Water soldier Emerging Invasive Species: Credit: © Ruud de Block Report Your Findings! Threats to Pennsylvania If you find any of the 12 invasive species highlighted in this An invasive species is introduced brochure, please report your findings by doing the outside its native range and known to following: cause harm to the economy, Take a photo that includes the plant’s identifying environment, or human health. characteristics (e.g., leaf structure, fruits, flowers, etc.) Unfortunately, many invasive species are exceptionally difficult and costly Note the date of your finding. to control. Ideally, newly arrived Record your location with a GPS unit. willow - species would be eliminated before Prevention: The Key to Success primrose f f - an infestation spreads and Large Consider collecting and depositing a specimen in a eradication is no longer feasible. When introduced into a new region, plant species can regional herbarium (i.e., an institution that stores To aid in early detection efforts, staff become invasive if there are no herbivores or collections of dried plants for scientific study). pathogens present to keep populations in balance. from the Pennsylvania Natural Once you’ve collected the above information, report your Heritage Program initiated a project Aggressive invasive species can rapidly cause findings to the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives database, in 2016, funded by the Wild degradation of habitats and the decline of native a free online program that accepts reports for invasive Resources Conservation Program, to species. Curbing the spread of an invasive species can plants, animals, and insects. Here’s how: determine invasive plants likely to be challenging, but by far, the most effective means of arrive in the Commonwealth over the controlling an invasive species is to prevent it from Request a free PA iMapInvasives account: next 10 years. arriving in the first place. http://login.imapinvasives.org/paimi/request_login_account/ After combing through information Stopping an invasive species before it becomes Create an observation record using your mobile phone about invasive species in North established can save millions of dollars in treatment or a desktop computer: America, many of which are not yet costs and allow land mangers more time to work on Phone: https://www.paimapinvasives.org/mobile-app known to occur in Pennsylvania, other stewardship-related priorities. 12 species were identified as Computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj2GnxLxKew emerging threats. These species Along with prevention, early detection and rapid Questions? Contact the PA iMapInvasives were chosen based on invasive response are crucial components in the fight against administrator: https://www.paimapinvasives.org/contact Water primrose characteristics, proximity to or rarity invasive species. Early detection refers to the finding of Credit: Keith Bradley © in Pennsylvania, and the ability to a new invasive species not previously known to exist in colonize habitats in Pennsylvania. a particular region, state, or locality. Once found, the Asian spiderwort intent is to prevent its establishment by rapidly Credit: © Larry R. Lynch By using this new information about potential plant responding with appropriate management techniques to invaders, land managers, invasive species coordinators, ensure effective control and potential eradication. and citizen scientists can refine their invasive species survey priorities. These individuals can then be on the As a concerned citizen, you can help prevent the lookout for these emerging species so that action can be spread of invasive species too. Here’s how: taken if any are discovered in Pennsylvania. With the help Learn how to identify invasive species and pull or of many, we can preserve the future of Pennsylvania’s safely treat those that you find. native ecosystems for the benefit and enjoyment of all. Never purchase an invasive species for use in your To view a more complete list of emerging invasive species lawn, garden, or aquarium. and a full report on this project, visit the “Be on the Lookout!” page of the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives website Consider planting native species or those with long at https://www.paimapinvasives.org/be-on-the-lookout. histories of use without invasive tendencies. privet Chinese © 2017, Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program Heritage Natural Pennsylvania 2017, © Program. Conservation Resources Wild the from funding with Produced by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program Program Heritage Natural Pennsylvania the by Produced http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/ 800 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 15222 PA Pittsburgh, Drive, Waterfront 800 Western Office Office Western Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program Program Heritage Natural Pennsylvania vine kiwi Hardy 2.0 SA - BY CC © © Andy Nguyen; Water soldier: Jörg Hempel; Hempel; Jörg soldier: Water Nguyen; Andy dropwort: Java Bradley; Keith spiderwort: © CC Paris; Plantes, des Jardin primrose: Water Martin; Tim privet: Chinese ; Asian Asian ; 3.0 SA - BY - © Joni Mäkinen; Mäkinen; Joni helmet: Policeman’s Bugwood.org; Connecticut, of University Mehrhoff, © Sue Blanco White; Reed mannagrass: Leslie J. J. Leslie mannagrass: Reed White; Blanco Sue stonecrop: Swamp O’Connor; Peter thistle: © Takahiro Yamaguchi; Diffuse knapweed: Matt Lavin, Montana State University; Marsh Marsh University; State Montana Lavin, Matt knapweed: Diffuse Yamaguchi; Takahiro © Mauritius Vecchia Pinxit A.D. MMXIV; Asiatic sand sedge: sedge: sand Asiatic MMXIV; A.D. Pinxit Vecchia Mauritius vine: kiwi Hardy — Spread Inside © © privet: Chinese MMXIV; A.D. Pinxit Vecchia Mauritius vine: kiwi Hardy Sonnia Hill Hill Sonnia © Pennsylvania! Joseph Lynn; Lynn; Joseph stonecrop: Swamp ; 2.0 SA - NC - BY CC Mata Luis thistle: Marsh — Cover IN IN Photo Credits Photo stonecrop Swamp S I pecies nvasive thistle Marsh http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/plants/invasiveplants/ G N I G R Invasive Plants: Plants: Invasive E M E PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources > > Resources Natural and Conservation of Department PA http://www.playcleango.org/index.html THESE FOR PlayCleanGo.org > Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks: Tracks: Your In Species Invasive Stop > PlayCleanGo.org Lookout the on Be species - https://seagrant.psu.edu/topics/invasive Pennsylvania Sea Grant > Invasive Species: Species: Invasive > Grant Sea Pennsylvania resources resources - https://www.paimapinvasives.org/administrator “Be on the Lookout” and “Clean Your Gear” Gear” Your “Clean and Lookout” the on “Be Pennsylvania iMapInvasives > Resources: Resources: > iMapInvasives Pennsylvania Online Resources Resources Online Emerging Invasive Species Invasive Emerging © Takahiro Yamaguchi Takahiro Credit: Asiatic sand sedge sedge sand Asiatic Protect Pennsylvania from these these from Pennsylvania Protect Detector Early an Be Hardy Kiwi Vine (Actinidia arguta) Asiatic Sand Sedge (Carex kobomugi) Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) Native Range: NE Asia. Native Range : Coastal areas of NE Asia. Native Range: Eastern Mediterranean Habitat: Terrestrial. Found in forests, Habitat: Terrestrial. Inhabits sand dunes region. shrublands, meadows, and cultivated in and other sandy sites along coastal areas. Habitat: Terrestrial. Prefers to inhabit open landscaped settings. History: First recorded on the west coast areas such as plains, rangelands, and History: Introduced from cuttings in 1886 near Portland, Oregon in 1907, Asiatic sand forested benchlands with light, dry, and as a horticultural plant; cultivars were sedge was later found in New Jersey in porous soils. selected for fruit characteristics and have 1929. This species was widely planted to History: First discovered in North America recently become popular. stabilize sand dunes on the eastern seaboard until the 1980s. in 1907 in an alfalfa field in Washington state. Presumably Ecological Impact: Forms dense mats of intertwining vines Ecological Impact: Asiatic sand sedge invades the habitats distributed in contaminated seed. that can severely overwhelm other vegetation, including trees. of native species including at least one federally listed plant, Ecological Impact: Once established, this aggressive forb In winter, tree trunks and branches supporting hardy kiwi vines seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus). It outcompetes can create monotypic stands which deplete soil and water will break under excess weight caused by snow and ice. This native plants by forming low dense mats and makes dunes resources, displace native species, and reduce biodiversity. species can tolerate cold temperatures (-25°F or lower) and is more vulnerable to wind blowouts and storm erosion. Rare It produces an allelopathic chemical that inhibits root growth able to grow 20 feet or more per year. animal species, such as the piping plover (Charadrius of desirable species. A single knapweed plant can produce up Look-Alikes: Other species of melodus), are also negatively impacted. Salt-tolerant seeds to 18,000 seeds, some of which can remain dormant in the Actinidia, including the most may be able to spread long soil for several years. familiar, the fuzzy kiwifruit distances by ocean currents. Look-Alikes: Spotted knapweed (Actinidia deliciosa). Look-Alikes: Other sedges (Centaurea stoebe) and other Nearby Locations: Reported in including certain Carex species species of Centaurea. and Cyperus species. Ontario, Maine, Massachusetts, Nearby Locations: Found in New York, New Jersey, Nearby Locations: Occurs in states directly