An Asian invasive, more bitter than sweet

Today’s blog post comes from Jordon Tourville, an intern with USFWS at the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex. He is interested in invasive plant management and policy as well as hiking around New England.

As you drive along the highway this summer you’re probably thinking about a few different things, none of which are probably concerned with invasive plants. While your eyes are focused on the road (hopefully), you may not ever notice the jungle of vegetation growing like a wall on either side of you. Here in southern New England, there is a pretty good chance that a large portion of that sea of green around you is composed of a lovely invasive vine known as oriental bittersweet. Given that this plant is so common throughout the region these days, it might surprise you to learn that it was essentially unknown in the area 100 years ago. Where did it come from? Why is it here? The answers to these questions can be unearthed (no pun intended) with a little historical and ecological digging.

The fruit of Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) turns bright red in September when it ripens. Each fruit contains 3-6 seeds. Seeds are spread by wildlife that eat the fruit as well as by people who use the vines with colorful berries in decorative wreaths. (David Smith, Delaware Wildflowers) 

Oriental Bittersweet is native to eastern Asia, specifically northern China, Korea, and Japan. According to Peter Del Tredici of the Arnold Arboretum, the first recorded shipment of seeds and subsequent cultivation of the vine in the US was in 1879, when a certain Samuel Parsons sent them to the Arnold Arboretum outside Boston. Parsons procured these seeds from a man named Thomas Hogg Jr., an industrious person also responsible for the introduction of kudzu and other well-known invasive plants from Japan. These plants were so successful in the Arboretum, that after 10 years of cultivation they were up for sale at Kissena Nurseries in Flushing, New York.

Horticulturists were amazed by how many fruit the vine produced and how gorgeous the plant appeared in the fall. Due to its growing popularity as an ornamental, the next 30 years were characterized by rapid expansion of the plant into new markets. It was grown in the New York Botanical Garden, sold in nurseries in New England and as far south as Ashville, North Carolina, and planted as an ornamental and a hedge plant in countless gardens. In later years, several states (including Rhode Island) suggested that oriental bittersweet be used as a highway bank planting.

The most reliable way to identify Oriental bittersweet from the much rarer American bittersweet is by their fruit. The Oriental bittersweet has clusters of 1-3 fruits attached at leaf axils along the stems. The fruit of American bittersweet is found only at the tip of the stem. (Monika Chandler, Minnesota Department of Agriculture)

While several individuals and papers urged caution in promoting this vine, it wasn’t until 1973, when an article entitled “Distribution of Oriental Bittersweet in the United States” by David Patterson, did the threats posed by Oriental Bittersweet really become acknowledged. Unfortunately, bittersweet had already long since escaped cultivation and today grows at thousands of sites in 25 states.

The next time you drive down the highway and you happen to glance at the side of the road, you might be shocked by the amount of oriental bittersweet you see that you never noticed before. You will see the bright green leaves all stemming from twisted green stalks. The US Fish and Wildlife service is making an effort to stem the tide and minimize the impact of this particular invasive, but any help is appreciated. If you find this vine growing around your house you can always cut or mow it at its base to help slow its growth and reproduction. It is very tenacious so multiple treatments will be necessary, but be persistent. With enough effort, maybe we can one day stop worrying about these invasive vines and go back to thinking about a nice drive to the beach.

Oriental Bittersweet will climb over most other vegetation, and will appear as a tangled mass of vines and leaves when passing it on the road in the summer. (Jordon Tourville/USFWS)

 

 

Backyard Birding: Sharing the Beach with Shorebirds

By Lee Halasz

Lee Halasz is a native of Australia and is a former conservation professional with the Queensland State Government. He and his family now reside in western Massachusetts, and he volunteered his time with us in 2015. This spring, we feature a series of bird stories Lee wrote to celebrate #birdyear. 

Will you be at the beach this summer? Keep an eye out for breeding shorebirds.

Piping plover and chicks (Credit: Kaiti Titherington/USFWS)

The beach is a fantastic place to be. All year round it is a fun and inspiring element of our landscape, and part of that enjoyment comes from being around distinctive coastal birds.

Most of us only go the beach in summer, when we can enjoy the weather and water to relax and have fun. Summer is also an important time for many shorebirds; it is when they come to Northeast beaches to breed.

The beach is a thin strip of naturally precarious habitat in a dynamic environment. It is subject to the power of waves and wind, and extremes of temperature. Despite these challenges, this is where beach-nesting shorebirds have successfully bred through time.

The increased use of beaches by humans has introduced a new variable. The Northeast becomes home to more people every year, and over time society has become more affluent and gained greater freedom to enjoy coastal areas. These patterns have resulted in greater impacts on coastal environments and coastal wildlife, and consequently we need to take actions to ensure that beaches remain a safe place for shorebirds.

Beachgoers can drastically reduce the breeding success of beach-nesting shorebirds. The eggs and chicks are well camouflaged and can unknowingly be crushed by people walking above the high tide line. Also, if adults are flushed from the nest, chicks and eggs can suffer heat stress without the protective shading offered by the parents, and unattended eggs and chicks can be destroyed and eaten by predators.

There are some great shorebird recovery success stories. In Massachusetts, targeted actions have seen piping plover populations bounce back dramatically in recent decades, and American oystercatcher populations are recovering impressively since returning to the Northeast in the last half century.

American Oystercatcher chicks (Credit: Stephanie Koch/USFWS)

Some of this success is attributable to programs like the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative that increase the focus on shorebird conservation. For example, many of the contributing partners organize summer beach stewards who raise awareness of nesting shorebirds, educate people about them, monitor nests, and notify authorities if protective action is needed.

How You Can Help

There are things all beachgoers can do to minimize their impact on breeding shorebirds:

• Have a carry-in carry-out policy: Trash left on beaches can attract nest predators.
• Don’t feed gulls: While it may be fun and seems harmless, gulls can eat shorebird eggs and chicks.
• Walk your dog on a leash: Dogs love to chase and catch wildlife, including shorebirds, and just the stress of being chased, especially repeatedly, can lead to eggs and chicks being abandoned.
• Respect wildlife protection signs: Please keep out of posted nesting areas.
• Be aware of wildlife: If birds are calling loudly around you, dive-bombing you, or feigning injury, there are probably nests nearby. Please back away.

Perhaps the most important thing anyone can do is to recognize that shorebirds live and breed on the same beaches that people enjoy.

Summer is coming. Enjoy it, but please enjoy and respect the shorebirds also.

Terns at sunset on Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: USFWS)

Wednesday Wisdom: Thomas Berry

Original image by Matt Poole/USFWS

Wednesday wishful thinking of warmer days ahead and the sparkle of delight when families discover tide pool wonders together