Written by Hoilee Dai
On September 22, 2024, AYLUS Oyster Bay visited Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center at Jones Beach State Park to identify and remove invasive plants. Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center has long been infested with invasive species that outcompete native plants, threatening local biodiversity and potentially leading to extinction. Biodiversity is the foundation of a healthy ecosystem as it stabilizes the environment.
Jones Beach ENC aims to eradicate all invasive plants, with volunteers particularly focusing on mugwort and fragmite. Mugworts spread rapidly and hinder other species from receiving life-essential sunlight. They are also extraordinarily resilient, even small root remnants can regrow into several bolder stalks. Unrestricted mugwort growth potentially results in a monotypic habitat, where one species dominates the entire area. AYLUS volunteers encountered a miniature monoculture environment as they observed an area solely inhabited by the mugworts.
Fragmites, thin tall plants with feathering seed plumes at the top, also pose a significant threat. A single plant can produce a thousand seeds annually that can spread both through wind and waterways. Like mugwort, Fragmites also form dense monocultures that are impossible to eradicate once established.
Thanks to their exceeding cooperation, AYLUS volunteers successfully collected multiple bags of invading plants. However, suppression of invasive species is a protracted challenge. AYLUS members look forward to future collaborations with Jones Beach ENC aspiring to contribute to their mission of environmental conservation.
Hoilee Dai 2.5 hrs, Eric Matsuno 2 hrs, Luke Chang 2 hrs, Bob Xia 2 hrs, Kevin Zhao 2 hours, Li Mink 2 hrs, Doris Liu 2 hrs, Biru Zhang 2 hrs, Clair Yu 2 hrs, Leah Lee 2 hrs
