1. LeeAnna Young Leanne Penry Liz Montgomery Johnathan Sutton John Atkinson Exotic Invasive Vegetation

2. Why is monitoring exotic invasive vegetation important? Exotic invasive vegetation can severely impact native vegetation by consuming precious resources such as light, water, nutrients, and space and eventually leave healthy native plants susceptible to disease. The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, 2008

3. Monitoring exotic invasive species in important to the Triangle Land Conservancy because it is an indicator of conservation success. Keeping “natural areas” involves preventing exotic invasive vegetation from invading natural ecosystems and competing with native vegetative. Why is monitoring exotic invasive vegetation important?

4. To create a method for measuring the extent of exotic invasive vegetation. To make this method user-friendly for volunteers of the Triangle Land Conservancy. Demonstrate how our method can be used in several test areas, including NCSU main campus, Centennial Campus, and Schenck Forest. Objectives

5. Results

7. Our Method Materials: Rope with pre-measured lengths (2m, 5m) and stake attached Clipboard with data sheet, percent cover card, and plot layout Diameter tape (record units on data sheet) Metric tape measure (100m)

11. Recommendations Data collected can be evaluated over time to determine increases or decreases in exotic invasive vegetation per site Exotic invasive species identification training session for volunteers

12. Common: Multiflora rose Scientific: Rosa multiflora Alternate leaf arrangements (one leaf with 5 leaflets in picture) 5-11 leaflets per leaf Leaf edges serrated White flowers with 5 petals bloom in early summer Thorn-like prickles on stems Long arching stems, can be vine-like ROMU The University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. (2009). Invasive.org: Invasive and Exotic Species to North America. Retrieved Apr., 2009, from http://www.invasive.org/

13. Conclusion Method is repeatable Method can be adjusted to accommodate different cover types Comparing data over time will alert TLC to exotic invasive vegetation problems Early detection allows for intervention

14. Questions?