1. Invaders Fromthe Plant World Jessica Sprajcar Department of Conservation andNatural Resources Office of Conservation Science

2. DCNR who we are Our Mission : To manage state parks and forests; to provide information on PA's ecological resources; and to administer grant programs for recreation and natural resource protection. 3. What is an invasive species?

The federal government defines an invasive species as:

• Non-native

• Causes or is likely to cause harm to the economy, environment, or human health.

4. What makes them invasive?

Opportunistic,

Fast growing,

Reproduce abundantly,

Tolerate wide range of conditions,

Seeds can remain viable in the soil for years.

Mile-a-minute( Polygonum perfoliatum ) Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR 5. How do invasives spread?

Seeds stick to clothing, fur, vehicles

Animals eat seed

Accidental ordeliberate release

Moved by waterand wind

Japanese knotweed ( Fallopia japonica )Josh VanBrakle 6. Why are invasives bad?

Lower species diversity

Disrupt recreational activities

Change soil chemistry

Cost billions of dollarsto control

Garlic mustard ( Alliaria petiolata ) Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR 7. Invasives in the Landscaping Trade and their AlterNATIVES James Miller - USDA Forest & Kim Starr - USGS Pat Pingel - DCNR Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR 8. Burning bush( Euonymus alata ) INVASIVE! James Miller - USDA PA Bureau of Forestry 9. Native shrub alternatives Virginia sweetspire ( Itea virginica ) Highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum ) Charles Bryson-USDA Chris Evans - UGA 10. Japanese barberry( Berberis Thunbergii ) INVASIVE! Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR Hickory Run State Park 11. Native shrub alternatives Spicebush ( Lindera benzoin ) Inkberry( Ilex glabra ) Chris Evans bugwood.org Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR 12. Butterfly bush( Buddleja davidii ) INVASIVE! Forest & Kim Starr - USGS Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR 13. Native plants for butterflies Butterfly milkweed ( Asclepias tuberosa ) Sweet pepperbush ( Clethra alnofolia ) Bee balm ( Monarda didyma ) Chris Evans - UGA Chris Evans-UGA 14. Norway Maple( Acer platanoides ) INVASIVE! Paul Wray-Iowa State U Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR 15. Native Tree Alternatives Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum) Red Maple ( Acer rubrum ) Paul Wray-Iowa State U Amy Ferriter-www.forestryimages.org 16. Other landscaping invaders

Trees:

Princess/Empress tree

Mimosa

Callery/Bradford pear

Shrubs:

Shrub honeysuckles

Autumn and Russian olive

Privets

James Miller - USDA Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR 17. More landscaping invaders

Vines:

Wisteria

English ivy

Oriental bittersweet

Periwinkle

Herbaceous Plants:

Purple loosestrife

Bamboo

Chinese silver grass

Pat Pingel-DCNR Jessica Sprajcar-DCNR 18. Preventing invasives

Use native plants for landscaping

Reduce use of fertilizers

Brush off shoes

Minimize disturbances

19. www.iconservepa.org/nativeplants/nativeplantssearch.aspx 20. Factsheets www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivefactsheets/index.aspx 21. Controlling invasives H. Hinz and E. GerberJessica Sprajcar - DCNR Jessica Sprajcar - DCNR Jessica Sprajcar - DCNR 22. Online Tutorial www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivetutorial/index.htm 23. Restoration Considerations

Before removing an invasive, decide what to replace it with

Know which native plants belong in an area & know the site

Design the restoration (timing,implementation, evaluation)

Evaluate and adapt

24. Get Involved

Summer 2009, surveyed for purple loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria ) andGalerucellabeetles

Summer 2010, will move beetles to Susquehanna River islands

Eric Coombs OR Dept. Ag. www.bugwood.org 25. Remember: Preventingan Invasive Species from establishing in the first place is preferable tocontrollingit once there is a population in an area. Control is expensive, time consuming, and not necessarily guaranteed to work! Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy 26. Questions?

Jessica Sprajcar

DCNR Office of Conservation Science

[email_address]

717-214-7511