An Assessment of Woodlot Age Structure and Invasive Plant Risk on the SUNY Purchase College Campus

Abstract

Invasive plants have no effective controls in the area and tend to outcompete native flora. This causes imbalances in ecosystems that can alter existing landscapes. As a result, governments around the world have invested hundreds of millions of dollars annually to manage invasive plants. If there is no strategy to mitigate the effects of invasive plants, then plant biodiversity could be at risk. Unfortunately, resources, time, and manpower are limited so higher risk areas must be prioritized. The SUNY Purchase College also has no plan to mitigate the adverse effects of invasive species; nor does it have detailed analyses about the age of the forestry on campus. To begin devising a strategy, the forest structure and the history of campus were major factors in determining invasive alien plant (IAP) risk. Google Earth Pro, ArcGIS software, and past aerial photographs enables examining past forest structure. The analysis revealed the age classes of forests on campus and determined which areas should be prioritized; for heavily fragmented young forests were found to be the most vulnerable. By understanding the forest age structure, areas can be prioritized, and action can be taken.