Ecosystem Invaders!

The Invaders in Your Backyard!!!

Do you recognize this plant? Look closely and you will probably realize that it is growing in your neighborhood, next to your school, or even in your backyard. This plant is Japanese Knotweed, and is for this area an “invasive species”. An invasive species is a non-native organism plant or animal that tends to displace a native species

Japanese Knotweed, was brought here as an ornamental plant from Japan.

The Japanese Knotweed quickly began reproducing and out competing native plants. The native species in the interwoven web of life are threatened. In the last few years, the Japanese Knotweed has completely “taken over” some areas, and the local ecosystems rich in diversity are being “choked out” by this aggressive invasive plant.

Japanese Knotweed spreads in several ways. One way is by producing seeds. The seeds float on water and are also eaten by some local animals. Seeds form after the plant’s flowers bloom. Flowers attract bees and other pollinators. The pollinators assist the plant by bringing pollen from one plant to another. Pollen then fertilizes the plant and seeds form. The Japanese Knotweed grows very quickly. It looks somewhat like bamboo and has fairly large leaves.

The leaves shade anything growing nearby. When the leaves drop off in the fall, they blanket the soil and prevent seeds from other plants from sprouting.

Japanese Knotweed also reproduces by sending out shoots and sucker roots from the mother plant that quickly grow into a thicket of only Japanese Knotweed. Parts of the plant can also be broken off and start new plants from roots, stems, and leaves. Visit www.smartcenter.org/knotweed for more information.

This plant is difficult to destroy, but some small steps may help. How could you keep seeds from being produced? We have cut off the flowering portion of the plants before they go to seed. Cutting down the plant slows its growth. Digging up the plant is very labor intensive and is only 100% successful if you get ALL of the roots. If you have any ideas or have been successful in controlling this invasive plant, please send your ideas to us at energy@smartcenter.org

Some other ecosystem invaders to learn about and identify are on our website at www.smartcenter.org/invasiveinvaders The Oglebay Good Zoo Education Office (304 243-4068) has a Zebra Mussel Education Kit that area teachers can borrow free of charge to educate their students about this important invasive species that has also entered the Ohio Valley.

Plant Growth Experiment

Do all plants need seeds to grow? Find out with the following activity inspired from the book Janice VanCleave’s Biology For Every Kid.

Materials you will need for this plant growth activity:

A: Sand

B: Water

C: Carrot tops (ask a parent to cut these for you)

D: Shallow dish

Procedure for this plant growth activity:

1) Place sand in the shallow container 2-3 cm (inch or so) deep.

2) Make the sand damp with water. Stop before the water starts to make a lake!

3) Cut the tops off 2-4 carrots, 2-3 cm thick and place top up in the sand.

4) Place this container in a well lit area.

5) Observe the carrot tops daily

For extra fun, try to grow carrot seeds as well and compare the plants with the carrot top activity.

Other family oriented science related activities co-sponsored by the SMART-Center

12 part series “The Solar System Inside and Out”

ASTROLABE Astronomy Club meets on the third Wednesday evening of each month at 7:00 p.m. on the Second floor of the Warwood Center at 1610 Warwood Avenue, Wheeling and will host the 12 part monthly series “The Solar System Inside and Out”. The topic for September 20 is The Earth and Moon and will offer hands-on activities appropriate for all age groups. Snacks and refreshments are provided. The series is sponsored in part by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium. After the meeting, if the sky is clear, a free public StarWatch will be held in front of the Warwood Center.

Radio Science News

To learn more about science, tune in as Robert E. Strong and Richard Pollack co-host “Radio Science News” on WVLY 1370 AM, Saturday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to noon. “Radio Science News” immediately follows the two-hour nature program, “The Wild Side”, hosted by the regional naturalist Dr. Scott Shalaway

Science in Science Fiction Club:

The “Science in Science Fiction Club” meets on the second Wednesday evening of each month at 6:00 p.m. on the Second floor of the Warwood Center at 1610 Warwood Avenue, Wheeling. Free to the public, snacks and refreshments are provided as we watch and discuss the science in science fiction movies. Check the website www.smartcenter.org for movie titles and information.

What’s Up? Free Monthly StarWatches at Brooke Hills Park:

Free public StarWatches every third Friday evening of each month at 8:00 p.m. at Brooke Hills Park’s Cardinal Shelter will be led by members of the ASTROLABE Astronomy Club, staff of the WLSC SMART-Center, and the Near Earth Object Foundation.

Telescopes will be provided and the public is also invited to bring their telescopes to the StarWatch events. If the weather does not permit outdoor telescope viewing, the co-presenters will give an astronomy related interactive presentation for the whole family. The StarWatches are sponsored in part by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium. Please visit www.smartcenter.org/whatsup/ for up-to-date listing of astronomy and other events.

Brooke Hills Park Astronomy Weekend:

On September 22 through 24 Brooke Hills Park, West Virginia’s first Dark Park and Dark Sky Preserve, will host an Astronomy Weekend. The BHP Astronomy Weekend is designed for the beginner and the advanced amateur astronomer and is a family-friendy Astronomy Weekend. For more information visit the website

http://www.smartcenter.org/BHPAstroWeekend.html

Libby and Robert Strong and Richard Pollack work at the West Liberty State College SMART-Center and invite you to visit the SMART-Center website at www.smartcenter.org