How do invasive plants affect wetlands? How can I properly identify invasive plants in the field? UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (CAIP) graduate students, Patrick Belk and Ian Talty, recently presented the answers to these common questions at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Submerged Lands & Environmental Resource Coordination Program conference.
What’s a weed?
During the presentation, Patrick shared concepts of invasion ecology with DEP staff that conduct wetland delineations. He described how invasive plants can transform ecosystems through various case studies and how different management techniques can prevent, combat, or manage the proliferation of these plants.
Plant I.D.
Following Patrick’s presentation, Ian introduced plant identification tools and resources that can be used to help professionals properly sample and identify plants in the field. To round out their presentation, Patrick and Ian brought plant samples and invited participants to practice their plant ID abilities!
Invasive plants are a common threat when it comes to natural resource management. By understanding the basic ecological principles of invasive plants and how to identify them, professionals can feel empowered to properly identify problematic plants and choose management strategies for their specific issue. If you are interested in learning more, check out the helpful resources listed below.
Helpful Resources
- UF/IFAS CAIP Plant Directory
- UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants
- FISC Plant List
- USF Atlas of Florida Plants
- Weakley’s Flora of The Southeast US
- iNaturalist App
Questions or comments can be sent to the UF/IFAS CAIP communications manager at caip@ifas.ufl.edu. Follow UF/IFAS CAIP on Instagram.
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