Allegheny Front: UC survey finds urban woodlands dense with invasive species

Conover teaches botany, including an upper-level lecture class this fall titled Flowering Plant Classification. He also leads nature hikes Sundays at Burnet Woods where he talks about the plants and animals they find.

While Braun found few or no invasive species in her survey, Conover said he is finding dozens of species including some such as Amur honeysuckle that were the dominant species in some areas.

“One of the most striking things that I’ve noticed is the huge increase in non-native, invasive plants that have invaded the woodlands here in southwestern Ohio,” Conover told Allegheny Front managing editor Julie Grant. “And it’s very disturbing because it’s very detrimental to the native plants, plus the wildlife, including the insects that depend on those native plants.”

Many of the species he is finding such as Callery pear trees were introduced to neighborhoods through horticulture. Birds quickly spread their seeds.

Likewise, Amur honeysuckle was a favorite backyard bush but has become ubiquitous in many forests where its leafs out in late winter and stays green later in the fall, crowding out native plants growing in the understory.

“So once it gets going in the woods, it just keeps spreading and spreading, and it literally takes over because there will be very little vegetation growing underneath these shrubs,” he said.

But Conover told the Allegheny Front that volunteers have had some success eradicating invasive species such as Amur honeysuckle, allowing native plants to return.

Listen to the Allegheny Front story.