Invasive Species

Invasive Species Within the Chaparral

Non-native, invasive species negatively affect the area that they inhabit. The chaparral community in the outdoor lab has invasive species growing within it. These include pampas grass and ice plant. Invasive species are a problem because they can outcompete native species within the community.  They lower the biodiversity and threaten native species.  Low biodiversity=Low ecosystem stability.  Because there are less options for food and habitat the community can be negatively affected more easily.  

In the outdoor lab, a large group of pampas grass is about 15 to 20 paces out from the right-hand side of the trail. It is first site you come to if you follow the trail in a clockwise direction.

Ice plant originally came to California when it was used in the early 1900s to stabilize dunes and soil that ran along railroad tracks.  Because of its invasive nature, it tends to form monospecific zones.  In order to remove ice plant, you need to tug out the whole plant by hand or use earth-moving machinery.  You can leave it in place to act as mulch as long as the roots are pointing up, away from the soil.

Pampas grass is one of California’s most invasive plants.  It is a hearty plant with a rugged root system that requires heavy equipment to remove mechanically.  The seeds are very easily spread by the wind and once it inhabits an area it tends to choke out the life around it.  Pampas grass also provides very little benefit in our area because it provides no shelter or food for animals. To deter the spread of pampas grass, remove seed “poofs” and place in biodegradable bags to be tossed in a dumpster. Also, although it’s fun, don’t slap each other with the stalks

Ice plant with flowers (pink and yellow) and Pampas Grass with seed "poofs".