Habitat Fragmentation & Invasive Species 1st 9 Weeks Science Enrichment

What are Invasive Species? Invasive alien species are organisms that are introduced to a given area outside their original range and cause harm in their new home. Because they have no natural enemies to limit their reproduction, they usually spread rampantly. Invasive alien species are recognized as one of the leading threats to biodiversity and impose enormous costs to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and other human enterprises, as well as to human health.

Invasive Species Invasive species typically have a competitive advantage over native plants No natural predator or grazer in new habitat Noxious or produce allelopathic chemicals that natives have not evolved a defense against High reproductive rate, good in almost any environment

Biodiversity Bio means “life” Diverse means “different types”.

5 Major Threats to Biodiversity H-Habitat Destruction/Degradation I-Invasive Species P-Pollution P-Population (Human) Growth O-Overharvesting/Overfishing

What are the results of habitat fragmentation? Less habitat for species Species area curve Restricted migration of species Restricted gene flow, inbreeding within patches Increased diseases or accidental death More edge habitat Microclimate differs at the edge

Conservation Biology and Management

What’s It Like Living on the Edge? Interior UP/Down? Up/Down? Sunlight Canopy Wind Soil Temp. Air Temperature Human Disturbance

Management Issue Example: A school would like to put a path through a wooded area, which design would have the least impact on wildlife that use the woods?

Top 14 KY Invasive Species Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) Kudzu (Peuraria lobata) Musk-thistle (Carduus nutans) Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) Sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum) Hemlock wooly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepnse) Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) Fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Bush Honeysuckle This is very abundant in the urban/suburban environment. Woody, hollow stems, have an overall fountain appearance. Opposite leaves, fragrant flowers, red berries. May be mistaken for the Spice Bush or Burning Bush

Japanese Honeysuckle Vine with a cord-like stem Opposite leaves Fragrant flowers in Spring May be confused with Vinca or Winter creeper (next slide)

Wintercreeper, Euonymous Ground Cover Dark green, almost waxy-like opposite leaves Can climb Green through winter

Tree-of-Heaven, Ailanthus Compound leaf Opposite leaflets Male leaves smell like old peanut butter Have glands along leaf margin Very similar to Walnut trees

Multiflora Rose Usually a white rose Thorns on a round stem Shrub, blooms early summer Similar to blackberries (stem with edges, and smaller thorns)

Poison Hemlock White umbel flower Smooth stem with purple blotches Carrot-like, frilly leaf May be confused with Wild Carrot, Wild Parsnip

Garlic Mustard Small white flowers Young plants (with cotyledons only) look different from the adult plants Spring flowers in late April through May Toothed leaves with purplish stems in summer Seed pods in early summer

Musk-Thistle Purple flowers in early summer, fuzzy seeds in late summer Hairy, toothed leaves with needle-like points

Johnson Grass Panic grass Reddish, purple inflorescence Blooms in late June/July Distinctive stripe/ridge on blade Looks similar to corn

Kudzu Vine with a heart/mitten-shaped leaf Dieback can be evident through winter in a large patch Very noticeable in summer

Queen Anne’s Lace Seeds used as a contraceptive in Europe