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Fire Island National Seashore
Nonnative Species
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Fire Island National Seashore is a complex park with a number of historic and modern structures, landscapes, and natural areas, including wilderness and dynamic coastal dunes with accompanying vegetation.
Beyond the usual assortment of urban and rural pest issues, extensive populations of exotic invasive plants present an additional challenge. Invasive plants and animals often find their way into the park through neighboring non-federal lands.
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An invasive plant mapping project in 2002 found fifteen invasive plant species on Fire Island and seven at the William Floyd Estate. Funding for continued inventory and mapping was obtained in 2007 and 2008, and an invasive species control program was initiated for Fire Island National Seashore in 2008.
The most prominent invasive plant species on Fire Island include:
- Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergiana)
- Autumn Olive (Eleagnus umbellata)
- Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris)
Other invasive plants of concern include:
- Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
- Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
- Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)
- Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonicus)
- Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
- Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
- Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)
- Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
- Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
- Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
- Chinese Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)
- Chinese/Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria ssp.)
- Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans)
- Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
- Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)
- Pampas Grass (Cortaderia spp.)
- White Poplar (Populus alba)
The common reed (Phragmites australis) is very extensive on Fire Island, especially on the eastern end of the wilderness area. This plant, which can grow up to 20 feet high, forms dense stands by a network of roots and rhizomes. One plant can spread more than 10 feet in a single growing season. However, there may also be a native genotype of this species (Phragmites australis americana) on Fire Island, which would need to be identified and protected. Fire Island National Seashore has not yet implemented an inventory and management program for invasive common reed.
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For More Information
Learn More
- National Park Service's Nature & Science Program
- U. S. Department of Agriculture's
- Fire Island National Seashore's Pest Management Program
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Barrier Island Vegetation Fire Island supports a variety of plants in its diverse habitats. more... | | Fire Island Habitats Learn more about the natural features and ecosystems of Fire Island National Seashore. more... | | Science in the National Parks Learn more about the science-based programs in the Northeast Region of the National Park Service. more... | |
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Did You Know?
Whales and other marine mammals live in the ocean south of Fire Island. Occasionally, they are can be spotted from shore, and rarely a dead whale will wash ashore.
more...
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Last Updated: December 17, 2008 at 12:31 EST |