It’s about time we uproot the invasive plant problem on the island. Luckily, the Natural Neighbors Invasive Plant Brigade (IPB) is here to help.
Whether it’s pulling fistfulls of Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) along roadsides, or tackling expansive stands of Asian bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) with loppers, the IPB is hard at work managing invasive species across the island. Since June we have removed more than 21 contractor bags and several pickup truck beds full of mixed invasive species debris. Work sessions are expected to continue into the fall and early winter; if you need help removing invasive vegetation on your property, consider joining us!
Invasive removal is an important part of conservation efforts, even though it may look gruesome. These problem plants were introduced through anthropogenic influence after European colonization and now grow rapidly without natural forces to keep them in check. The resulting aggressively robust growth patterns don’t mimic their behavior in their native range. Instead, dense monocultures form that outcompete other vegetation, which dramatically simplifies biodiversity. Unfortunately, these plants usually cannot be grown in controlled settings outside of their native range because they inevitably escape cultivation and establish in surrounding wild areas. Wildlife that rely on native ecosystems are put at risk when the native plants they use as host plants, food, and refugia are overcrowded by unfamiliar vegetation.
The IPB works to combat the harm caused by invasive infestations by mechanically removing troublesome vegetation, which gives infested areas a chance to restore their native compositions. This is in the best interest of local ecosystems, the climate, and humans!
Before and after removing invasive Japanese stiltgrass (Photos: Robyn Graygor)
Areas that are crowded by a monoculture are more vulnerable to a devastating collapse than biodiverse habitats. This is because biodiversity creates natural resistance to pests and pathogens. It makes sense when you think about it; if Martha’s Vineyard’s canopy consisted of an American beech (Fagus grandifolia) monoculture, we would be losing all of our trees to beech leaf disease. But in reality we have a mix of oak, maple, birch, cedar, pine, and aspen, which has allowed us to maintain an intact canopy today. If an invasive species, such as Norway maple (Acer platanoids) or black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) were to succeed in dominating a significant portion of the canopy, our upper-story would be at greater risk of collapse in the face of disease.
Invasive species also introduce stressors that diminish ecosystem functions. Both the emerald ash borer and hemlock wooly adelgid have weakened the strength of eastern forests and the ability of impacted trees to sequester carbon. A 2021 paper published in the journal Frontiers in Forest and Global Change found that U.S. forests impacted by severe insect disturbance sequestered 69% less carbon than forest plots without recent disturbance (Quirion et al. 2021). Similarly, eastern forests that are overrun with invasive plants experience regeneration debt because dense understory layers inhibit the growth of new native seedlings and saplings (Miller et al. 2023). When regeneration is stunted, carbon sequestration is reduced and adaptive resilience is threatened. Deer browse presents additional stress to native plant species richness and abundance. In some cases, the presence of deer can even increase the proportion of introduced species (Averill et al. 2018). Forest structures that host both deer browse and invasive plants are at the greatest risk of being overpowered by invasive shrub thickets (Miller et al. 2021). This unnatural accumulation of invasive species dismantles the function of original ecosystems, exacerbating the effects of climate change as we lose more pockets of intact native ecosystem to invasive disturbance. What is left is even less well equipped to handle the stresses of climate change.
In some cases, invasive plants can cause areas to be more susceptible to extreme climate-driven disturbances. In the western U.S., the presence of invasive and highly flammable cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) causes frequent wildfires. These fires devastate shrubland environments and favor the growth of more cheatgrass, leading to dense stands and more fires (Germino et al. 2016; Nagy et al. 2021). Aquatic invasive species like water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) can jeopardize waterway infrastructure which can intensify flood damage (Vissichelli 2018). Dense clumps of giant reed (Arundo donax) similarly break off during intense flood events and disturb channel flow. Other species like saltcedar can lower water tables and exhaust groundwater with their high water consumption. This damage threatens the ecological integrity of our planet, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.
The goal isn’t to revert habitats that are altered by invasive species back to their exact original form, but rather to give native species a fighting chance to reclaim space and restore some level of balance. It’s unlikely that invasive species will be fully eradicated, but responsible management can help integrate native habitat into places it might otherwise be lost. After removal of invasives, it’s important to replant the area with resilient native species to prompt natural succession. Common pioneer species like lichens, mosses, grasses, and forbs are the first to pop up after a disturbance event. These species are therefore most likely to thrive as early successional restoration plantings. You see this in nature all the time: if a strip of forest is clearcut, a meadow grows in its place, then shrubs pop up, and eventually the forest begins to regenerate. Without headstarting native pioneer species, the infestation is likely to reestablish itself, making consistent management necessary to weed out any returning invasive species. Although this process can be a lot of work, the time and energy put into nurturing a restoration site will be worth it.
Biodiverse native habitats support a wide range of plant and animals communities, effectively store high concentrations of carbon, and are better prepared to mitigate and handle climate-driven disasters. These ecosystems are especially vulnerable on islands that host native plants that have evolved in isolation under unique conditions. Responsible management is imperative to conserve these extraordinary natural spaces, which in some cases are globally rare such as the Vineyard’s sandplain grasslands and healthlands.
The IPB educates and empowers property owners so they can help manage invasive infestations around the island. Participants donate their time removing invasive species on someone else’s land and in turn earn the same time and effort on their property. Doing so helps keep the Martha’s Vineyard community informed about common invasive offenders and offers a tangible way for anyone to contribute to conservation. It’s time to tackle areas suffering from invasive disturbance so that you can get your property out of the weeds and into the light!
Sources
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Miller, K. M., B. J. McGill, A. S. Weed, C. E. Seirup, J. A. Comiskey, E. R. Matthews, S. Perles, and J. Paul Schmit. 2021. Long-term trends indicate that invasive plants are pervasive and increasing in eastern national parks. Ecological Applications 31:e02239.
Miller, K. M., S. J. Perles, J. P. Schmit, E. R. Matthews, A. S. Weed, J. A. Comiskey, M. R. Marshall, P. Nelson, and N. A. Fisichelli. 2023. Overabundant deer and invasive plants drive widespread regeneration debt in eastern United States national parks. Ecological Applications 33:e2837.
Nagy, R. C., E. J. Fusco, J. K. Balch, J. T. Finn, A. Mahood, J. M. Allen, and B. A. Bradley. 2021. A synthesis of the effects of cheatgrass invasion on US Great Basin carbon storage. Journal of Applied Ecology 58:327–337.
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