Plant Biology Students Help Remove Invasive Species near Strouds Run

Above, Plant Club members in the thick of it. Below students in front of the same plot at the end of the day.

After clearing a thicket: from left, Alberta Dempsey, Jessica Langguth, Jordan Knisley, Gracie Jahn, Elizabeth Bacon, Maya Ware

Contributed by Kim Thompson
Lecturer in Environmental & Plant Biology

The Athens Conservancy and the Environmental & Plant Biology Department brought together community members and Ohio University students to remove invasive species from the Blair Preserve on National Public Lands Day.

More than 40 participants spread out across 10 locations on a beautiful Saturday to extract privet, honeysuckle, burning bush, multiflora rose and Asian bittersweet on Sept. 30.

The group assembles for a tutorial by John Knouse of The Athens Conservancy, on the invasive plants we will pull.

Removal of these invasive species allows native species to recolonize the landscape and support a healthy ecosystem. In similar efforts in Baker preserve, the number of an endangered species of clover tripled after extraction of invasive plants.

From left, Rebecca Wagenknech, Jakob Warren, Kay Tousley and Ashley Harrington in front of the honeysuckle they will remove.

Blair Preserve is a 75-acre conservation area bordering Strouds Run that was purchased by The Athens Conservancy. A mixture of young forest recovering from timber removal and older growth forest support a variety of wildlife and provide a great place for birding.

Joe Brehm of Rural action with Ohio University Fellows, Meriah Woolery and DeMarius Rodgers. Rachel Parsons in background.

Participants in National Public Lands Day included students in the Ohio University Plant Club and Ohio University Fellows. Students learned how to recognize invasive species that threaten plant communities but also enjoyed the physical activity and camaraderie. Appalachian Ohio National Public Land Day activities also were supported by Rural Action.

Some of the group stayed for a pizza picnic afterwards by the lake. Pizza donated by Avalanche. Photo credit: Joe Brehm