Madison PalmieroJunior BIOSC major and pre-PA student By definition, an invasive plant species is any plant that 1) is non-native to an ecosystem and 2) spreads rapidly from its point of introduction, causing environmental harm. A healthy ecosystem is home to a wide variety of plants and animals that interact with each other and maintain a state of balance. Invasive plants disrupt this balance, which can lead to negative impacts on biodiversity, water quality, wildlife habitats, and tree establishment. Invasive species can also have negative economic impacts, due to the high cost of removal and management. Invasive species are an issue for ecosystems all over the world, including Pittsburgh. Some of the most common “invaders” here in the Burgh include Japanese knotweed, Garlic mustard, Bush Honeysuckle (middle picture), Mile-a-minute (left), Porcelainberry (right), and grapevines. Invasive plants can be difficult to remove, especially when they grow on such a large scale. Removing plants manually is time consuming, and herbicides can have more consequences than benefits. However, Allegheny GoatScape provides a promising (and cute) alternative. If an area of land is overgrown, especially with invasive species, a team of goats can offer an efficient and environmentally friendly solution. The goats are brought to a temporary fenced-in habitat, where they can eat to their heart’s content. If you aren’t convinced yet, here are some benefits offered by the goats:
Teams of goats are currently stationed in Frick Park and along the GAP trail at the Waterfront. You can pay them a visit in person or get to know them on the “about us” page of their website. For more info, be sure to check out https://www.alleghenygoatscape.org/.
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Pitt Bio BlogThe Pitt Bio Blog is maintained by the Department of Biological Sciences Advising Office. Posts are authored by our students Archives
January 2022
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