Farm
Creek.Org Links
October 7, 2004
Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas: http://nps.gov/plants/alien/fact.htm
ECOLOGICAL THREAT: Tree-of-heaven
is a prolific seed producer, grows rapidly, and can overrun native
vegetation. Once established, it can quickly take over a site and
form an impenetrable thicket. Ailanthus trees also produces toxins
that prevent the establishment of other plant species. The root system
is aggressive enough to cause damage to sewers and foundations
ECOLOGICAL THREAT: Oriental
bittersweet is an aggressive invader that threatens all vegetation
levels of forested and open areas. It grows over other vegetation,
completely covering it, and kills other plants by preventing photosynthesis,
girdling, and uprooting by force of its massive weight. In the northeastern
U.S., exotic Oriental bittersweet appears to be displacing the native
climbing bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, which occurs in similar
habitats, through competition and hybridization.
ECOLOGICAL THREAT: Purple
loosestrife adapts readily to natural and disturbed wetlands. As it
establishes and expands, it outcompetes and replaces native grasses,
sedges, and other flowering plants that provide a higher quality source
of nutrition for wildlife. The highly invasive nature of purple loosestrife
allows it to form dense, homogeneous stands that restrict native wetland
plant species, including some federally endangered orchids, and reduce
habitat for waterfowl.
Long Island Sound
Study: http://www.longislandsoundstudy.net
The Long Island Sound Study (LISS) is a cooperative effort involving
researchers, regulators, user groups and other concerned organizations
and individuals. These people are working together to protect and
improve the health of the Sound by implementing the Sound's Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan completed in 1994.
Phragmites - Native
or Introduced? http://ian.umces.edu/pdfs/iannewsletter7.pdf
An exotic strain of Phragmites was probably introduced to North America
from Europe, sometime during the early part of the 19th century, most
likely at one or more coastal ports along the Atlantic coast. Following
several decades
of persisting in low densities, the distribution of this haplotype
rapidly expanded. This expansion was probably facilitated by human
dispersal via the widespread
construction of railroads and major roadways across North America
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Given the aggressive patterns
of spread seen over the past century, it is likely that the expansion
of the introduced Phragmites (haplotype M) will continue to occur
into western and northern parts of the continent.
Connecticut Invasive
Plant Working Group:
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg
This is a list of species whose intentional introduction into minimally
managed habitats (preserves, sanctuaries, parks, wildlife management
areas and other natural areas) should be discouraged. Species on this
list are either potentially invasive or invasive. Invasive species
are either widespread or have a restricted range in Connecticut.
Invasive & Exotic
Species of North America: http://www.invasive.org/
any species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological
material capable of propagating that species, that is not native to
that ecosystem; and whose introduction does or is likely to cause
economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
IPANE - Invasive Plant
Atlas of New England:
http://webapps.lib.uconn.edu/ipane/browsing.cfm?descriptionid=30
Ailanthus altissima , because of its rapid growth, can easily displace
and out compete the native vegetation. It also produces toxins that
can prevent the establishment of other plant species. The root system
of the plant is such that it can cause damage to sewers and foundations.
The tree, when cut down can produce suckers and stump sprouts. It
also is able to disperse quite effectively via its seeds since a single
tree can produce 325,000 seeds a year to be dispersed by the wind.
Save The Sound:
http://www.savethesound.org/
Save the Sound, is funded by membership contributions, individual
and corporate donations, foundations and government grants. The organization
was originally founded in 1972 as the Long Island Sound Taskforce
and was first affiliated with the Sierra Club, then the Oceanic Society.
It has been an independent organization since 1989. The name was changed
to Save the Sound, Inc. in 1995 to better express the organization's
mission and as a call to action. In September of 2004 Save the Sound
merged with Connecticut Fund for the Environment to strengthen its
infrastructure and advocacy presence. Save the Sound is headquartered
in South Norwalk, CT. Our programs in education, research, and advocacy
are the means through which we strive to accomplish our mission: saving
Long Island Sound.
Norwalk Land Trust:
www.norwalklandtrust.org
A Land Trust's role is to preserve and protect open spaces. It is
an ongoing job. We identify critical habitat and wetlands that could
be developed in the future and contact the owners, explaining how
the city, the land-owner, and the natural ecosystem all gain when
land is protected from inappropriate use. We are a tax exempt 501(c)3
organization which means a donation of property to the Norwalk Land
Trust provides abatement of local property tax and a tax deduction
under the IRS code as well.
NRCS - Natural Resources
Conservation Service:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/
The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in
a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve
our natural resources and environment.
Earthplace http://www.earthplace.org/
Harbor Watch / River Watch (HW/RW) is a water quality monitoring effort
that is actively engaged in the scientific monitoring of local estuaries
and watersheds in lower Fairfield County.