Can
a “native” species be called an invader? Whether an invader is native
or not is irrelevant. If it spreads into an area, forms monocultures, and
results in a marked decrease in diversity, it is undesirable and should be
controlled.
a “native” species be called an invader? Whether an invader is native
or not is irrelevant. If it spreads into an area, forms monocultures, and
results in a marked decrease in diversity, it is undesirable and should be
controlled.
Here
are a few native invaders that under some conditions meet these criteria.
are a few native invaders that under some conditions meet these criteria.
|
Latin name
|
Common name
|
Clonal?
|
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shrubs and trees
|
|
|
|
|
Celastrus scandens
|
American
bittersweet |
No
|
Twining;
forms berries |
|
Cornus racemosa
|
Gray
dogwood |
Yes
|
Prairies
and open savannas |
|
Cornus stolonifera
|
Red-osier
dogwood |
Yes
|
Wet areas
|
|
Corylus Americana
|
Hazel
|
Under
some conditions |
Definitely
invasive in Minnesota; probably in Wisconsin |
|
Juniperus communis
|
Common
juniper |
No
|
Fire-sensitive;
forms berries |
|
Populus grandidentata
|
Big-toothed
aspen |
Yes
|
Root
suckers |
|
Populus tremuloides
|
Quacking
aspen |
Yes
|
Root
suckers |
|
Rhus glabra
|
Smooth
sumac |
Yes
|
Probably
allelopathic; prefers sunny areas; root suckers; can dominate a site |
|
Rhus hirta
|
Staghorn
sumac |
Yes
|
Probably
allelopathic; prefers sunny areas; root suckers; can dominate a site |
|
Rubus allegheniensis
|
Blackberry
|
Yes
|
Forms
patches |
|
Rubus flagellaris
|
Dewberry
|
Yes
|
Spreads
close to ground |
|
Rubus idaeus
|
Red
raspberry |
Yes
|
Forms
very dense clones; |
|
Rubus occidentalis
|
Black-cap,
black raspberry |
Yes
|
Tip roots
|
|
Salix exigua
|
Sandbar
willow |
Yes
|
Wetlands;
root suckers; forms very dense clones; can dominate a site |
|
Salix humilis
|
Prairie
willow |
No
|
Only
rarely invasive |
|
Vitis spp.
|
Grape
|
No
|
Climbs
|
|
Zanthoxylum americanum
|
Prickly
ash |
Yes
|
Prairies
and open savannas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Herbaceous plants
|
|
|
|
|
Arnoglossum atriplicifolia
|
Pale
Indian plantain |
Yes
|
Root
suckers |
|
Helianthus divaricatus
|
Woodland
sunflower |
Yes
|
|
|
H. grosseserratus
|
Sawtooth
sunflower |
Yes
|
|
|
H. tuberosa
|
Jersualem
artichoke |
Yes
|
|
|
Solidago canadense
|
Canada
goldenrod |
Yes
|
|
Woodland
Sunflower can easily destroy the habitat for dozens of native species. So can
sumac.
Here is a recent review with many examples: Carey, Michael P. et al. 2012. Native invaders–challenges for science, management, policy, and society. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. Volume 10(7): 373-381, doi:10.1890/11060 (published online 15 June 2012).
Sunflower can easily destroy the habitat for dozens of native species. So can
sumac.
Here is a recent review with many examples: Carey, Michael P. et al. 2012. Native invaders–challenges for science, management, policy, and society. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. Volume 10(7): 373-381, doi:10.1890/11060 (published online 15 June 2012).
Diversity above ground does not necessarily equal diversity below ground. Our disturbances favor the more aggressive species.