Natives Vs. Exotics: The Benefits of Going Local Trystan Harpold, Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Ecology, [email protected] Sara Fuentes-Soriano, NMSU Herbaria, [email protected]

A B C D E F G

Dave Sussman Lynn Parsons Max Licher Max Licher Bransford, W. D. and Dolphia Marcus, Joseph A. Marcus, Joseph A. A. Krameria bicolor; B. Symphyotrichum novae-angliae; C. Sphaeralcea fendleri; D. Fouquieria splendens; E. Ipomopsis aggregata; F. Chilopsis linearis; G. Ratibida columnifera Introduction Invasive plant species have been an issue in North America since the first settlers introduced exotic plant species, intentionally and 1 unintentionally, from Europe in the 1500s . Invasive plant species are 22% increasingly encroaching on the habitats of native plants in North Native America due to the utilization of exotic plants for ornamentals in Introduced 50% horticulture2. One prominent example is the Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) Exotic which was introduced as an ornamental plant in the 1800s and has 28% begun to displace native cotton woods and willows 3. This can have devastating ecological effects by displacing native fauna and flora, and by damaging riparian zones.

Objectives Figure 4. Native, Introduced, and Exotic Species of the NMSU Campus. To research the prevalence of exotic, ornamental species on the New Mexico State University Campus and to determine more sustainable, eco-friendly native alternatives. Fact sheets of Native Plants

Materials & Methods (4 -18) • Determination of definitions. • Cross-referencing names between various resources and provisional key. • Differentiation between native, introduced, and exotic species. • Compilation of totals for each order, and family. • Determination of criterion for suggested plants (Fig. 1). • Research and selection of suggested plants. • Creation of graphs and other visuals.

Exotic – Defined as any species native do a different biogeographic zones. Introduced – Defined as any species native to the same biogeographic realm, but not to New Mexico . Native – Defined as any species native to New Mexico.

Figure 1. USDA Plant Hardiness Zones Map – New Mexico. Results This research resulted in the analysis of 68 Conclusions species of plants. Of these plant species, 15 This preliminary results show that there is a large majority (Fig. 4) of non-native were determined to be native, 19 were plants on the NMSU campus. Many of these species are not drought tolerant determined to be introduced, and 34 were and require large amounts of water. Many of these species are also considered determined to be exotic. 17 orders of plants invasive. A few examples are Salix spp., Ulmus parvifolia, and Ligustrum lucidum. Figure 2. Root systems of native It was also noted that there are many comparable species of native plants that were represented on campus, with 24 plants show the optimal could be used as substitutes. These findings can be used to improve the water different families also recorded (Fig. 4). adaptations to survive in the consumption of NMSU, prevent the escape of invasive species, and create a environment beautiful landscape of desert plants (Fig. 3). These results, along with the results Observations on campus resulted in a preliminary assessment that of the preliminary observation of new plants on the NMSU campus, will allow approximately 20% of the woody plants of the NMSU campus have the update and revision of Kelly Allred’s provisional key. The updated key will yet to be added to the provisional key. then be used as a paper and online resource for public use. Eventually, It is hoped that this information and key can be used to create a contact with the Our results indicate that a number of native plants have a great horticulture department and change the plant selections for future use on the

potential to be successfully planted and used as ornamental on NMSU campus. References campus considering local climatic conditions (Figs. 2 & 3 ). 1. NPS [National Park Service]. 2005. Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of 10. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 2017. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Natural Areas. Available online at https://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/bkgd.htm Home Page. Available online at https://www.wildflower.org/plants-main [accessed [accessed September 2017] September 2017] 2. Reichard, S. H., P. White. 2001. Horticulture as a Pathway of Invasive Plant 11. Missouri Botanical Garden. 2017. Missouri Botanical Garden Home Page. Available Introductions in the United States: Most invasive plants have been introduced for online at http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ [accessed September 2017] horticultural use by nurseries, botanical gardens, and individuals. BioScience 51: 12. Wikipedia. 2008. Biogeographical realm. Available online at 103-113. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogeographic_realm#/media/File:Ecozones.svg 3. Barranco, A. 2001. Invasive Species Summary Project.Available online at [accessed September 2017] http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff- 13. Stevens, P. F. 2001. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Available online at burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Tamarix_ramosissima.html [accessed http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/ [accessed September 2017] September 2017 14. Inaturalist. 2017. Inaturalist home page. Available online at 4. Allred, K. W. 2005. Provisional Key to the Ornamental Woody Plants of the New https://www.inaturalist.org/ [accessed September 2017] Mexico State University Campus and Environs. Published by Author. Las Cruces, 15. IPNI [International Plant Names Index]. 2015. IPNI home page. Available online at New Mexico. http://www.ipni.org/ [accessed September 2017] 5. Allred, K. W., & R. D. Ivey. 2012. Flora Neomexican III: an illustrated identification 16. Missouri Botanical Garden. 2017. Tropicos. Available online at http://tropicos.org/ manual, 2 nd edition. Published by Author. Las Cruces, New Mexico. [accessed September 2017] 6. SEINet. 2017. Southwest Environmental Information Network-Arizona Chapter. 17. GBIF.org. 2017. GBIF Home Page. Available online at http://gbif.org [accessed Available online at http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/ [accessed September 2017] September 2017] 7. USDA [United States Department of Agriculture]. 2012. USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 18. Encyclopedia of Life. 2017. Encyclopedia of Life home page. Available online at Map. Available online at http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ [accessed http://eol.org/ [accessed September 2017] September 2017] Figure 3. Hardman Jacobs Learning Center, 8. USDA [United States Department of Agriculture]. 2017. PLANTS database. Available online at https://plants.usda.gov/java/ [accessed September 2017] NMSU. Desert gardens are stating to get 9. Flora of North America Association. 2008. Flora of North America. Available online promoted on campus. Considerations on at http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1 [accessed September 2017] this garden styles should focus on root Acknowledgments systems and plant adaptation to local A special thanks to Sara Fuentes-Soriano and Zachary Rogers for their input, guidance, and making this project possible, and to Kelly Allred for the use of his provisional environments. key. Support for this project was provided by the NMSU herbarium and the NMSU Biology department.