At
one time, the Roosevelts enjoyed an undisturbed view of the Great South
Bay and boats sailing south on Brown's River from the front lawn at
their Meadow Croft Estate. Then, along came Phragmites....
Once upon a time not so long ago, the Phragmites reed was not so
prevalent in the wetlands on Long Island. Today, it is the most abundant
species of plant in our wetlands on Fire Island and the tributaries
which feed the bay. Its density is evident whenever you try to get a
great view of the water from your car window on a drive as they can grow
up to 15 feet tall.
Phragmites is native to the Eastern
United States but has grown in tidal wetlands around the world for at
least the last 3,000 years. It is believed to have been introduced here
from Europe or Asia. Prior to the 1900's, Phragmites was present in
mixed-plant communities and was described as being rare. By the early
1900's, however, the plant had been considered common and widespread.
Today, Phragmites occupies thousands of acres and exists as a lone plant
species where it grows.
Since the early 1900's, the
abundance of Phragmites in East coast wetlands has been rapidly
increasing displacing other wetlands plant species. This coarse,
perennial grass grows on every continent except Antarctica and is
believed to have the widest distribution of any flowering plant.
Historically, it has been used for food, sweeteners, weaving material,
weapons and decorations. Native Americans used it to treat digestive
problems and headaches.
Phragmites reeds have long,
woody stems, wide leaves and plumes of tiny flowers which are produced
from July through October and are wind-pollinated. The plant has
horizontal roots called rhizomes, prefers bright sunlight, moist soils
and can tolerate water of high salinity. It is a highly competitive
plant species that can displace established vegetation and once
established , creates conditions which block other plants from thriving.
Additionally, Phragmites produces a dense litter layer that decays very
slowly, blocking light penetration to any plants which germinate
beneath the dead stems and leaves.
Changes in the
coastal environment as a result of human activities have made it easier
for Phragmites to spread. Increased nutrients due to development, soil
disturbance and hydrologic change from dredging, channelization and
mosquito ditching have all created habitat conditions which favor
Phragmites and increased the stressors on other wetland plants making
them less able to resist invasion by Phrgamites.
Scientist agree that Phragmites significantly impact wetland ecosystems
by reducing biodiversity, reducing food resources for other species,
reducing habitat value for some bird species, degrading scenic vistas,
and decreasing the production of larvae and juvenile fish. Some of the
positive aspects of Phragmites include providing cover for ducks, herons
and other waterfowl species, stabilizing the shoreline and capturing
sediments.
In many coastal areas, programs are being
undertaken to remove Phragmites to restore habitats to pre-Phragmites
condition. Unfortunately, once established, Phragmites is very difficult
to eliminate. These programs include mowing, herbicides, burning,
excavating and increasing salinity levels. Each of these measures have
limited effectiveness and several can damage existing conditions in the
ecosystem. Given the expanses of Phragmites and the difficulty of
removing it, it is likely that Phragmites is here to stay.
* Source: "Phragmites; the common reed, 2004 by Jeffrey Kassner, Biology Teacher at Suffolk County Community College
