![]() ![]() Road maintenance, such as grading unpaved roads 5, paving or re-paving roads 6, or mowing and even snowplowing, can move seeds or propagules longer distances than the plant’s own dispersion would generally suggest. 4 found that wind created on roads can increase wind-dispersed seeds, such as ragweed, along the roadsides, with a positive correlation with traffic volume. The increased wind from high-trafficked roads can increase the spread of seeds, specifically increasing dispersal distance 4. Lembke et al. In addition to the roadsides themselves creating habitat, the traffic that travels along roadways can impact the vegetation growing along them. To prevent non-native species taking over the roadsides, careful management is required to promote desired plant assemblages. Lazaro-Lobo & Ervin 1 did a comprehensive survey of over a thousand studies on the impact of roads on native vs non-native species, concluding that roadside verges provide habitat and a pathway for dispersal for both native and non-native species. Roads can cut through ecosystems and create openings for new invasive species to enter a naïve system 3. Roadways often provide semi-disturbed habitat for both native and non-native plant species to thrive 1, as well as providing a corridor for invasive plants to spread throughout a landscape 2, 3. Culverts enable purple loosestrife to spread underneath highways and should be managed to prevent spread. As expected, there were more individual infestations in highway ditches, but larger and denser infestations in wetlands ( P = 0.003 in 2019). We found no statistical evidence that mowing promotes the spread of loosestrife. ![]() In addition, a linear correlation analysis demonstrated a higher loosestrife density with an increase in plant species richness and a decrease in the distance to the closest infestation and wetland ( P < 0.001 each). The results of our preliminary analysis revealed significant increase in the number of plants ( P < 0.001). Lawrence River using the ESRI Collector app. During flowering season in July and August, 2017–2019, we mapped infestations along 150 km (93 miles) of state highway between the Adirondack Park and the St. We attempted to answer several questions regarding level of infestation, connection to mowing, and influence of culverts. The goal of this study was to identify the extent of infestations and to investigate factors that promote the spread of purple loosestrife. Purple loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria L.) is an invasive, herbaceous plant, frequently found in wetlands, creating monoculture stands, resulting in intensive management strategies in central New York, Ontario, and Quebec. ![]()
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