•Originally planted as an ornamental groundcover

•Spreads by bird-dispersed seeds

•Multiple leaf shapes based on stage of growth

•Flowers at maturity

•Extra weight on tree branches

•Seeds poisonous to humans

•Over 100 cultivars still sold


•Thorny, perennial shrub up to 15 feet tall

•Small 5-petaled white to pink flowers

•Many small red rose hips

•Leaves have 7-9 leaflets with fringed petiole

•Forms impenetrable thicketsJames H. Miller, USDA Forest Service; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service;Chris Evans, River to River CWMA

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service;James Johnson, Georgia Forestry Commission; James Johnson, Georgia Forestry Commission

•Deciduous tree up to 60 feet

•Alternate heart-shaped leaves

•Yellowish flowers

•Three-lobed fruit opens to reveal white wax covered seeds

•Invades high quality undisturbed habitats

•Alters soil conditions through high tannin content of leaves

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society; James H. Miller, USDA ForestService; James H.Miller, USDA Forest Service

•Deciduous tree up to 50 feet tall

•Panicles carry showy 5-petaled lavender flowers

•Alternate bi-pinnately compound leaves 1-2 feet in length

•Abundant yellow marble sized berries

•Invades disturbed areas and edges of forests and waterways

Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia; Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia

•Rapidly growing tree up to 80 feet tall

•Long compound leaves with 11-41 leaflets

•Large clusters of yellow flowers

•Tan to red single-winged fruit

•Extremely tolerant of poor soil conditions and disturbed habitats

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service; Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft., Hungary; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

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•Reduces resources such as space, light, nutrients and water for native flora and fauna

•Alters the structure of native plant communities, reducing habitat fitness

•Alters soil chemistry and soil formation processes

•Alters the natural hydrology and increases erosion

•Alters the historical fire regime

Negative Impacts on Natural Areas & Wildlife

Maybe, but I’m hungry and all the good stuff is

gone

You shouldn’t eat that... it will

spread everywhere

Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia

Straight fromour backyard to theirs

Hungry birds eat fruit in our backyard,which can then be deposited into natural areas

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service; Terry L Spivey, Terry Spivey Photography ; Terry L Spivey, Terry Spivey Photography ; Johnny N. Dell; John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service; Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia

Negative Impacts onRecreation

•Impenetrable growth covers trails and campsites

•Reduces diversity & beauty of native plant communities

•Reduces diversity of native wildlife

•Reduces usability of lakes, rivers and other waterways

•Increases fire hazard

•Increases erosion

Negative Impacts onAgriculture and Forestry

•Reduces crop yields

•Unpalatable or toxic to livestock

•Crowds out and inhibits growth of desired vegetation

•Carries exotic micro-organisms and disease

•Increases management costs

•Increases fire riskswww.gainvasives.org EDRR = Early Detection, Rapid Response

Perception of an Invasive Species

Action should be

here

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Things You Can Do to Help•Learn about Invasive Species

Invasive.orgInvasivePlantAtlas.orgExtension.org/invasive_species

•Report Invasive SpeciesEDDMapS.org

•Cooperate/Coordinate/CommunicateCreate a CISMA for your regionJoin GA-EPPC

•Plant Wisely

www.gainvasives.org

Things You Can Do to Help•Educate

Family, Friends, NeighborsYour RepresentativesCity Councils

•Replace Invasive SpeciesPlant native plantsOr at least non-invasive (for list of alternatives: www.gaeppc.org)

•VolunteerState, County, City ParksMaster Gardeners/Master NaturalistsGeorgia Botanical SocietyGeorgia Native Plant Society www.gainvasives.org

www.gainvasives.org www.gainvasives.org

www.gainvasives.org www.gainvasives.org

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www.gainvasives.org

Smartphone app updates

Draw polygons

Record negative survey data

YOU CHOOSE Point Polygon From vertices Freeform

Create a list tailored to your project

Visit the GA-EPPC website at www.gaeppc.org

updated invasive plants - uga...

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