Heaven Sent Away

The Herald-Leader is reporting that the first major steps have been taken to remove the tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) that has invaded the Henry Clay Estate in Kentucky. The trees have been targeted because they are encroaching upon one of the last remaining populations of running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum), a federally listed endangered plant that is so rare, it was once considered to be extinct. Full-grown trees are being cut and carefully removed, so as not to disturb the clover, and volunteers have been working to remove tree-of-heaven seedlings as well as the invasive Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum).

Can't See The Forest For The Grass

EurekAlert! has this story about new research implicating Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) as an inhibitor of forest regeneration. The scientists conducting the study, which was done in Tennessee, noted that Microstegium can invade low-light habitats, and found that an increase in populations of the grass was correlated with a decrease in native woody plant biodiversity. Interested readers should check out this page, which includes a link to the full research article.

Weekend Blog Blogging

Some nice meaty posts about invasive species seen floating around the blogsphere this past week:

• Wayne over at the Niches blog posts about his efforts to eradicate Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) from his home in Georgia. This is his fourth year at it. He seems to be making some progress, but doesn't think he'll be done any time soon. Go Wayne! :-)
• bootstrap analysis blogged about the threat of carp entering the Great Lakes, and speaks out in support of the electric barrier that was once slated to be built in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
• Missed this when it first came out, but bootstrap analysis also posted about non-native earthworms in the midwestern U.S., back in August.