The document discusses invasive species in the Hudson Valley region. It defines invasive species as non-native plants or animals that were introduced by human activity and cause ecological or economic harm in their new environment. Some common invasive species in the region include water chestnuts, zebra mussels, and oriental bittersweet vines. The week of July 6-12 is being designated as New York's first Invasive Species Awareness Week to educate the public and encourage efforts to control and limit the spread of invasive species, which are estimated to cost the US economy over $100 billion annually in damage. Events will focus on identification, prevention, and management techniques for dealing with invasive species.

1. SUNDAY, July 6, 2014 • www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/myvalley DUGAN RADWIN, Section Editor • 845-437-4841 • dradwin@poughkeepsiejournal.com 1G
WEED CUISINE
INVASIVES MAKE
GOOD EATING
Many non-native plants taste great, 3G
Business: Six new hotels in works for lower Hudson, 6G
MyValley
Recently Joyce deVries Tomaselli touched a water
chestnut plant.
“They’re nasty. They’ve got these really sharp
spikes,” said Tomaselli, community horticulture edu-
catorandleaderofthemastergardenprogramatCor-
nell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County in Mill-
brook.
As it turns out, the plant, which can be found along
shore areas of the Hudson River, is an invasive spe-
cies in New York. That is, it’s a non-native plant that
grows aggressively and causes harm, in this case,
pain when touched and the forced crowding out of na-
tive plants.
Likewise, Dave Strayer, a freshwater ecologist at
the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook,
saidinvasivespeciestypicallyarereferredtoasthose
SPECIAL INVASIVE SPECIES EDITION: FIVE PAGES OF COVERAGE
Purple loosestrife was introduced locally as an ornamental plant but has become invasive. GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
WEEK TO
HIGHLIGHT
INVASIVES
AMONG US
Focus on issues caused by non-native flora, fauna
IF YOU GO
What: Invasive Species Awareness Week,
Hudson Valley Invaders, an exploration of
common local invaders, including a relaxed
hike and talk on species prevention and
management techniques.
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. July 9.
Where: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies,
Cary East (Gifford House), 2917 Sharon Turn-
pike (Route 44), Millbrook.
Fee: Free
Information and reservations (re-
quired): www.caryinstitute.org/events/
hudson-valley-invaders
By Karen Maserjian Shan
For the Poughkeepsie Journal
See SPECIES, Page 2G
“In the fresh
waters of the
Hudson (River)
and its
watershed,
there are more
than 100
non-native
species.”
DAVE STRAYER, ecologist
at the Cary Institute
In the film, “The Matrix,” there is a
revelatory scene in which Morpheus,
the leader of the human resistance
movement is being held and tortured
by the menacing Machine enforcer,
Agent Smith. Smith explains his hatred
of humankind by likening it to a virus
that spreads everywhere until the host
is used up and dead, and then the virus
goeslookingforitsnexthosttodestroy.
Smith also has a particular antipathy to
humans’ odor.
Although the Wachowski brothers
were probably not thinking about inva-
sive species when they inserted that
scene into the film, it does provide a
vivid illustration of the challenge that
humans face today, one that is ours
alone among all the other living things
on the planet to face. But we will not be
alone in bearing the consequences of
our choices.
The commonly listed characteris-
tics of an invasive species, whether
plant or animal, include 1. A spreading
habitat that tends to overwhelm or kill
other species, 2. A highly competitive
reproductive pattern, 3. A lack of natu-
ral controls, 4. Non-native or intro-
duced into the affected ecosystem, 5.
Behavior damaging to native and re-
gional environments and deleterious to
biological diversity.
Much attention is given to animals
and plants that are brought to a place
for agricultural or for biological con-
trol reasons and then escape into the
wild. One thinks of the Asian Silver
Carp which have infested the Missis-
sippiRiveranditstributaries.Otherin-
vasives are brought as pets and re-
leased carelessly into the wild when
they become too much to handle. The
invasion of the Florida Everglades by
Burmese pythons is an alarming exam-
ple of this vector of introduction. Ill-in-
formed horticultural promotions are
another common means by which inva-
sive species are spread. In New York,
the Oriental bittersweet vine, which is
strangling and toppling our lovely
hardwood trees, is a prime example.
We don’t
have to
be an
invasive
GAIL
BEVERLY
ENVIROMUSE
See BEVERLY, Page 2G
The bear called the meeting to order
and then spoke directly to the group.
“Hi. I’m Bear, and I’m considered a
nuisance.”
The room answered, “Hi, Bear.”
With a sigh, Bear launched into his
tale.
“Things weren’t like this back in the
day. I could roam all over and never wor-
ry that I’d cross paths with them. But the
more of them that came here, the more I
had problems,” Bear said. “My favorite
blueberry patches got paved over, and
they put up the dens where they live in-
stead,” he continued.
Bear paused and sipped some coffee.
“Itwasn’tallbadatfirst.Theywastea
lot of food so I could eat from the stuff
theythrewawaybutitbecameabadhab-
it and they chased me away and labeled
me a ‘problem bear’,” Bear said. “The
thing is — we were here first,” he said
with a quiver in his voice.
“That’sssssss nothing,” hissed Py-
thon.
“Hi Python,” the group said.
“Oh, yesssssss. Hi. I’m Python, and
I’m considered an invasive species,” she
hissed. “It’s not my fault they find
usssssssss cool and want to keep
ussssssss in their homes,” Python added.
“Then we get too big, and they set
ussssssss loosssssse. We didn’t asssssk
to be brought here, but we do the best we
can in a place that isn’t home. Truth
issssss, alligator tassssstes pretty good,
but it’s no fun being hunted for doing
what we do,” Python said.
“Hi, I’m Deer, and I’m called a public
safety and insurance problem by them,”
Deer said.
“Hi Deer,” said everyone.
“I hope someday evolution will teach
ustojudgewhenwecancrosstheirhard,
black paths, but that may take a while.
You know, we’ve been running through
here far longer than they have,” Deer
said. “Maybe it’s them that need to
change.”
“At least you have a chance to make it
across,” Turtle said slowly, adding, “Hel-
lo, I’m Turtle.”
“Hello Turtle,” said Bear, Python,
Deer and the others.
“My homelands are often split in two
by these pathways they build, and I need
to get across to lay my eggs,” she said. “I
mean, who hits a turtle with one of their
speedy machines anyway?” Turtle
asked.
“That’s like hitting a rock or block of
cement. It’s not like we darted into the
road like Deer,” Turtle snapped.
Next to speak was Zebra Mussel, and
everyonemovedbackalittleinthesmall
circle.
“I’m Zebra Mussel,” he said, as a thin
spray of water escaped from the end of
his shell.
“I’m the reason the phrase ‘invasive
species’ exists,” he sputtered. “My spe-
cies didn’t ask to come here either. One
day, we were doing fine in the Black Sea,
and the next thing you know, we’re spit
outintotheGreatLakesfromthebellyof
some ship,” Zebra Mussel squirted. “I
don’t even know what all the fuss is
about. We clean water, making it clear-
er,” he said. “What happens after that
isn’t our problem,” he sprayed defiantly.
The meeting closed with a prayer:
“God grant me the serenity to accept
their invasion, the courage to evolve fast
enough to survive and the wisdom to
know who is to blame.”
Reach Jimmy Buff at buff@RadioWood-
stock. com. “The Green Life” is a col-
umn about environmental issues.
At the Invasive Species Anonymous meeting ...
JIMMY
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THE GREEN LIFE
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moved from their native
range by human activity
and, having established
themselves in the wilds of
the new place, cause eco-
logical or economic harm.
Related terms include: In-
troduced species, exotic
species, non-native spe-
cies, alien species and
non-indigenous species.
“Human activities that
move these species
around include both delib-
erate introductions of
species once thought to be
beneficial but which later
turned out to be harmful
— like the common carp,”
said Strayer, “or acciden-
tal movement of species,
as in ballast water or
packing materials — like
the emerald ash borer.”
Laws govern invasive
species, said Strayer, with
the U.S. government de-
fining invasives as an
alien species whose intro-
duction does or is likely to
cause economic or envi-
ronmental harm or harm
to human health. In New
York state, invasives are
classified as non-native
species to the ecosystem
that are under considera-
tion and likely to cause
harm to the economy, en-
vironment or human
health.
“They are a problem
because a significant mi-
nority of the non-native
species damage ecosys-
tems, our economy and
human health,” said
Strayer of invasives.
Tomaselli said the
more people understand
about invasive species,
the better actions will re-
sult.
“Once you identify
whataspecificplantorin-
sect is, normally there are
recommendations we can
give on management or
control,” she said, such as
pulling up, trimming,
mowing or otherwise han-
dlingtheinvasivespecies.
This week marks New
York state’s first Invasive
Species Awareness Week,
July 6 through 12. The
event, which is funded
through the New York
StateDepartmentofEnvi-
ronmental Conservation,
is focused on raising
awareness about inva-
sives and helping stop
their spread by engaging
people in related activ-
ities.
Linda Rohleder of the
New York-New Jersey
Trail Conference is coor-
dinator of the Lower Hud-
son Partnerships for Re-
gional Invasive Species
Management, one of eight
regional groups across
the state organizing Inva-
sive Species Awareness
Week activities through
local organizations,
events and individuals.
“IthinkNewYorkstate
as a whole has been ramp-
ing up its invasive species
effort,” said Rohleder, in-
cluding a more active
leadership of the issue.
Rohledersaidinourre-
gion, which includes the
counties of New York,
Bronx, Rockland, West-
chester, Putnam, Orange,
Dutchess and lower Ul-
ster, efforts are centered
on encouraging adults
and children to look, learn
and lend a hand, from
things such as reporting
on invasive species to re-
moving invasive plants
and educating others.
“I think economic
problems really get the
most attention, but some
of the more serious dam-
age that slips beneath our
noses is the environmen-
tal, the ecological dam-
age,” she said, for in-
stance, long-lasting
changes in nature’s nutri-
ent cycle per invasive ac-
tivity, even after an inva-
sive species is removed.
Strayer said some ex-
amples of invasive spe-
cies include the zebra
mussel, kudzu, gypsy
moths, pythons in the Ev-
erglades, the Irish potato
blight, smallpox and now
chikungunya, Dutch elm
disease, chestnut blight,
emerald ash borer and
many others.
“There aren’t good,
credible comprehensive
assessments of the total
amount of damage caused
by invasive species, but
the most widely quoted
estimate … is that these
species cost the U.S. econ-
omy more than $100 bil-
lion (per) year,” he said,
“about the same as the
Iraq war at its peak, or
about $1per day for every
person in the U.S.”
While it’s difficult to
determine exactly how
common invasive species
are, he said in the U.S. in-
creases continue to its
more than 4,000 non-na-
tive species, that is, those
not naturally found here,
whether they’re seen as
harmful,desirableorneu-
tral.
“In the fresh waters of
theHudson(River)andits
watershed, there are
more than 100 non-native
species, with six to seven
new species establishing
each decade,” Strayer
said. “Studies in Europe
and China have come up
with comparable num-
bers, so this is a global
problem, not an American
one.”
Some invasive species
spread quickly because of
fewer enemies in the new
range. While all invasives
are hardest to control af-
ter becoming well estab-
lished, steps can be taken
to control or reduce their
effects through screened
biologic controls, cutting
and herbicides. Other
measures include im-
proved controls involving
ballast-water intake and
outtake, plus better man-
agement of dangerous
species in the pet and hor-
ticulture trades and im-
proved public education
about the dangers of re-
leasing species into the
wild, canal barriers.
And, when possible,
quickly ridding an area of
new invaders can help
avoid future problems, as
when, said Strayer, a sna-
kehead population in a
lake in Orange County
was eradicated by the
DEC a few years ago.
“Perhaps the lowest-
hanging fruit is better
control of the movement
of species before they ar-
rive and establish them-
selves,” he said.
Karen Maserjian Shan is
a freelance writer:
mkshan@optonline.net
Species
Continued from Page 1G
A cluster of zebra mussels attaches to an anchor in this phot from the Cary Institute. The invasive species’ small size
belies the large impact that masses of them have had on the Hudson River’s chemistry. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAMELA FREEMAN
PREVENTING THE INTRODUCTION OF INVASIVE SPECIES
» Verify the plants you buy for your yard or garden are not invasive and replace those are with
non-invasive alternatives.
» When boating, clean your boat thoroughly before transporting it to a different body of wa-
ter.
» Clean your boots before hiking in a new area to rid them of hitchhiking weed seeds and
pathogens.
» Fruits and vegetables, plants, insects and animals packed for trips can carry pests or become
invasive themselves. Don’t move firewood, clean your bags and boots after each hike and throw
out food before traveling to another place.
» Don’t release aquarium fish and plants, live bait or other exotic animals into the wild.
» Volunteer at your local park, refuge or other wildlife area to help remove invasive species.
Help educate others about the threat.
Source: The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/forests/help/
invasive-plant-species-invasive-species-education-1.xml
ON THE WEB
» New York Invasive Species Information, including lists, descriptions and pictures: http://nyis.in-
fo
» iMapInvasives, an online, data management system related to invasive species: http://imapin-
vasives.org
» New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, nuisance and invasive species:
www.dec.ny.gov/animals/265.html
Mute swans are an
invasive species in the
Hudson Valley. PHOTO
COURTESY OF DEBORAH KRAL
What is not covered ex-
plicitly in the invasive
species stories, however,
is the common element in
all these stories. It is us.
The profound issue we
must confront is not con-
fined to countering the
damage wrought by the
other species we have
transported, imported
and introduced into envi-
ronments where they do
not belong, but to recog-
nize how we act as inva-
sive species ourselves.
As we push our subur-
banwastelandsintowood-
lands and marsh, are we
not acting as an invasive
species? As we cut one
more road and pipeline
into wilderness, are we
not acting as an invasive
species?Aswemodifythe
environment and destroy
habitat for yet another
wild bird, another migra-
tory butterfly dependent
upon specific native
plants, another bog or-
chid, are we not acting as
an invasive species? And
as we pollute water and
air, are we not more like
the destroying virus kill-
ing its host than we are
like an invasive species?
The error in the analo-
gythatSmithusestojusti-
fy his intended execution
of Morpheus is that a vi-
rus is mindless. It lacks
self-awareness and it can-
not control its spread. It
lacks will. While no one
could blame Smith, if he
were looking at the planet
today, for concluding that
humans’ behavior cer-
tainly puts us in the cate-
goryofavirulentinvasive
species, one that collec-
tively seems to have no
will to control its spread,
the truth is that humans
alone among the species
on this planet do have the
capacity to decide wheth-
er or not to act as an inva-
sive species or whether to
act in concert with the
planet’s life support sys-
tems. What do we want to
be?
Each of us can contrib-
ute to the decision to act
less like an invasive spe-
cies and more like good
planetary citizens. We can
object to the type of cap-
italist expansion that ex-
ploits the wilderness and
support economic poli-
cies that invest in sustain-
able business. We can re-
fuse to comply with the
conformist pressure to
cultivate a big lawn and
instead create a native
woodland or shade gar-
den. We can buy houses
that already exist instead
of supporting the destruc-
tion of more land for new
ones. We can renovate ex-
isting industrial space in-
stead of cutting down yet
woodland for a strip mall.
We can refuse to trade in
exotic species. We can
learn to value land left
alone. We can become
aware of and check our in-
vasive impulses.
Only by using our
uniquely human capacity
to change the manner in
whichweadvancefurther
into our world will we
prove Smith wrong.
“EnviroMuse” is a con-
servation column in My
Valley. Reach Gail Bever-
ly at GBeverly@Fiddle-
headCrosierAdvisor-
s.com
Beverly
Continued from Page 1G

3. SUNDAY, July 6, 2014 poughkeepsiejournal.com 3G
Invasives are weeds. Weeds are just
plants/animals that no one’s found a use
for yet. What if we found a use for all of
the invasives we dealt with? Would we
feel better about them? Or would it feel
better to just wipe them out? What if we
could kill two weeds with
one fork — by eating our
pests into extinction?
Yes,edibleweeds.This
is not necessarily an en-
dorsement of invasives. I
have no sympathy for non-
native, tick-friendly, inva-
sive, barb-bearing plants
like barberry (Berberis
thunbergii). Worst of all,
it’s inedible to humans and animals. But
some non-natives are edible. And these
may help them earn their keep. Or at
least be destroyed one tasty morsel at a
time.
Eat what? “Eat the Invaders” is a
website dedicated to showing us the culi-
nary way to ecological purity. Some call
it “invasivorism.” Or just another way to
eatcrazystuff.Ontheirwebsite,someof
the edible invasives include: lionfish
(common doctor’s office aquarium fish),
nutria (bizarre South American beaver-
thing), wakame (an invasive seaweed),
common carp, Asian crab and wild boar.
Takeiteasy.Maybeitwillbeeasierto
start with more common, tame, inva-
sives like garlic mustard, dandelion and
purslane. Garlic mustard was the titular
star of the book “Garlic Mustard: From
PesttoPesto,”arecipebookbyMichigan
chefs with crazy techniques for eating
this spicy-leafed plant. There’s already a
Garlic Mustard Challenge in many Mid-
western and New England states, there
should be an “Eat it to Beat it” challenge
aswell.Theplantiscommonalongedges
of woods and lawns in our area. Eat it up
— it’s the spice of invasive life.
Teeth of the Lion. Dandelions seem
so pretty and benign, but they really like
to take over our lawns, which are them-
selves not very native/eco-friendly, ei-
ther. Why not eat ’em? Some high school
students get to make dandelion wine in
bio class (to be sampled when they come
back as 21-year-olds, of course). So their
ingestibility is at least partially known.
What about their leaves? Mother Earth
News says this about these unassuming
mini sunflowers: “they also can be added
to a salad, made into jellies or dipped in
batter to make dandelion fritters. The
leaves are rich in potassium, antioxi-
dants, and vitamins A and C. Dandelion
greens can be eaten raw, steamed,
boiled, sautéed or braised.”
Purslane. It grows near sidewalks,
gardensandalloverfarms.Itlookslikea
jadeplantwithsmallerleaves(itisasuc-
culent) but is actually an excellent addi-
tion to salads or stir fries. This is one
weed that has started to make the jump
from useless to useful. It’s practically a
crop now — farmers sometimes sell it at
farmers markets because it grows so
abundantly on their farms and tastes
lemony and fresh.
Ah, farmers — creatively making one
man’s garbage into another man’s gold
since the Neolithic Revolution. The
fresh/local food revolution is alive and
wellintheHudsonValley,andoneeduca-
tional conference is digging it: “Farms
and Food: Teaching the Hudson Valley
from the Farm Up.” I don’t know if pur-
slane’s on the menu (or the agenda) but
with the school gardening movement
burgeoning, maybe we should encour-
age children foraging? For edible inva-
sives, that is.
Andremember:alwaysconsultafield
guide, if not an expert, to make sure you
know what you’re eating before you eat
it.
Tom O’Dowd is executive administrator
for the Environmental and Urban Stud-
ies Department at Bard College.
Want to help control invasives? Try using a fork
By Tom O’Dowd
Tom
O’Dowd
GREEN LIVING
All parts of the dandelion are edible. GETTY
IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
ON THE WEB
» Eat the Invaders: http://eattheinvaders.org
» U.S. Forest Service Eat it to Beat It Challenge:
www.fs.fed.us/blogs/eat-it-beat-it-2014-garlic-
mustard-challenge
» Reap the benefits of dandelion greens: www.
motherearthnews.com/real-food/benefits-
of-dandelion-greens-zmaz08amzmcc.aspx
» N.Y. Times purslane article: http://query.ny-
times.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=
9902E3DB1230F936A35754C0A9609C8B63
» Farms and Food: www.teachingthehud-
sonvalley.org/professional-development/teach-
ing-hudson-valley-ground-july-29-31-2014
Invasive species have
garnered a lot of media at-
tention, and it’s no sur-
prise when you consider
examplessuchastheinfa-
mous emer-
ald ash bor-
er, account-
able for
nearly 100
percent ash
mortality
withininfes-
ted stands;
hemlock
wooly adel-
gid, which is sucking the
life from large tracts of
hemlock stands in the
Northeast; and Japanese
stiltgrass, which carpets
the forest understory de-
priving native plants the
light they need to survive.
As a wildlife ecologist,
I appreciate the utility of
this coverage. It informs
people about invasives
that are having large ef-
fects on our ecosystems,
but I think we need to
start looking at this issue
with a broader perspec-
tive and deeper under-
standing to reduce the
rate of future introduc-
tions. The continued
crash-course model of
discovering and manag-
ing invaders post-arrival
has frightening implica-
tions for the long-term vi-
ability of our ecosystems,
which is the basis of our
survival.
The fossil record indi-
cates we are living in one
of the Earth’s most biolog-
ically diverse periods.
Roughly 200 million years
ago, the super-continent
of Pangaea began diverg-
ing into separate land-
masses, fragmenting an-
cestral species assem-
blages that led to a cornu-
copia of unique life forms
across the continents.
Over millennia, species
arose, either persisting or
going extinct. They inter-
acted and adapted not
onlytotheirenvironment,
but to one another in a
process known as co-evo-
lution.
Modern technology
has allowed nations to ex-
change visitors and natu-
ral resources in a global-
market economy. Tourists
have the ability to pur-
chase agricultural goods
on one continent and,
upon return to their na-
tive continent, introduce
pests and pathogens re-
sponsible for billions of
dollars in damage annual-
ly. Natural resource sec-
tors, such as lumber, have
been responsible for in-
troducing invasive wood-
boring insects and fungi
throughout the globe, re-
sulting in losses of forest
species. Even horticultur-
al plants from exotic loca-
tions are sold at local
nurseries only to escape
people’s landscaping and
invade native systems.
We are currently under-
going the sixth-largest ex-
tinction spasm known
overgeologictime,andin-
vasive species are one of
the primary contributors.
Our inadvertent bridging
of oceanic divides is re-
sulting in rapid, intercon-
tinental species exchange
at the expense of endemic
ecosystems.
Swapping species is a
dangerous business be-
cause exotic species may
be released from preda-
tors and natural enemies,
competitors, and co-
evolved host defenses
thatregulatetheirpopula-
tions. The emerald ash
borer is an excellent ex-
ample of this. This beetle
feeds on the living tissues
of trees known as the
phloem. The ash trees of
Asia co-evolved with this
beetle and launch chemi-
cal and mechanical de-
fenses in response to the
beetle’s attack. Addition-
ally a number of parasit-
oids attack and kill the
eggs and larvae of the em-
erald ash borer in its na-
tive range. However, ash
trees in North America
have not co-evolved with
the insect, limiting their
abilities to launch an ef-
fective defense. Nor do
our ecosystems possess a
native suite of parasitoids
to combat emerald ash
borer larvae, leaving our
ash trees extremely vul-
nerable to the impending
onslaught by this pesky
beetle.
In some cases, scien-
tists have introduced nat-
ural enemies in an effort
to control a new invader.
This tactic, known as
“classical biological con-
trol,” has yielded mixed
success. In 1869, Etienne
Leopold Trouvelot intro-
duced the gypsy moth, Ly-
mantriadispar,asapoten-
tial source for silk pro-
duction. The moth es-
caped his confines and
has been one of the most
destructive defoliators of
hardwood forests. In re-
sponse, scientists re-
leased a tachinid fly,
Compsilura cocinnata, a
natural enemy of the gyp-
sy moth in its native
range. Unfortunately, the
introduction of C. cocin-
natabackfired,andthefly
has been documented
feeding on more than 200
non-target, native moth
species in North America.
When used alone, classi-
cal biological control em-
ploys an over-simplified
logic that disregards the
complex, multifaceted
regulatory parameters
species face in their na-
tive range. When improp-
erly executed, it often re-
sults in poor regulation of
invaders while posing
great risks to native spe-
cies.
Does this mean we
should not manage inva-
sive species? Should in-
vaders be granted their
ecological visas and evo-
lutionary time needed to
facilitate their integra-
tion into the system? I
struggle to answer this,
and it’s a question I fre-
quently face. Often my
answer is “I don’t know …
it depends on your per-
spective.” What I do know
is that species assem-
blages drive ecosystem
function, which is the in-
teraction of organisms
and their physical envi-
ronment to produce eco-
system services such as
water budgeting and fil-
tration, nutrient cycling
and soil viability.
We don’t currently un-
derstand how each indi-
vidual species contrib-
utes, but one of the earli-
est ecologists, Aldo Leo-
pold, noted, “To keep
every cog and wheel is the
first precaution of intelli-
gent tinkering.” Keeping
species assemblages en-
sures a functioning eco-
system that provides the
services we need to sur-
vive. By managing inva-
sive species, we seek to
maintain native ecosys-
tem function and, ulti-
mately, our survival.
In a perfect world,
we’d be able to detect in-
vaders soon after they ar-
rive and eradicate them
before they become prob-
lematic. In reality, we of-
ten aren’t aware of an in-
vasive species until they
are well-established and
causing major issues.
Few management efforts
have led to eradication,
because detection rates
are so delayed that popu-
lations are widespread,
making elimination
from the landscape eco-
nomically and opera-
tionally unfeasible. The
obvious and simplest so-
lution is to avoid species
introductions in the first
place, no doubt a tall or-
der, but measures can be
takentoreducetherapid
rates of spread. Educat-
ingconsumersandtight-
ening up natural re-
source and horticultural
regulations are a couple
that come to mind.
Our global exchange
of species is reducing
the biological diversity
on the planet and threat-
ening functional native
ecosystems. As a result,
we need to manage for
the invasive species we
do have and prevent fu-
ture invasions from oc-
curring. The issue tran-
scends political and na-
tional borders but there
are steps we can all take
as individuals. Support
the movement for local
economies, be mindful
of the items your return
with in your carry-on,
and leave exotic plants
from the nursery out of
your garden. Investing
in long-term integrity of
native ecosystems en-
sures we are moving in
the right direction and
thatwilltakeaconscious
effort from local to in-
ternational scales.
Chris Standley is the
Applied Conservation
Coordinator at Daniel
Smiley Research Center
at Mohonk Preserve in
Gardiner.
Managing invasive species key to our survival
By Chris Standley
The emerald ash borer is an invasive species. COURTESY PHOTO
Chris
Standley
When it comes to sea-
food, sustainability is a
hot topic — around the
world, fisheries are
over-exploited and pop-
ular commercial fish
populations are strug-
gling to survive. At the
same time, invasive spe-
cies such as Asian carp
are wreaking havoc on
ecosystems and further
threatening indigenous
marine life.
But a sushi chef in
New Haven, Connecti-
cut, may have come up
with the ultimate in sus-
tainability: eating the in-
vaders.
At his restaurant, Mi-
ya’s Sushi, Chef Bun Lai
has passed over typical
sushi favorites for a me-
nu centered on invasive
species. In a recent in-
terview with nature.org,
he describes how this
may lessen the presence
of invaders in our
oceans while alleviating
stress on over-exploited
species.
Threatened species
like the freshwater eel
won’t be found on Lai’s
menu. Instead, he crafts
dishes based on what is
plentiful and available;
one of his most prized
ingredients is the Asian
shore crab.
Other invaders on the
menu include lionfish,
warty comb jelly fish,
and Japanese knotweed.
But the invasive species
menu is not limited to
seafood. Other offer-
ings include feral hogs
and rabbits, both of
which are known to be
ecologically destruc-
tive. Miya’s Sushi also
has an extensive menu
of creative vegetarian
rolls, to further reduce
stress on oceans.
Adding invasive spe-
cies to restaurant
menus certainly won’t
solve the problem of
overfishing, but it’s an-
other positive step to-
ward sustainability —
and new culinary cre-
ations.
“Earth Wise” is heard
on WAMC Northeast
Public Radio and is
supported by the Cary
Institute.
If you can’t
beat ’em,
eat ’em
Earth Wise

4. 4G SUNDAY, July 6, 2014 poughkeepsiejournal.com
Aninvasivespeciesisa
plant or animal that is not
native to a particular eco-
system. An invasive can
throw an ecosystem out of
whack by competing with
native species for re-
sources or eliminating na-
tive species. Examples in-
clude zebra mussels, Jap-
anese knotweed and the
domestic house cat.
That’s right. When cats
are introduced to an eco-
system, either for a few
hours a week or because
they have been aban-
doned, they can cause
havoc.
House cats return to
their predatory instincts
when allowed outside. Of
greater concern is the
growing feral cat popula-
tion. It’s estimated that
eachofthe50millionorso
feral cats in the U.S. kills
several hundred small
mammals and between 23
and 46 birds each year.
Globally, scientists
have estimated that cats
have been responsible for
the extinction of more
than 30 species of birds.
And the problem is not
just the wildlife that cats
directly injure or kill. Re-
search in Great Britain
shows that the mere pres-
ence of a cat near a nest
raises the likelihood of
nest predation by other
animals, who are attract-
ed by the alarm calls of
the parent birds. Nes-
tlingsarefedlessbecause
parents stay close to the
nest. And reduced feed-
ing, over long time peri-
ods, can reduce the size of
the clutch.
Well-intentioned trap/
neuter/release programs
are meant to control the
reproduction of feral cat
populations. But these
programs do not elimi-
nate the problem of exist-
ing feral cats in the envi-
ronment.
House cats that are
kept indoors can be won-
derful companions. But
they don’t belong in na-
ture. Any animal lover
should agree that free-
ranging cats take too
great of a toll on wildlife.
“Earth Wise” is heard on
WAMC Northeast Public
Radio and is supported
by the Cary Institute.
An invasive animal species named Fluffy
It’s estimated that feral cats in the U.S. kill several hundred small mammals and between 23 and 46 birds each year. GETTY
IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
Looks like: Identified
by the striped pattern on
their shells, adult zebra
mussels are usually less
that 1 1/2 inches long.
Their life cycle also in-
cludes a microscopic lar-
val stage.
Lives in: The freshwa-
ter, tidal Hudson River, as
far south as Haverstraw,
as well as in a few lakes
and large rivers in the
Hudson Valley. Adult ani-
mals attach to rocks, boat
hulls, docks, pipes and
other solid objects that
are permanently sub-
merged. Microscopic lar-
vae float in the open wa-
ter.
Arrived: Zebra mus-
sels entered the Great
Lakes in the1980s as a Eu-
ropean stowaway in un-
treated ballast water.
They spread into the Hud-
son River via the Erie Ca-
nal,oronthehullsofboats
thatwerecontaminatedin
Lake Erie.
Threats: Large colo-
nies of zebra mussels
divert food away from
native river animals, in-
cluding valued fish
such as shad. They also
attach to and smother
nativeshellfishandfoul
water intake pipes and
boat hulls.
Control: Utilities
keep animals out of
their pipes using chem-
icals such as chlorine,
polyquaternary ammo-
niumcompounds,orthe
recently developed
bacterial toxin Zequa-
nox. In natural settings
there are not many fea-
sible control options.
Interesting fact:
Female zebra mussels
can produce up to a mil-
lion eggs each year.
Species Spotlight is a
regular feature in My
Valley. This spotlight is
by the Cary Institute of
Ecosystem Studies in
Millbrook.
Zebra mussels are tiny but prolific. PHOTO COURTESY OF
PAMELA FREEMAN
Species Spotlight:
Zebra mussel
Looks like: A decidu-
ous shrub that can reach
6-15 feet in height. Fra-
grant flowers bloom in
mid-to-late spring. They
are tubular, reddish pink
to white, and less than an
inch long. Leaves are
oval or rounded. Fruits
are shiny orange or red
and occur in pairs in
mid-summer through
fall.
Livesin:Commonina
variety of habitats, in-
cluding roadsides,
woodland edges, fields
and forest interiors. Can
live in full sun to partial
shade. Spread by sprout-
ing and seeds, which are
disseminated by birds.
Arrived: Native to
eastern Asia; introduced
in the 1800s as an orna-
mental, for erosion con-
trol, and for wildlife habi-
tat.
Threats: Leafs out
early in the spring and re-
tains its leaves late into
the fall, giving it an edge
on native trees and
shrubs. Dense thickets
prevent the success of de-
sirable understory plants
and seedlings. While its
fruit is abundant, it lacks
the fat and nutrients
many native plants pro-
vide migrating birds.
Control: New infesta-
tions can be controlled by
hand removal. Estab-
lished bushes require her-
bicide treatment to pre-
vent vigorous re-sprout-
ing. No biological controls
are available.
Interesting facts: Re-
searchers have found that
areas around dense hon-
eysuckle thickets are 10
times more likely to con-
tain disease-carrying
ticks than similar areas
without honeysuckle.
Species Spotlight ap-
pears regularly in My
Valley. This spotlight is
by the Cary Institue of
Ecosystem Studies in
Millbrook.
Species Spotlight: Tatarian (Bush) honeysuckle
Looks like: Large
white waterfowl, typi-
cally20-25poundswitha
7-foot wingspan. Distin-
guished from our native
tundra and trumpeter
swans by its orange bill.
This is the only swan you
are likely to see in the
Hudson Valley during
the summer.
Lives in: Found all
along the Hudson River,
and increasingly
spreading to lakes,
ponds and rivers
throughout the Hudson
Valley, chiefly in quiet
waters with aquatic veg-
etation.
Arrived: Introduced
as ornamental birds at
estates on Long Island
and in the Hudson Val-
ley; escaped into the
wild in the early 20th
century and now spread-
ing across New York
state.
Threats: Each bird eats
about five pounds of
aquatic vegetation a day.
They are also aggressive
toward other waterfowl
and people who get too
close to their nests.
Control: New York
state is currently revising
a very controversial plan
to control these birds us-
ing a combination of cap-
turing, sterilizing or kill-
ing wild birds, oiling eggs,
and preventing the fur-
ther escape of captive
birds.
Interesting fact: Mute
swans are not mute —
they make a variety of
sounds, including hissing,
whistling and snorting.
Species Spotlight is a
regular feature in My
Valley. This Species Spot-
light is by the Cary In-
stitute of Ecosystem
Studies in Millbrook.
Species Spotlight: Mute swan
Mute swans were brought to the U.S. in the 19th century
as an ornamental bird but escaped into the wild and
became invasive. COURTESY PHOTO
Looks like: Herba-
ceous biennial in the
mustard family. First-
year plants form a ro-
sette of toothed leaves
close to the ground. Sec-
ond-year plants have 1-3
foot stems with small
white flowers and alter-
nate leaves. At both
stages, leaves smell like
onion or garlic when
crushed.
Lives in: Moist to dry
forest habitats, forest
edges, floodplains, and
along roadsides and dis-
turbed lands. A single
plant can produce thou-
sands of seeds, which
can remain viable in the
soil for more than five
years.
Arrived: First re-
corded in 1868, likely in-
troduced by settlers for
food and medicinal pur-
poses.
Threats: Invades
high quality woodlands,
leading to a decline in
native wildflowers. Out-
competes native hepati-
ca, toothworts and trilli-
ums by aggressively mo-
nopolizing light, mois-
ture, nutrients, soil and
space. Contains chemi-
cals that are toxic to na-
tive butterfly larvae.
Control: Pulling, cut-
ting, mowing or herbicide
treatment depending on
the extent and location of
the invasion. No biologi-
cal controls are available.
Interesting fact:
White-tailed deer assist in
itsspreadbyeatingnative
plant species and leaving
garlic mustard behind.
Species Spotlight is a
regular feature in My
Valley. This spotlight is
by the Cary Institute for
Ecosystem Studies in
Millbrook.
Species Spotlight: Garlic mustard
Garlic mustard was first recorded in the Hudson Valley in 1868, likely introduced by
settlers for food and medicinal purposes. PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Lookslike:Thisannual
aquatic plant has clusters
of floating leaves that
blanket the water’s sur-
face. Plants are anchored
in the soil by a long, tough
stem, and typically grow
in dense mats. Spiky,
black seeds can be viable
for a decade and wash up
onto the Hudson’s shores.
Lives in: Quiet bays,
coves and shallows along
the Hudson River, as far
southasHaverstraw.Also
occurs in some rivers,
ponds, and lakes in the
Hudson Valley.
Arrived: Introduced as
an ornamental in the 19th
century, first in Cam-
bridge Botanical Garden
in Massachusetts, then
again in Collins Lake near
Schenectady, New York.
By the1930s, water chest-
nut was established in the
Hudson River.
Threats: Crowds out
native plants and pre-
vents recreational ac-
cess by boaters, anglers
and swimmers. Dense
beds block sunlight from
penetrating the water,
preventing photosynthe-
sis and leading to oxy-
gen-depleted waters that
are inhospitable to fish
and other animals.
Control: Labor-inten-
sive, usually controlled
by cutting or hand-pull-
ing.
Interesting fact: Wa-
ter chestnut is not eaten
by native waterfowl or
fish.
Species Spotlight is a
regular feature in My
Valley. This spotlight is
by the Cary Institute of
Ecosystem Studies.
Species Spotlight:
Water chestnut
Earth Wise

5. Poughkeepsie waterfront
evening paddle — Hudson
River Waterfront, 61 Parker Ave.,
Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie. 6
p.m. July 8. A two-hour, four- to
six-mile paddle for experienced
paddlers with the mid-Hudson
chapter of the Adirondack
Mountain Club. Contact leader
Dave Webber at webberd1@ya-
hoo.com or 845-452-7238.
Personal flotation device re-
quired. Participants must have a
kayak 13.5 feet or longer with
two bulkheads. www.midhud-
sonadk.org
Bob Babb Wednesday Walk
to High Peter’s Kill — Minne-
waska State Park Preserve,
Route 44/55, New Paltz. 9:30
a.m. to 1 p.m. July 9. A moderate
five-mile hike for adults of all
ages and levels of ability. No
reservations required. Meet at
the Minnewaska State Park
Preserve Peter’s Kill Lot at 9:30
a.m. or the Mohonk Preserve
Visitor Center at 9:10 a.m. and
carpool. Parking is $8 per car. Be
prepared with appropriate gear
for the conditions and type of
hike. In case of inclement weath-
er, call hike coordinator June
Finer at 845-255-7247 between
7:30-8 a.m. www.mohonk-
preserve.org
Meeting on Hudson High-
lands Fjord Trail — Dutchess
Manor, 263 Route 9D, Beacon.
7-9 p.m. July 9. A second public
meeting to discuss plans for the
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail,
which will connect the Beacon
and Cold Spring train stations
through a continuous trail
network. The Fjord Trail project
team will provide an update on
draft route alignments based on
public input from the first public
meeting in February and plan-
ning work since then. At this
meeting, the public will have an
opportunity to provide addition-
al thoughts on the possible trail
alignments. The project steering
committee urges all interested
parties and residents to attend
and provide their valuable input
based on local knowledge,
desires and insights. For in-
formation, visit
www.hudsonfjordtrail.org. RSVP
to Jonathan Leitner at 845-424-
3358, Ext. 6, or jonathan.leitn-
er@hhlt.org by July 7.
Seek birds at Bower Park —
Bower Park, Pleasant Valley. 7:30
a.m. July 9. A Waterman Bird
Club field trip. Meet at parking
lot on Ravine Road (off North
Avenue, County Route 72 in
Pleasant Valley). Call Adrienne
at 845-264-2015. www.water-
manbirdclub.org
Black Rock Forest Loop hike
— Black Rock Forest Preserve,
Cornwall. July 12. An afternoon
5.5-mile walk at an easy pace
with the mid-Hudson chapter of
the Adirondack Mountain Club.
Hike includes some hill climbing;
not more than 600 feet total.
Meet at the trailhead at 3 p.m.,
but call leader Sue Mackson at
suemackson@gmail.com or
845-471-9892 for carpooling;
trailhead parking is very re-
stricted. www.midhudsonad-
k.org
Campfire kayak tour for
adults — Cornwall Landing. 6
p.m. July 12. Join the Hudson
Highlands Nature Museum and
Storm King Adventure Tours for
a summer evening paddle on
the Hudson River. Leave from
Cornwall Landing and head out
to a sandbar to enjoy a campfire
and s’mores before heading
back to shore. Prepaid regis-
tration is required. Admission:
$70 (bring your own kayak $30
per person), museum members:
$60 (bring your own kayak $25
per person.) For more informa-
tion and to register online, visit
hhnaturemuseum.org or call
845-534-5506, Ext. 204
Full moon paddle — Cold
Spring Harbor, Cold Spring. July
12. An intermediate paddle with
the mid-Hudson chapter of the
Adirondack Mountain Club.
Meet at Foundry park/train
station parking lot at 7:30 p.m.
for an 8 p.m. launch. Participants
must have a kayak at least 13
feet long with either dual
bulkheads or flotation. Must
have a ready light source (white
light or headlamp); personal
flotation device required. Con-
tact leader Don Urmston at
Mrurmston@gmail.com or
phone 845-457-4552 before 9
p.m. www.midhudsonadk.org
Kayak safety talk and paddle
— Plum Point Park, Route 9W,
New Windsor. 1 p.m. July 12. Don
Urmston of the mid-Hudson
chapter of the Adirondack
Mountain Club will discuss many
kayak safety issues on the Hud-
son including tides, currents,
winds, charts, proper crossing
techniques and what equipment
should be in your kayak. Partici-
pants will then head out for a
paddle and practice some of the
techniques. Big water rules
apply: 13.5-foot kayak or longer
with dual bulkheads or flota-
tion. Personal flotation device
required; spray skirt recom-
mended. Participants must
preregister; contact Urmston at
Mrurmston@gmail.com or
845-549-4671. www.midhud-
sonadk.org
Learn about otters and musk-
rats — Hudson Highlands
Nature Museum, Outdoor
Discovery Center, 174 Angola
Road, Cornwall. 10 a.m. July 12.
Learn about otters and muskrats
and their habitats. After the
program, Pam will lead a walk
to the wetlands in search of
muskrat activity. For adults and
children 5 and up. $7 for adults
and $5 for children or $5 for
adult members and $3 for child
members. For information, visit
hhnaturemuseum.org or call
845-534-5506, Ext. 204.
Newburgh-Beacon Bridge
walk — Newburgh-Beacon
Bridge. 7 p.m. July 12. A hike
with the mid-Hudson chapter of
the Adirondack Mountain Club.
Meet leader at Beacon Park near
Metro-North station. Eat supper
in the park, watch sunset over
Newburgh. Walk up to bridge to
watch full moon. Contact leader
Sue Mackson at suemack-
son@gmail.com or 845-471-9892
to indicate your interest.
www.midhudsonadk.org
Peter’s Kill loop hike — Min-
newaska State Park Preserve,
Route 44/55, New Paltz. 9
a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 12. An
approximately five-mile hike.
Starting on footpaths in the
Peter’s Kill Area, this route will
take participants through a
variety of terrain and along a
cliff escarpment featuring
numerous scenic viewpoints. The
return trip will take participants
on the Awosting Falls Carriage
Road, past the Awosting Falls.
This hike does some rocky,
narrow sections of trail that may
be challenging for some and will
meet in the Peter’s Kill Area.
Parking is $8 per car. Pre-regis-
tration is required; call 845-255-
0752.
Seek birds at the Cary In-
stitute — Cary Institute of
Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon
Turnpike, Millbrook. 8 a.m. July
12. A Waterman Bird Club field
trip. Meet at Gifford House
parking lot, 65 Sharon Turnpike
(Route 44A), Millbrook. Call
Barbara at 845-297-6701.
www.watermanbirdclub.org
Singles and Sociables hike to
Rochester Hollow — Rochester
Hollow, Shandaken. July 12. A
moderate seven-mile hike for
adults. No reservations are
required, but call hike leader Jill
Abrahamsen at 845-389-7756 for
meeting time, location and fee
by July 10. New hikers are also
strongly encouraged to contact
leader prior to the hike for other
information. www.mohonk-
preserve.org
Walk and Talk Series — Bea-
con Institute | Clarkson Univer-
sity CEIE, 199 Dennings Ave,
Beacon. 10 a.m. July 12. Explore
Denning’s Point for wild edibles
and healing herbs with Sarah
Elisabeth, an herbalist in the
Wise Woman Tradition. 845-765-
2721.
Art in the Wild — Hudson
Highlands Nature Museum,
Outdoor Discovery Center, 174
Angola Road, Cornwall. 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. July 13. An outdoor art
exhibit featuring 12 artist in-
stallations around the museum’s
Pond Trail. The theme is cycles
and the artists have interpreted
this in many ways. There are
performances and a dance event
scheduled during the four-
month duration. The purpose of
the project is to help people
deepen the appreciation of the
relationship between art and
the natural world. Details online
at: www.danielmack.com/
AITWDescriptionsMap.htm
Kayak Demo Day — River
Connection, 9 W. Market St.,
Hyde Park. 2-4 p.m. July 13.
Come to the The River Connec-
tion Boathouse, 6 Dock St., Hyde
Park, to try out the latest model
kayaks from P&H, Valley, Ven-
ture and North Shore along with
Paddles by Werner, Lendal and
Saltwood in our own private
harbor setting. A perfect way to
get your feet wet with kayaking
and to try a variety of styles of
craft under the supervision and
instruction of our American
Canoe Association certified
Instructors. 845-229-0595.
Intermediate paddle from
Cold Spring to Bannerman’s
Castle — Cold Spring Harbor,
Cold Spring. July 13. An six- to
eight-mile intermediate paddle
with the mid-Hudson chapter of
the Adirondack Mountain Club.
Launch from Foundry Cove Park
at the Metro North station in
Cold Spring. Paddle north from
Cold Spring to see Bannerman’s
Castle from the water. 13.5-foot
kayak with bulkheads or flota-
tion required and personal
flotation device required. Partici-
pants must preregister with
leader. Personal flotation device
required. Contact leader Don
Urmston at Mrurm-
ston@gmail.com or 845-549-
4671 (before 9 p.m.) www.mid-
hudsonadk.org
Invasive Species Awareness
Walk — Minnewaska State Park
Preserve, Route 44/55, New
Paltz. 10 a.m. to noon July 13.
Environmental educator Laura
Conner will lead an interpretive
walk with information on a few
of the more common invasive
plants and insects found in the
Hudson Valley. Learn how to
recognize these plants and
insects and learn how you can
help alleviate this growing
ecological problem. Meet at the
Peter’s Kill Area. Parking is $8
per car. Pre-registration is re-
quired; call 845-255-0752.
Singles and Sociables outing
to Bonticou Crag and Table
Rocks — Mohonk Preserve, 3197
Route 44/55, Gardiner. 9:30
a.m.-3 p.m. July 13. A moderate
six-mile hike for adults. No
reservations required. Meet at
the Mohonk Preserve Spring
Farm Trailhead. New hikers are
strongly encouraged to contact
leader Roberta Forest at 845-
750-7059 prior to the hike for
information. Hike leaders deter-
mine whether or not to allow
pets. Nonmembers pay the $12
hiking day-use fee. www.mo-
honkpreserve.org
ONGOING
Art in the Wild: Naturally
Inspired Trailside Creations —
Hudson Highlands Nature
Museum, Outdoor Discovery
Center, 174 Angola Road, Corn-
wall. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays
and Sundays to Aug. 31. An
outdoor art exhibit curated by
Daniel Mack. Free. For more
information visit hhnaturemu-
seum.org or call 845-534-5506,
Ext. 204.
Meet Rescued Farm Animals
— Catskill Animal Sanctuary, 316
Old Stage Road, Saugerties. 11
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and
Sundays through fall. Take a
tour, learn the site’s history and
mission, meet some of the
300-plus rescued farm animals
and hear rescue stories. 845-336-
8447.
Early morning birders —
Minnewaska State Park Pre-
serve, Route 44/55, New Paltz. 8
a.m. Tuesdays to Oct. 28. Out-
ings led by birding volunteers
and park naturalists. Meet at the
Minnewaska main entrance and
come prepared with binoculars.
Outing destinations will be
determined the day of the
program. Call 845-255-0752.
Rock climbing program —
Mohonk Preserve, 3197 Route
44/55, Gardiner. Programs at 1
p.m. Saturday and Sunday
through October, weather
permitting. Interpretive pro-
gram on “How Did the Rope Get
Up There? History and Practice
of Gunks Rock Climbing” and
“Ecology and People of the
Shawangunks, Yesterday and
Today.” No reservations re-
quired. Meet at the Trapps
Bridge. These programs will last
approximately 20 minutes and
involve a gentle stroll. Non-
members pay $12 day use fee.
Children 12 and under are free.
Children must be with an adult.
845-255-0919.
OUTDOOR NOTES
There will be a program on muskrats and otters at the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum at 10 a.m. July 12. PHOTO
COURTESY OF PAM GOLBEN
COMING NEXT
WEEK IN MY
VALLEY
Visit www.poughkeepsie
journal.com/
myvalley for this story and
the latest environmental
news:
Earth Wise looks at how
nature endures, even in
urban areas.
SUNDAY, July 6, 2014 poughkeepsiejournal.com 5G
Looks like: A tall pe-
rennial grass that often
reaches over 10 feet in
height.Plantshavesturdy
stems and a conspicuous,
fluffy seed head. They
typically grow in dense
stands.
Lives in: Common and
widespread in wetlands
and roadside ditches
throughout the Hudson
Valley, in fresh or brack-
ish water.
Arrived:It’slikelythey
were introduced from
Europe by the early 19th
century as a contaminant
in solid ballast used in
transoceanic ships.
Threats: Dense stands
of common reed block
recreational access,
crowd out native plants
and provide poor habitat
for some kinds of birds
and wildlife (although
some animals do live in
their stands).
Control: Difficult to
control,althoughfire,her-
bicides, cutting, and cov-
ering by geotextiles have
allbeenusedwithvarying
degrees of success.
Interesting fact: Com-
mon reed can spread by
both seed dispersal and
root (rhizome) fragments.
Species Spotlight is a
weekly feature in My
Valley. This Species Spot-
light is by the Cary In-
stitute for Ecosystem
Studies in Millbrook.
Species Spotlight:
Common reed (phragmites)
Common
reed can
spread by
both seed
dispersal and
root
(rhizome)
fragments.
COURTESY
PHOTO