The WRN meeting will start at 7:30pm with discussion on local environmental news, then second half will feature a guest speaker on "Reed It and Weep: Invasive Phragmites Australis in a Great Lakes Coastal Marsh"
The emergent marsh and marsh meadow habitat that Common Reed is replacing is essential habitat for marsh nesting species of birds, including species at risk such as Least Bittern. One goal of our work is to characterize the effects that this habitat conversion has on the abundance, species richness and community composition of the birds using Long Point marshes, because of the importance of this region to bird migration and breeding. In addition, we are contrasting the plant communities and rates of primary production and decomposition in invaded, uninvaded and treated marsh habitat to gain insight into the risks posed by the invasion and how best Common Reed can be eliminated and native vegetation restored. We can apply this knowledge to improve land management and invasion control. In large infestations like the one at Long Point, the recommended treatment methods include herbicide application and removal through rolling or burning. This component of our work examines how these treatments affect the regrowth of desirable resident species, and aims to follow the long term responses of wetland plants to these control methods.