LIISMA
The Long Island Invasive Species Management Area
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The Long Island Invasive Species Management Area (including Staten Island)
In The News
Giant Hogweed Control Work Completed on Long Island for 2013
All Giant Hogweed infestations on Long Island were treated the first week of June. Two large infestations remain and will take at least three more years to eradicate as the seed bank becomes exhausted. We expect this plant to be completely eradicated in 5-10 years.
Giant hogweed, an invasive plant that can cause painful burns may still be hiding out in areas we are not familiar with. Help us find new sites. Please use the NYSDEC Giant Hogweed Hotline for all inquiries and reports: ghogweed@gw.dec.state.ny.us or 845-256-3111. The hotline is a place for people to report new sites, get help identifying suspect giant hogweed plants, ask questions about the plant and how to control it, and connect with the statewide control project. From mid-June through mid-July DEC gets hundreds of inquiries and it may take us a week or two to respond at that time.
Another resource is the NYSDEC giant hogweed web page http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/39809.html which provides information about the plant, how to identify it, how to control it, a map of NY state sites, NYSDEC's control project, and more.
Kudzu Surveys Taking Place.
Field surveys are taking place this summer to check historical records for kudzu that date back to 1972. Surveys during the second week of June confirmed five sites in Suffolk County and found that two sites in Manhattan were no longer present. Recent information from other scientists show that kudzu may be a plant that is preferred by lone star ticks for protection. If you see an infestation of kudzu on Long Island or Staten Island email the location and photographs of the plant to liismaprism@gmail.com.
Asiatic Sand Sedge Detected on Long Island for the First Time
An infestation of Asiatic Sand Sedge (Carex kobomugi) was detected in the Rockaways this spring. This is the first time we have documentation of its survival on the dunes in New York. This pernicious invasive sedge is creating bad problems on the dunes in New Jersey and could spread to other dunes in New York if it is not eradicated here first. Extensive surveys will take place in early August to determine the extent of the infestation after the rare plovers and terns have finished their reproductive activities.
Hardy Kiwi (Acinidia arguta) to be Studied This Summer
Hardy kiwi is acting like Asiatic bittersweet in some areas of the Northeast but seems well behaved in others. Scientists Iago Hale from the University of New Hampshire and Danilo Fernando from SUNY ESF will be studying the genetics and reproductive biology of the plants to find out what is causing the invasive tendencies of some populations. Long Island has two small infestations of this plant but they don't seem to be spreading to other areas.
New Species Alert Page!
Go to our species alert page to see a list of early detection species with informative web links.
Keep your eye out for these species so they don't become established in LIISMA!
New Long Island Goat Grazing Study 2005-06
CLICK HERE to go to the resources page to read about the study.
New Help volunteer to protect the resources of Long Island's National Wildlife Refuges by controlling invasives
CLICK HERE to go to the volunteer page for more infomation.
