Invasive Species Summit_11062015_Afternoon Session Conserving Biodiversity

Moderated by: Erik Kiviat, PhD has forty-five years of research experience in the Hudson River wetlands and with nonnative weeds such as Phragmites, purple loosestrife, and water-chestnut. He is a co-founder (1981) and executive director of Hudsonia, a nonprofit institute for ecological research and education of professionals in land use and conservation.

The Lower Hudson PRISM protects the rich, native biodiversity of the Lower Hudson Valley by focusing on priority targets for conservation. This session consisted of short-talks on topics related to conserving biodiversity in the Lower Hudson Region followed by a panel discussion. Selected short talks were:

1. "Nonnative species threats to rare native plants in Hudson River tidal wetlands", Erik Kiviat, Hudsonia Ltd.

2. “How do predator-promoting invasive plants affect native communities?” Lauren M. Smith, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

3. “Ash seed collection as an emerald ash borer management tool”, Molly Marquand, Mid-Atlantic Regional Seedbank

4. “Assessing and preparing for plant invasion facilitation by pest insect invasions: results and management implications of studies of viburnum leaf beetle, hemlock woolly adelgid, and emerald ash borer”, Radka Wildova, Ecological Research Institute

In conclusion, ecological communities are complex and invasive species may trigger unexpected responses. Detailed research may reveal relationships that require management different from that which is intuitively appropriate.