Are "Alien" Plants "Bad"?

Registration Eligibility

Open to the public

Start Date

08/01/2017

End Date

08/01/2017

Description

The expense of fighting introduced plant invasions and the unpopularity of restricting sales of ornamental invasives have motivated several public figures to question the wisdom of continuing to battle invasive plants. After all, they argue, if an introduced plant helps a particular butterfly, bird, or bee, why not embrace it? Using data from several studies, Dr. Tallamy answers this and related questions, showing that we can determine the overall impact of introduced plants on our ecosystems only by comparing what is gained from their use with what is lost when they replace native plant communities. Introduced plants are not the ecological equivalents of the native plants they displace because they do not support the diverse and stable food webs that run our ecosystems.

Location

Huntingdon, PA

Distance Learning

Course Equivalency

Subjects

Horticulture / Plants
Sustainable Development & Design

Health, Safety and Welfare

Yes

Hours

1.0

Learning Outcomes

Understand the importance of using native plants. Identify the impact of introduced plants on the ecosystem. Review the role of native plants in creating a stable food web.

Instructors

Dr. Douglas Tallamy

Course Codes

Provider

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

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