(Reprinted from an article in the Charlevoix Conservation District newsletter,
by Kelly Martin, District Coordinator).
[http://www.charlevoixcounty.org/cd.asp]
Invasive species come in all forms and have the potential to alter the
very things that we love about northern Michigan. Once again the residents of
Beaver Island are leading the charge to raise the public’s awareness of these
threats!!!!
Hats off to the Beaver
Island Association’s Endangered & Invasive Species Management Initiative!
The purpose of the initiative is to identify & inventory endangered species
and invasive plant species on Beaver Island and devise environmentally
appropriate & effective measures to protect the former and control the
latter.
The Island’s natural resources
have been damaged as a result of weather, logging, recreation & nature. It
is important to identify and continuously monitor & assess management
actions to protect endangered native plants and prevent, identify and eliminate
specific invasive plant species. Beaver Island property owners want to continue
to obtain the economic benefits of eco-tourism, maintain viable populations of
all species including game species for hunting, and promote tourism with
responsible recreation and use of island habitat.
Initially the program will focus
on aquatic & terrestrial invasive plants on Beaver Island; although all the
islands in the archipelago may be included at a later date. The program will
not consider plants that are indigenous, non-endangered or non-harmful native
invasive species.
Goal 1: Educate. Property owners & visitors will be trained to identify invasive
species & learn ways to eradicate them. A web site will be created to
provide one-stop shopping information on invasive plant species. Educational
events and products will be provided in multiple formats.
Goal 2: Inventory. Develop & maintain lists of endangered & high threat invasive
species. Establish a communication process for reporting random sightings with
a ready-made form to use.
Goal 3: Recruit. Recruit & train an EDRR (Early Detection Rapid Response) team to
help treat infestations. Provide volunteers with opportunities to assist in
detection, treatment and monitoring of invasive plants.
Goal 4: Rehabilitate. Eradicate invasive species (dig up, spray, contain); Protect
endangered species (signage, fencing, walk ways); Rehabilitate & replant
sites where appropriate.
Based on specific Island
conditions, the TOP FIVE Beaver Island invasives identified as priority species are: Phragmites, Autumn Olive, Scots Pine, Marsh Thistle
(European Swamp Thistle), and Spotted Knapweed. These are followed closely
by the NEXT FIVE invasives deserving
attention: Purple Loosestrife, Giant
Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed, Garlic Mustard, and Black Locust.
Working in Partnership - Much More
Effective. The Beaver Island Association has
been working closely with the Michigan
Dept. of Natural Resources (MDNR) over the years and is currently working
with them on the development of an invasive Phragmites 5-year plan.
Another partner providing valuable
assistance & expertise is the Michigan
Natural Features Inventory (MNFI). They are uniquely qualified to provide
information for rare elements of diversity and natural communities. MNFI will
work with Islanders integrating GIS and reporting sightings on the Midwest
Invasive Species Information Network web site. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is also a significant partner that has
helped BIA develop strategies for a number of ecological threats, including
invasive plants, invasive insects, and wildlife issues in the past. This summer
TNC will conduct a coarse-scale survey on Beaver Island for autumn olive &
spotted knapweed (TOP 5). Also, a fine-scale “early detection” survey for over
20 of the most threatening invasive species like Japanese knotweed and garlic
mustard (Next 5). This survey will be very detailed, carried out on over 6,000
acres of public land, and will guide treatment and monitoring activities
including the outer islands in the future. Plus, the Little
Traverse
Bay Band of Odawa Indians (LTBB) is
working on a management plan for their properties through a Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative grant. As well as documenting plants of tribal
significance, bio-diversity work on outer islands, and an aquatic invasive
species plan for treatment and follow-up. Through cooperation between MDNR,
TNC, LTBB, and MNFI, data & resources are in place to ensure treatment is
accurately & appropriately carried out on the outer islands while they are
still largely un-infested.
Invasive Species Summit – June 14
At
Beaver Island community Center from 2 pm to 5 pm
Sponsored
by the Beaver Island Association
The
purpose of this meeting is to inform you of the dangers of invasive species,
how to control them and their negative impact on outdoor activities, real
estate values, the island economy and our environment. Invasive plants are spreading on almost all
private and public lands on our island archipelago.
● Invasive
plants can decrease your ability to enjoy hunting, fishing, mushroom
collecting, bird watching, and other recreational pursuits.
● Invasive
plants, if left unchecked, will limit many uses our islands now and for future
generations.
● Invasive
plants can harm the natural heritage of our wetlands, fields, forests, lakes,
and rivers.
● The
longer we wait, the more expensive it will be to control invasive plants.
You can be a part of the solution
by learning about Beaver Island’s invasive plants and taking action to prevent
their spread.
To Register, email your Name, Address, Affiliation or Organization and Phone number and Email to:
Beaverislandassocaition@gmail.com (ONLY ONE NAME OR MARRIED COUPLE PER REGISTRATION PLEASE)
Beaver
Island’s Top Ten Invasive Species
Invasive Species: What is an
invasive plant? Invasive plants are
typically non-native, rapidly reproducing species, which threaten the integrity
of natural areas. Once established in an area, invasive species can have
devastating effects. Finding and treating invasive plants as soon as they
appear saves time and money on future efforts.
What should you look for?
Phragmites is a very tall grass that occurs in
both native and non-native forms. The
two forms are difficult to tell apart, but in general the invasive form occurs
along Lake Michigan and inland lake shorelines in very dense stands that shade
out other plants. The seed heads are
large and loose and resemble a feather-duster when mature. The leaves are dark green (not yellow-green),
and the stems are solid green, dull colored, slightly ribbed, with no spotting
on the stem and little or no red where the leaves attach to the stem. Native Phragmites plants have shiny, smooth stems with red
where the leaves attach and spotting on the stem due to a native fungus that
does not attack the invasive form.
Autumn olive is a shrub that is found in open habitats, such as road
edges and old fields. It has small oval
or lance-shaped leaves that alternate in their attachment to the stem. The leaves are usually grayish-green in
color, and their undersides are silvery-white. The flowers are small, light yellow, and very fragrant. They appear soon after the plant leafs out in
the spring or early summer. In the fall,
the plant will be covered with small, edible red fruits with white spots. Seeds are spread by birds.
Scots pine (Scotch pine) is one of only three pine species on Beaver Island. It has very short, twisted needles (no more
than 2 inches long) that occur two in a bundle. The native white pine has five needles per bundle, and the red pine,
also native, has two needles per bundle, but the needles are 4 to 5 inches
long. Scots pines are susceptible to a
large number of diseases that can potentially infect native pine species. They also produce huge numbers of seeds that
germinate quickly and crowd out native plants species of all types.
Marsh thistle (European swamp thistle) is a
thistle that grows 3 to 5 feet tall. It
has a rosette (circle) of leaves at the base that are long, spiny, and deeply
lobed. The stem is thick, often reddish,
and covered hairy spines and equally spiny, hairy leaves. The pinkish-purple flowers appear at the top
of the stem in a tight cluster, usually in June or July. On Beaver Island this plant is more likely to
be found in moist areas than in dry sand. The native Pitcher’s (beach) thistle, which is a federally threatened
species, is found growing on sandy Lake Michigan beaches. It is a less spiny, shorter plant, with
distinctive gray-green foliage, and has a single flower head that is a light
yellow-purple. If in doubt, consult an
expert before eradicating any thistles from sandy Lake Michigan beaches.
Spotted knapweed is an herbaceous (non-woody) plant found mostly in dry, open
areas. The first year after germination
it lives as a rosette (circle) of irregularly lobed gray-green leaves, and
during the second year it flowers profusely from long, branched stalks 8-40
inches tall. There are leaves along the
flowering stems that alternate with each other in their attachment to the
stem. The stem leaves are lance-shaped
or slightly lobed. The small pink to
purple flowers are thistle-like in appearance and occur on individual
stalks. The plant is difficult to
eliminate because it has a deep taproot that will regrow if the above-ground plant is removed. Spotted knapweed contains an irritant chemical, so gloves should be worn
while pulling. Because of its
thistle-like appearance and gray-green leaves, it can be mistaken for native
plants when not flowering, including wormwood and the federally endangered
Pitcher’s (beach) thistle. If in doubt,
consult an expert before removing.
Purple
loosestrife grows up
to 5 feet tall and is most often found in damp habitats. It has a square stem like a mint, and the
pairs of leaves that occur on the stems grow directly opposite each other. The leaves are lance-shaped, and the stem and
leaves are covered with fine hairs. It
flowers from June until September and produces showy spikes of bright
pink-purple flowers, sometimes with over 30 stems from a single plant. Purple loosestrife has been found in
scattered clumps around the island, including along the Lake Michigan
shoreline. It is important to be vigilant
and eliminate this invasive before it becomes more common.
Giant hogweed (wild parsnip) can grow to 15 feet tall even though it is an
herbaceous (not woody) plant. Its
flowers are produced in an umbel, which is a multi-branched head composed of small
flowers and shaped somewhat like an umbrella. The flowers are white and produced in June and July. The leaves, too, can be huge—exceeding 3 feet
in diameter. They are deeply lobed and
compound, meaning that there is more than one leaflet on a stalk. Unfortunately, this plant looks very similar
to the native cow parsnip. The best way
to tell the two apart is with stem characteristics. Giant hogweed has thick stems (2-4 inches)
that are covered with purple or red blotches, particularly toward the base. There are also thick, white hairs at the base
of the petioles (leaf stalks) where they join the stems. Cow parsnip has thinner stems (1-2 inches),
and they are not prominently splotched with purple. There are also only small, fine hairs on the
stem, with no thick growth of hairs at the base of the leaves. Giant hogweed is also toxic! If the sap from cutting leaves and stems gets
on the skin which is then exposed to sunlight, there is a risk of developing
severe welts and blisters. Do not
attempt to eradicate giant hogweed on your own; consult an expert for help.
Japanese knotweed is a tall herbaceous (not woody) plant that resembles a
shrub. It can grow 3-9 feet high in
dense thickets. The leaves are 2-3
inches wide at the base, gradually narrowing to a sharp tip. They alternate with each other in their
attachment to the stem. The stem is
reddish, ribbed, and jointed where the leaves join the stem. The leaf petioles (stems) are about 1 inch
long and are also reddish and ribbed. Flowers, which appear in late summer, occur in long, nodding spikes and
are greenish-white. This plant spreads
rapidly via rhizomes, which are underground horizontal roots. It cannot be eradicated by cutting it back;
in fact, doing so may encourage more vigorous growth.
Garlic mustard is an herbaceous (not woody) plant that tolerates shade and
is found most commonly in mature woods. Its leaves are rounded or triangular in shape with scalloped edges. The leaf veins are prominent and form a
branching network pattern on the surface of the leaves. The plant grows 12-36 inches in height. The small flowers are white with four petals
and occur in clusters at the top of the plant. On Beaver Island, it will be the only plant of its height flowering in
the woods in May. At this time, garlic
mustard is not a serious problem on the island, but it is important to
eradicate any plants that are found to prevent the species from spreading.
Black locust is a tree species that spreads
rapidly in dry, open areas. It is native
to the Appalachian and Ozark Mountains but not the upper Midwest. It is a legume (member of the pea family), so
its leaves, flowers, and pods resemble those of pea plants. The leaves are compound (multiple leaves on
one stem) and the leaflets that comprise the leaf are oval in shape and widely
spaced. The stems of the leaf clusters
alternate with each other on a branch. The white pea-like flowers occur in fragrant, cascading clusters in May
and June. The brown pods persist on the
tree in well after the leaves fall off in the fall. Cutting a tree results in stump sprouting,
and the horizontally spreading roots are capable of suckering.
You can help: Locate, monitor, control invasives.
To
participate, email your name, address, affiliation or organization and phone
number and email to:
Beaverislandassocaition@gmail.com
Invasives Archive Information
Click here for an archive of previous information on Invasive Species including an archive of invasive Phragmites information.
