On Friday, July 14, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, members of AYLUS from the Syosset branch participated in removing weeds and pervasive plants at the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center. Although some species in the gardens may be native, they may overpopulate and outcompete the surrounding plants in their vicinity. Such an example would be the smartweed; it is an assertive native plant that tends to dominate its ecosystem due to its plentiful seed production. Another plant species was also found to spread aggressively in the area: the buttercup sorrel. The Bermuda Buttercup also referred to as the Oxalis pes-caprae, is an invasive species that was noticeably visible in the Sanctuary, and was removed to improve the biodiversity conditions of the environment. Other weeds were also removed while plants such as ferns, grasses, and geraniums were preserved.
It is important to get rid of invasive species and weeds from an ecosystem to ensure a stable yet diverse environment. As a result, competition across species could be limited and overpopulation could be prevented.
Members who participated include:
Xihan Zhang (3 h), Suiwai Li (3 h), Suiying Li (3 h), Thea Chen (3 h), Matthew Lin (Stuyvesant, 3 h), Christopher C Dechiaro (3 h), Rachel Zhang (3h), Callie Chen (3h), Sophie Liu (3h)
.