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Non-native plants and animals cause problems for many native species on the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR). Protected and relatively undisturbed for the past 60 years, the ORR has changed considerably since 1942 when it was acquired as part of the Manhattan project. At that time about half of the land was cleared and cultivated. Those cleared areas have gradually returned to forest through plantings and natural succession. Now about 70% of the reservation is in mature or maturing native habitats. However, invasive, non-native plants and animals often impact these areas.
Of the over 1,100 vascular plant species found on the ORR, 168 species are non-native, and 54 of them have been identified as aggressive. A report identified the 18 most problematic non-native species for natural areas (i.e., ORR habitats with rare plants or wildlife). Invasive plants on the ORR have spread from old home site plantings, well-intentioned erosion control efforts, forage enhancement projects, and adjacent farm or residential property.
A short overview of the invasive plant issue at the ORR is found in the research park brief Invasive Plants of the Oak Ridge Reservation.
An invasive plants management plan has
been developed to evaluate the issue on the ORR and define strategies to meet the overall goal of reducing
such plants. A major goal of the plan is to control invasive plants in areas (1) identified as important (e.g., natural areas,
areas with cultural resources), (2) where such efforts can make a difference, and (3) that are major
routes of dispersal (e.g., roads).
The final goal of managing non-native plants is to restore an area to a more
natural habitat. In most cases on the ORR successful removal of invasive species allows the surrounding native
vegetation to spread into the newly opened area and become reestablished. In some cases, however, especially
where extensive monocultures of a particular invasive species have become established, more extensive restoration
efforts may be required. Successful treatment of invasive species (e.g., kudzu) that completely occupy extensive
areas may result in large open areas where surface erosion can become a problem before native species have time to
become naturally reestablished. In those cases species native to the ORR are planted. To assure that restoration is taking place, treated areas are monitored for
success, and invasive species are retreated, if needed. As experience is gained with treatment techniques and
optimum timing, treatment strategies for invasive species on the ORR are refined for maximum effectiveness.
A recent presentation provides an update on the ORR invasive plant control program.
Several projects demonstrating management of invasive plants on the ORR have
been initiated. Click on the project name (in red) to view information and
photographs about each project. Information about some invasive animals on the ORR can be found in the following
documents:Photos of Demonstration Projects
ANIMALS
Top of Page
Hemlock Woolly Adelgids are here! (February 2008)
ORNL Imported Fire Ant Update (July 2006)
Fire Ants on the Oak Ridge Reservation (September 2004)
Be Alert for Fire Ants at ORNL (August 2004)
Nuisance Animals on the Oak Ridge Reservation (November 2003) (Note that some of the animals discussed in this biobrief are native species.)
The Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council provides a list of Invasive Exotic Pest Plants in Tennessee. It is available in two formats: 8 x 10 inch or 11 x 17 inch.
Find links to internet resources with more information about invasive plants and animals.