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| Invasive Species | Control & Monitoring | Student Research | Links |
Invasive species pose a serious threat to our ability to preserve, restore, recreate,
and maintain native ecosystems at CERA. Invasives are native or non-native species
that disrupt the structure and functioning of native ecosystems. The following list
includes non-native species we are trying to control in each type of habitat.
Prairie Invaders
Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)
Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Crown vetch (Coronilla varia)
Yellow and White sweetclovers (Melilotus officinale, M. alba)
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
Smooth brome (Bromus inermis)
Savanna/Woodland Invaders
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
Honeysuckles (Lonicera maackii, L. tartarica)
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
Smooth brome (Bromus inermis)
Wetland Invaders
Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Generalists/Disturbed Area Invaders
Wild carrot/Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota)
Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
Burdock (Arctium minus)
Species List of Exotic and Invasive Species at CERA
This list [invasivespecies.pdf] contains all non-native species that have been
identified at CERA, with those having invasive qualities indicated.
Herbicides, mowing, hand-cutting, prescribed burning, and combinations of all of
these methods are used to control invasives at CERA. Generally, biennial species
like wild carrot, wild parsnip, and sweetclovers are controlled by cutting flowering
stems prior to seed set. Perennial grasses are controlled by carefully timing
prescribed fire. Herbicides are used extensively to control perennial forbs
(Sericea lespedeza, Canada thistle, crown vetch) and woody shrubs and
trees (multiflora rose, honeysuckles, black locust) in combination with frequent
prescribed burns.
Extensive monitoring is conducted each year to evaluate the effectiveness of all
control methods. Numbers and locations of cut plants are recorded in work journals
and numbers and locations of plants cut and/or treated with herbicides are
documented in herbicide records. Systematic monitoring data has been collected
since the 2001 growing season. Contact the CERA
Manager for access to these data.
- Alward, Sarah E. 2003.
Using herbarium records to document plant invasions in Iowa. MAP, Vince Eckhart.
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