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Common Reed, A Marsh Invasive
In this lesson, students will investigate the spread of the common reed (Phalaris australis) at Iona Island, an important wildlife preserve in the Hudson River south of West Point. Common reed is an invasive marsh plant that has out-competed cattail, which supports a higher diversity of migratory birds. Although both plants are native, common reed has become an aggressive invasive in many areas. Removal of common reed from some marshes has resulted in an increase in nitrogen into the surrounding water. Both common reed and cattail, as do many wetland plants, perform the important ecosystem function of nitrogen sequestration, thus preventing detrimental effects of excess nitrogen in the main water body of the Hudson River. Students will use nitrogen data, migratory bird data and vegetation maps to understand the important ecosystem dynamics of common reed and cattail marshes.
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