Invasive Species
An invasive species is an organism that is non-native and unhealthy for the environment that it is introduced to.
- Humans are the number one cause of invasive species.
- Oftentimes people will plant organisms they think will be beneficial to the area whether that be aesthetically or for other purposes.​
When you hear the term "invasive species" you may think of gluttonous pythons released and rampant in Florida's precious Everglades. While this is a great example of invasive species, there are much more subtle and present in our area.
- Invasive species are dangerous to the environment because they end up out-competing the native species by not only growing quicker but also by taking other native species' food.
- Many invasive species do not have natural predators because they are being introduced to a new environment.
- These invasive species can also be carriers of diseases that will end up killing native organisms, resulting in a less diverse ecosystem.
Invasive Species of Raleigh
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LOCAL EXAMPLES
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Some invasive species are brought to raleigh for the reason to promote wildlife habitat, some of these examples can be multiflora rose, bicolor lespedeza, and autumn olive.
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Multiflora rose for example is thought to be known to be a ‘guardian fense’ that may keep the erosion of the habitat under control, provide cover for many different types of species, and also grows food called hips; but overall it has a very negative effect on the habitat. Multiflora rose grows too fast where it ends up disrupting the availableness of grazing for cattle, and it is so dense that it prevents other plants to grow there. The best way to control or prevent this weed is by either not planting it at all or using a combination of chemical, mechanical, and labored means. You must repeat this process approximately six times per growing season for two years at the least.
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Bicolor lespedeza was brought to raleigh to provide as a source of erosion control during the hurricanes, it was then proven to be way too aggressive, killing off many native species.
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Autumn olive was brought over to provide a shelter head for game species, it was soon realized that it had no natural predator and began to grow out of control killing native species.
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How Do These Invasive Species Spread?
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Chinese Privet spreads sexually and are produced in vast amounts. Birds also carry these seeds into different habitats.
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Porcelain berry spreads rapidly through vegetative means, they accomplish this by producing colorful attractive fruit that birds are attracted to and they eat them and disperse them elsewhere.
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Autumn Olive is one of the fastest germinating shrub that is invasive, it is close to impossible to remove, even burning this species can cause it to disperse.
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English Ivy spreads upward and downward quickly, with suction pads, it is called a clinging vine.
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Kudzu spreads everywhere all the time.
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Japanese Stiltgrass spreads during any type of disturbance, rapidly. Any sort of movement of soil or water can spread these seeds because they are hardly rooted in the ground.
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The Bradford Pear spreads mainly by animals dispersing seeds
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What Invasive Species Can Be Found in Rocky Branch Creek:
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Chinese Privet
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Porcelain Berry
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English Ivy
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Kudzu
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Japanese Stiltgrass
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Bradford Pear
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Mimosa
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Multiflora
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