Invasive plant species ~ By Eve Carroll

                   AS PRESENTED AT OUR OCTOBER 2022 MEETING 

WHAT MAKES A PLANT INVASIVE? 

• 1) Non-native, able to establish on many sites.  
• 2) Grows quickly
• 3) Its’ spread disrupts plant communities or ecosystems

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? 

• Invasive plants have a significant negative impact on our environment:

Water Quality: 

• Invasive plants take over ground cover, eliminating root structure to bind soil, causing erosion 
• Native plant roots extend deep into soil binding soil & reducing erosion 
• Erosion releases sediment to streams, increasing stream murkiness, impairing water quality
• Invasive plants form monocultures (areas entirely dominated by one species), which prevent establishment of trees

Biodiversity:

• Invasive plant species spread quickly displacing native plants, preventing native plant growth, creating monocultures
• Invasive plants cause biological pollution by reducing plant species diversity
• Changes in plant community diversity reduce the quality and quantity of fish and wildlife habitat

Fish and Wildlife Habitat:

• Invasive plants are a leading cause of declines in native plant and animal numbers
• Outcompete and displace native plants that native wildlife species depend on for food and shelter
• Provide habitat for non-native wildlife, which can displace similar native species because of overlap in habitat needs

Tree Cover:

• Invasive plants prevent trees from becoming established, causing them to fall down prematurely, or reducing growth rate.
• Fire Risk:
• Monocultures create fuel for wildfires

Costs:

•  There are regional, state, and federal efforts to fight invasive vegetation 
• * The Oregon Invasive Species Council estimates that invasive plants cost the U.S. economy $120 billion dollars annually in lost crop and livestock production, control efforts, property value damage, and reduced export potential.
• * Costs passed on to consumers through higher prices for agricultural products

Examples of invasive shrubs & trees in Illinois - SEE BELOW

Examples of Forbs - Herbaceous flowering plant  - SEE BELOW

Examples of vines - SEE BELOW

What can you do?

A Lot  ~ SEE BELOW