non-native/invasive plant speceis

what percentage of plants that occur in ohio are NOT native?

25% (700-800 species)

most non-native species never stray far from where?

from where they are introduced (gardens, urban areas, agricultural fields).

naturalized definition

plants established and maintaining themselves (locally or widely)

adventive definition

plants that have spread only into the immediate vicinity of the cultivation site

aggressive definition

invasive, non-native plants

(invasive, exotic, alien - foreign organisms that misbehave)

invasive species are typically introduced without what?

without the array of associated natural controls that occur in their native range

(herbivores, parasites, pathogens, and predators)

invasive species characteristics

• undesirable

• seriously disrupts the ecosystem

• once introduced, are here to stay

non-native species introduction is almost always the result of what?

human activity (intentional or unintentional)

accidental introductions examples

• contaminated agricultural or nursery seed

• packing materials

• ship ballasts

historically, many plants were brought to north america for what?

• food

• medicine

• fiber production

• forage

• erosion control

• aquarium trade

• ornamental purposes

how many number of woody species are invasive

235 species

eurasian water milfoil facts

• dominates shallow water around lakes

• introduced in the early 1940’s, aquarium trade

• considered by the army corps, the most invasive water plant to exist

multiple states created laws against what?

against the spreading eurasian water milfoil

the 4 events in past 200 years that have broken down barriers to plant dispersal

1. intercontinental travel

2. mass disturbance of the landscape

3. international trade

4. climate change

natural communities

contains species that coexist with other organisms in the landscape

as the habitat becomes an island, the habitat is what?

greatly lost

what is one of the greates threats to the richness in life on earth

habitat alteration

exotic species invasibility (?)

reflects the condition of the community being invaded, rather than the uniquely aggressive traits of themselves

purple loosestrife

lythrum salicaria

(a single plant can produce over 300,00 seeds)

common reed grass

phragmites australis

(enjoys disturbance in soil, tolerant to salt levels)

garlic mustard

alliaria petiolata

(350-8,000 seeds produced)

european (glossy) buckthorn

rhamnus frangula

(produces flowers in may until the first frost [all year long])

autumn-olive

elaeagnus umbellata

(silver under leaf // grows in disturbed areas/survives in poor soils)

reed canary grass

phalaris arundinacea

(spreads aggressively by seed and thick system of underground roots)