University of Cincinnati Community Works to Remove Invasive-Species at Burnet Woods

For students in the University of Cincinnati’s Leaders for Environmental Awareness & Protection (LEAP) organization, preserving the natural world starts right right across the street. That is why a group of about 20 students, equipped with saws, loppers and gloves recently held the university’s first invasive-species removal project at Burnet Woods in a sustainability effort to rid the nature preserve of invasive honeysuckle.

“It’s an effort that is tangible,” said Bridget Taylor, a fourth-year geology major. “One can easily see the positive impact.” 

Taylor led the expedition to help restore Burnet Woods and stressed the importance of maintaining the forest’s biodiversity. “There are plants there, and because there are fewer plants in the rest of the area I assumed Burnet woods was fantastic,” she said. “It still is fantastic, but a little sick. Most if not all people think the same way. A plant is a plant.” 

But if the rampant invasive species in Burnet Woods isn’t treated soon, there could be less and less plants that naturally belong there. The actual removal of the species proved to be simple—cutting the plant as low as possible and then spraying a herbicide on the stump prevents the honeysuckle from growing back. 

But honeysuckle, though the easiest to remove, is far from the only invasive species in Burnet Woods. European buckthorn, English ivy, Wintercreeper, and Callery pear are among the other threats to biodiversity in the forest. These plants spread to Burnet Woods as birds collect and deposit their seeds from other nearby areas, like UC’s campus. 

Because Burnet Woods is so close to campus, Taylor believes students should take responsibility in conserving the forest. “If students weren’t working on removing invasive plants, then all of the nature preserves will be far from natural,” she said.

“The invasive species problem in Burnet Woods is overwhelming, and from my understanding it's too large of a problem for park officials to handle on their own,” said Sophie Shemas, a fourth-year environmental studies major and the co-president of LEAP. 

Denis Conover, PhD, professor of biological sciences, says that “other than the bulldozer and urban development, the biggest threat to native plants in natural areas is the invasion of non-native species.” 

Conover stressed the importance of consistency when removing alien species. “In order to make a significant impact, UC student volunteers should be cutting down Amur honeysuckle, European Buckthorn and Callery pear at Burnet Woods at least once per month.” Conover, along with students in LEAP and the environmental studies department, are concerned about the dangers to the diversity of both flora and fauna. Amur honeysuckle first arrived in Cincinnati in the mid-20th century with the intention of conserving soil and preventing landslides, explained Taylor. Now abundant in the region, it competes with and displaces native species while taking over the ecosystem, altering the habitat. 

One example of fauna affected by invasive species is Danaus plexippus, more commonly known as the Monarch butterfly. This species lays its eggs exclusively on milkweed, which is now being made scarce in open fields by the invasion of Amur Honeysuckle and Callery pear. Similarly, the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly’s larvae develop on pawpaw Tree leaves. Familiar species like these and birds that depend on fruits and seeds from native plants are being threatened by alien plants. “If you lose these native plants, you lose the animals that depend on them,” Conover said. 

Based on research surveys taken in a Dayton nature preserve with a similar environment to Burnet Woods, Conover found that if honeysuckle is killed quickly enough, the native seed bank will regenerate, slowly bringing back the natural landscape. Conover and Taylor both look toward areas in the region like Bender Mountain as good examples of natural species proliferation, where consistent control of Amur Honeysuckle and other invasive plants has let hundreds of native species of wildflowers, shrubs and trees thrive. 

“I can almost guarantee that you have never seen what the first people to come to Cincinnati saw, but if you go to Bender Mountain, you’ll see that,” Taylor said.

Conover stressed that it must be a collaborative effort. “Student groups should work in cooperation with the Cincinnati city park land managers to attack the invasive plants,” he said. “Right now I would focus on the Amur honeysuckle, Callery Pear and the European buckthorn because they’re easy to identify and get rid of.” Dr. Conover teaches courses on plant classification, native trees and wildflowers, and offers a Biology capstone course on invasive species.  In March, 2016 he will publish an article in the journal Ecological Restoration on how to slow the spread of  Wintercreeper, English ivy and Lesser Periwinkle in wooded natural areas. 

Taylor and Shemas said that LEAP’s first expedition to help cure nature preserves proved successful, and that future outings were already being planned at Burnet Woods and other nearby woodlands. “The hope is that we, as eco-conscious students, can take some of the burden off of the park employees and take some responsibility for the problem,” said Shemas.