Louise Wootton, Georgian Court University

Invasive organisms are becoming an increasingly important problem around the world.  As humans move around the globe, they often carry seeds, plants and animals with them, either accidentally or intentionally. When introduced into a new area, these species may find the new habitat unsuitable for them and die.  But sometimes the species is able to thrive in its new habitat and starts to spread rapidly.  Freed from the predators and parasites of its native habitat, the exotic species is often able to outcompete native organisms that use the same resources, but which have the native predators and parasites to deal with.  When this happens, we say that the exotic species has become invasive.

In my laboratory, my students and I are focusing our research effort on invasive plants in New Jersey's fragile coastal dune ecosystems.  Acre for acre, these ecosystems are the most valuable ecosystem in New Jersey¹.  When exotic species invade they may change the dunes in ways that mean that they can no longer provide vital services for New Jersey like flood protection or creating a reservoir of sand for our beaches.   They may also not provide the necessary food or habitat for the other organisms which live in or around the dunes.

Our research currently focuses on two closely related species of sedge.  Carex kobomugi, the Asiatic Sand Sedge, and Carex macrocephala, the large headed sedge.  As well as working to provide an inventory of the areas affected by these species, we are working to understand how they spread, and what their effects are on the plants and animals that are usually found in the coastal dune ecosystem.

Citation:

^1. NJ DEP Report:  Valuing New Jersey’s Natural Capital: An Assessment of the Economic Value of the State’s Natural Resources. 2007.

Last updated July 9, 2007.