The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is a major feeding, nesting, and resting habitat for migratory birds, neo-tropical passerines, fish and waterfowl. In fact, Lake Erie marshes are visited by close to 70 percent of the Mississippi Flyway's population of migrating black ducks.
The invasive plant species that threaten this vital wetland plant community include: Common reed, Purple loosestrife, Reed canary grass, Garlic mustard, Multiflora rose, and Flowering rush. These invasive species crowd out many of the native wetland plants; the resulting monoculture provides no suitable habitat for wildlife.
Flowering rush is a perennial that grows in shallow water along shorelines as well as submerged in deeper water. Its pink flowers are an important feature for identification purposes; the sword-shaped leaves of Flowering rush are difficult to differentiate from those of Common bulrush and other native shoreland plants.
Phragmities, or Common Reed, readily invades disturbed habitats in fresh to brackish wetlands and also tolerates acidic conditions and low oxygen levels, making it very difficult to contain. Introduced as an aid in erosion control for moist soils, Reed canary grass will also grow in dry soil or in standing water.
Click on any photo for a larger view.
All photos provided by Mandy Tu of
The Nature Conservancy
Close
Window
|
