INVASIVE PLANTS

On the Stockton Campus

By: Alley Manalio, Erin Maguire, Jackie Kondrk, Theresa Quelch

What Species of plants are invading the campus? How? Where? Why? What can be done?

What are they?

Non-native plants species that compete with native plants for habitat and resources and threaten forest ecosystems. There are several species of invasive plants here on the Stockton Campus found by the previous study done in the fall. Locations:
Arboretum Field next to hospital Intermural fields Observatory

P r e v i o u s s t u d y f i n d s

Why do we care?
Invasive Plants interfere with natural habitats and cause ecosystems to fail
Out compete native plants Creatures that rely on those plants will loose their natural resource May be harmful to native creatures May change the natural habitat of native plants

Preserve the natural beauty of the Pine Barrens

Expected finds
There will be an overall spread of the invasive plants from their original locations. There are source plants, where the invasive plants obviously started from.
Due to large size Large amounts of smaller plants near by, which lead to smaller and smaller, like a ripple effect, with the youngest plants being furthest from source plant. These source plants will be located on sites that were historically farms in the past.

Obvious evidence of Invasive Plants out competing Native Plants

Habitat destruction Vines strangling other plants More healthy Invasive plants in an area then native plants

Null Hypothesis
No obvious signs of the Invasive plants out competing the native plants
Natives and Invasive plants living side by side, neither affected at all by the other

No signs of spread of the Invasive species

Lack of specimens found on campus Invasive plants are only found in the locations in McCormicks study, which would coincide with the previous study done in the fall. In other words, there will be a null hypothesis if the non-native species are found to be non invasive.

Rejection: If signs of competition and/or spread have occurred.

The Plan
Goals
Be able to identify, locate, and map locations of invasive plants on the Stockton Campus
Learn to use GPS systems

Learn more about the Invasive Plants.

Research information on the plants via internet and books
Seek information from sources dealing with these invasive plants Look for basic information about their growth habits and origins

Field work
GPS mapping Pay attention to growing habits
Note any apparent trends

Take pictures

Create database with all available data, and allow for continued studies Create website for future reference and education purposes Create poster for display and educational purposes

What We Did
Looked over the previous study in Stocktonia and followed their methods of GPS mapping Expanded the search areas
Look for further spread Check new areas on Campus Included basic height and spread measurements with each plant or patch of plants. We had to use the eyeball method to make measurements.

Took McCormicks information and entered it into a database

Added field data from previous study as well as our study

Created an informative educational site on the Invasive Plants we found and the dangers of Invasive Plants. Compared all findings with that of McCormicks study and the previous study done in the fall.
Compared responses to invasive plants and came up with our own

Field work Day 1

Field Notes: 4/8/2011 After learning how to use the GPS with Professor Cromartie, we headed out to walk around Lake Fred with Kyle. We had a difficult time locating our particular invasive species at first since we only had pictures to help us, but we started getting the hang of it. We started along the Dark path following the path around Lake Fred, this is a Pine Oak forest area. At first we didnt find much, just an occasional Multiflora Rose or Rosa multiflora. We found several plants we were unsure about and decided to take samples back to the lab for Professor Cromartie. Along the path leading toward the housing we found a handful of plants which we marked in the GPS for later Learn to use GPS mapping. At housing we stopped by a large curious plant Walk around Lake Fred that Professor Cromartie wanted us to mark Mapped where we found the and get a sample of. Then we headed back Invasive plants of concern along toward the main campus via the light path. Dark path However we didnt spend too much more time Pragmities australus was well mapped getting samples as it was already 210 and we in fall study, decided we need not focus needed to get back to class, and didnt really on this plant notice anything much else anyway.

Field Work Day 2

Field Notes: 4/11/2011

Met up with Professor Cromartie and we headed out in his van to the old farm across from the Zinckgraf farm. We looked around and he pointed out each of the invasive plants we were looking for. We then tried to follow out into the woods heading back towards the main campus. We were looking for Japanese barberry or Berberus thunbergii. We managed to follow the plants about 3 meters from each other. Each plant smaller as we got further away, like a ripple effect. Unfortunately the we were having problems with the GPS and were unable to mark these plants for mapping. I intend to return another day is possible. We headed out to the old pig farm on Pomona Road, the old Waszen Farm. Professor Cromartie showed me where some invasive plants were . He then discovered the issue with the GPS and we had to head back to the Main campus, as he was meeting another group. He parked in North lot and headed back via the Light Path and Professor Cromartie showed me some of the Japanese Honeysuckle or Lonicera japonica along the light path. After he left, I continued to mark the Honeysuckle and then looked around the areas close to the main campus buildings.

Inspect possible areas to map with professor Cromartie

Old farm near Campus Main Entrance Arboretum Old Pig farm off Pomona Road. Waszen Farm.

Mapped out areas around main campus, nearest main buildings Mapped out light path

Field Work Day 3

Field Notes: 4/12/2011

I headed out to the Waszen pig farm. I started out in what looked like an old field, and then followed some old fencing back out into an open meadow like area. Tufts of deer fur lay everywhere along with deer dung. I spotted several invasive plants, all of them in this one area. Lonicera japonica and Rosa Multiflora both climbing up into several trees and shrubs. I continued to follow the invasive plants deeper into the woods, mapping every plant I could see. It was a very hard and long process as the place was overrun. Every time I thought I had them all I saw another that led me to another. I would turn around with about an hour of time before class, and get the plants on the opposite side of where I was on the way back. The overall area was that of the old pig farm that moved into a wooded area and a clearing and then woods again. There were trails along the way that I followed. The area looked like it was made up of mostly Pitch pine with Red cedar in some areas. I would assume it was the typical old field succession, which was disturbed by the invasive plants.

Mapped out some of the area behind practice fields that was an old pig farm, old Waszen Pig Farm
Area is untended and plants are growing wild.
Good insight into true issue of invasive species

Field Notes: 4/15/2011 Group met up today, and headed out to the Arboretum. We paused at the Zinckgraf farm and did a quick survey of the area. We found some Rosa multiflora and some Berberus thunbergii, but nothing too significant. We then went up the old road and to the Arboretum. The arboretum, or at least the area in front of it, was a cleared field that had some trees growing in it and plants along the edges. It was here we once again found a little of everything. We marked a few plants on the GPS before some of the group had to leave. The remaining group stayed and noticed that the trees in the cleared area were Briefly touched area of woods actually really overgrown Elaegnus umbellata. We beside Observatory GPS marked some of the plants in the area and Links to the old Pig farm area behind noted some unique things. We noticed that there practice fields was an attempt to cut back the Elaegnus umbellata, Mapped out old Zinckgraf farm but that he plant was resprouting non-stop because Only a few invasive plants found along of it. We also speculated that the weird placement the edges of the plants suggested that they were once broken Mapped out some of the area in off and tossed aside, and eventually became front of the Arboretum another plant. Area is somewhat managed After this we took a quick trip back to the old farm Mapped out some of the old farms across from the Zinckgraf farm and marked a couple near Campus Main Entrance. of plants there too.

Field Work Day 4

What we Found and Learned

#1 Rosa Multiflora

#2 Berberis thunbergii

aka Multiflora Rose

aka Japanese Barberry

#3 Lonicera japonica
aka Japanese Honeysuckle

The Big Four Offenders

#4 Elaegnus umbellata
aka Autumn Olive

#1 Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

Previous information: Dense shrub with thorns Spreads out with arching branches Can produce 500,000 seeds a year New Information: Grows and spreads vine like Climbs over other plants, including trees. Produces white flowers and little red berries Native to Eastern Asia. Japan China Korea

#2 Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

Previous information
Grown as an Ornamental plant Avoided by Deer

New information
Produces small yellow flowers and red berries Has a single spine at each node , whish is a modified leaf Has small green oval shaped leaves
Genetic variations have been favored by ornamental plant enthusiasts
Purple leaves Yellow leaves Dwarf size Hedge like growth

Seems to spread more slowly then other invasive plants Affects its habitat
Can raise soil pH Affects nitrogen levels

#3 Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Previous information
Climbing and trailing vine Can form mats on the ground High potential to overwhelm native plants

New information
Ornamentally sold as a ground cover and for its strong sweet smelling flowers Can spread via shoots Can be a significant food source for deer, rabbits, and hummingbirds. Produces yellow- white flowers that a very aromatic. Used in Chinese medicine
Anti-inflammatory Antibacterial Fever

#4 Autumn Olive (Elaegnus umbellata)

Previous information
Thrives in poor soils, and can grow in various soil types Suppresses native plants due to rapid growth and prolific fruiting

New information
Used for ornamental reasons alongside roads and in landscaping. Used for vegetation in disturbed habitats Is a nitrogen fixer, which is good but may affect native plants that rely 0n nitrogen poor soils. Resprouts after cutting or burning Introduced from:
Japan China Korea

Minor species noted

Species noted in previous study from the fall.
The Common Reed (Phragmities australis)
Well mapped in previous study

Unaggressive non-natives > may be useful for future studies

Flannel plant Unknown Plant:
Privet?

How did the Null Hypothesis fair?

Rejected
Spread noted by ripple effect in Japanese Barberry or Berberus thunbergii from the farm across from Zinckgraf farm and the old Waszen pig farm Autumn Olive or Elaegnus umbellata out competed trees in fornt of the Arboretum Multiflora Rose or Rosa multiflora and Japanese Honeysuckle or Lonicera japonica have been shown to strangle other native plants as they grown vine like up into their branches in the case of trees to get to the sunlight in the canopy

Database
McCormicks Data Fall Study Our Spring Study:

Species Name Lilac Multiflora rose Fox grape Wisteria Privet Hydrangea Japanese barberry Japanese honeysuckle Ivy Autum olive/Japanese silverberry Phragmites Undetermined

Scentific name Syringa vulgaris Rosa multiflora Vitis labrusca Wisteria sinensis Ligustrum japonicum Hydrangea arborescens Berberis thunbergii Lonicera japonica Hedera helix Elaeagnus umbellata Phragmites australis

Site: Waszen farm

Zinckgraf Farm Farm across street

Arboretum Pig Farm

Light Path Dark Path

Lake Fred

A&S Build

Lakeside Build

Dorm F/G

X X

X X

X X

X X

X X X X X

X X X X X X X X

Website

What to do about these Invasive Plants?

McCormick proposals
Leave them alone Removal by any means and destroyed Excavated
Use as ornamentals around buildings Sell at auction, proceeds benefit college Sell to landscaper and have them remove Establish Arboretum

Fall Study
Removal by any means and destroyed

Department of Agriculture and other websites

Removal by any means and destroyed

What we conclude for dealing with them

Leave non aggressive plants alone
Careful Maintenance
Scheduled cutting back
Spread monitoring

Removal
By college
Might be costly

By supervised landscape contractor

Environmental staff supervision
Prevent destruction of nearby native plants and habitat

Prevent removal of native plants

Are these plants still purchasable?

Rosa Multiflora? Harder to find, but YES

Lonicera japonica? YES Berberus thunbergii? YES Elaegnus umbellata? YES

Our closing thoughts

There are a number of invasive species on Stocktons campus that are of concern. Since we are New Jerseys Green College, it would be in our best interest to preserve and protect our native Pine Barren species on campus by responding to invasive species. In order to prevent future problems that arise from invasive species, we need to control their spread. Another important point to take away is that people need to be informed about what plants are invasive and why its important. Education is key.

Future Studies?
There are plenty of future studies that can be done with this project
More mapping of the Campus

pH soil studies
Coiniciding with previous McCormick studies

Web sites of interest concerning Invasive Species

United States Department of Agriculture
www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov

Plant Convervation Allience and National Park Service

www.nps.gov

Invasive Plants Atlas

www.invasiveplantatlas.org