With summer in full swing, LIISMA has been working harder than ever to survey, educate, and coordinate response to invasive species. This July we worked across the region, from Staten Island to the Hamptons, working with several emerging invasive species and protecting conservation areas all along the way.
After reviewing observations that came in on iNaturalist, Melody, Matt, and Cassandra went to delineate a newly confirmed population of perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) at Crab Meadow.
Previously, this highly invasive wetland plant was found only in the West Meadow Beach area, where it has been managed for years. In catching this new population while it is still small, LIISMA partners can protect this large wetland, essential bird habitat, and surrounding coastal areas from invasive species. We thank the Town of Huntington, Town of Brookhaven, NYSDEC, and GEI Consultants for their collaboration on the response thus far. We encourage the public to report any suspected perennial pepperweed plants, especially on the North Shore tidal areas of Long Island.
Another emerging plant to look out for is small carpet grass (Arthraxon hispidus). This trailside invasive grass loves wet habitats, much like its lookalike invasive stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum). This month, Melody and Kassidy advanced efforts at our three known locations of this plant on Staten Island, Quogue, and Montauk, working with landowners to bring about the best management practices.
Kassidy protected lakes, streams, and coastal plain ponds this month from aquatic and wetland invasive species. At Connetquot State Park, she led NYS Parks Invasives Strike Team in aquatic plant surveying with iMapInvasives. Later, the crew did their annual pull of water chestnut (Trapa natans), this year finding only 15 plants in Main Pond – a sign of success from consistent effort.
Later at Artist Lake, LIISMA teamed up with Nicole from the Town of Brookhaven to scout for floating water primrose (Ludwigia peploides), finding only 40 tiny plants scattered around the shore after 5 years of management. Returning to one of our favorite sites, LIISMA managed emerging stands of phragmites at Sears Bellows County Park with the Sisters of St. Joseph ecology staff and Suffolk County Parks staff. After completing a detailed shoreline survey of native plants, this wonderful crew carefully controlled over 1,500 stems with spades at Bellows Pond and Grass Pond. We thank Samantha Pepe and Peter Priolo from Suffolk County Parks for their assistance and collaboration!
Sometimes the best news are invasive species that you expect to encounter, but don’t find. Our intern Matt Stanton led a field day at Bethpage State Park where we found and removed only one individual of ragged robin (Silene flos-cuculi) and did not find two others from previous reports. Many thanks to Yael Weiss, Yuriy Litvinenko, and the NYS Parks Strike Team for the assistance. We added a few more “not detected” feathers to our caps at aquatic sites; we did not find any previously reported water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) at Forest City Community Park or any floating water primrose at Valley Stream State Park. That’s a win!
Lastly, Melody and Abby began the annual search for kudzu (Pueraria montana) – this time starting on Staten Island. Of our three sites there, only one had a small amount of kudzu that was easily removed. We’ll be on the lookout at our other assigned sites this season, with thanks to Naja Kraus for her coordination efforts.
Summer is flying by, but stay tuned for even more invasive species updates from the field this August!
