Invasive Species
Invasive Species
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Invasive Species in the Water and On the Land
The presence of non-native, invasive species or “bioinvaders” has emerged as one of the leading environmental and economic threats to our coastal area. When introduced species become invasive, physical conditions and habitats of native species are altered in a variety of negative ways. Learn more about marine invasives in the ocean and plant invasives on the land.
Marine Invasives
Introduced or “marine biological invaders” often have a profound, adverse effect on marine ecosystems. Along the coast of Massachusetts and around the world, scientists have witnessed these invasions and their effects.
Salem Sound Coastwatch monitors marine species along our shore, at docks, in tidepools, and on the rocky shore every summer with the help of citizen science volunteers. We are a founding member of the Marine Invader Monitoring and Information Collaborative (MIMIC) and share our data with MA Coastal Zone Management along with other groups in ME, NH, MA, and RI.
Coastal Habitat Invasives Monitoring Program
Attend a training session to learn more about invading crabs, shrimps, and sea squirts. Then, join us at monthly summer visits to a rocky shoreline or floating dock to observe and record the presence of these species.
Plant Invasives
Like marine invasives, plant invasives crowd out native species and alter habitats on land. You can find them in marshes, ponds, roadsides, and even in cultivated gardens. Some of the common plant invasives in our watershed are listed below.
Pepperweed
Pepperweed is a more recent invader to Salem Sound and the North Shore. It can colonize the upper edge of salt marshes and beaches as well as disturbed areas along roadways. Join us to locate and remove Pepperweed by pulling plants in the summer.
Phragmites
Phragmites, also known as common reed, is a serious threat to our wetlands, crowding out other more productive plants with its dense roots and tall stalks. SSCW monitors and documents methods to control Phragmites and shares control information with conservation agents/commissions and private landowners.
Oriental Bittersweet
Oriental bittersweet is a vine with attractive berries in the fall. The vines wind around trees and shrubs, eventually strangling them. Originally planted for its ornamental qualities, the Oriental bittersweet crowds out native species and adversely impacts biodiversity.
Purple Loosestrife
Purple loosestrife is an invader of freshwater wetlands, including wet meadows, river and stream banks, nontidal marshes, and ditches. It can quickly form dense stands that completely dominate the area excluding native vegetation. Like so many invasives, it can spread very rapidly due to its prolific seed production as each plant can produce up to 2.5 million seeds per year.
