In my AP environmental science class, we were assigned to do some projects about endangered, extinct, and invasive species. One of them, the invasive species, I found to be really interesting. The invasive species I was assigned is called Kudzu and if you have traveled to southeastern United States, you have probably seen it. Many people cannot believe that the Kudzu isn't native because it is found almost everywhere. Kudzu is a plant, but more of a vine really. It can grow up to a foot a day if the conditions are right, and in the United States the conditions are perfect.
Kudzu was brought to the United States around the nineteen hundreds and has been here ever since. The plant is native to Southern Japan and to Southeastern China. It is a green vine with jagged leaves and long purple flowers. I think this plant is really gorgeous when I look at pictures of it and obviously many people agree because of the movement in location. However, this plant is highly invasive and since there are no natural predators here, there is really nothing to stop it from growing.
When the Kudzu grows over trees and other wildlife, it is aesthetically pleasing but ultimately very harmful to the other plants. When it grows over trees and the other plants, it blocks out sunlight and suffocates them. The plant is also basically immune to pesticides and weed control chemicals. There have been attempts to combat this plant, like bringing in foreign bugs from japan and china to eat it and also attempts to graze or plow over the vine. The bugs that they brought in are eating the plant but unfortunately they also eat soy beans and affect the production of that. Plowing and grazing combat the plant in early stages but pretty much do nothing once the plant gets more mature in that area. (316)
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| This is a house.... http://www.theresilientearth.com/?q=content/kudzu-causes-global-warming |
When the Kudzu grows over trees and other wildlife, it is aesthetically pleasing but ultimately very harmful to the other plants. When it grows over trees and the other plants, it blocks out sunlight and suffocates them. The plant is also basically immune to pesticides and weed control chemicals. There have been attempts to combat this plant, like bringing in foreign bugs from japan and china to eat it and also attempts to graze or plow over the vine. The bugs that they brought in are eating the plant but unfortunately they also eat soy beans and affect the production of that. Plowing and grazing combat the plant in early stages but pretty much do nothing once the plant gets more mature in that area. (316)
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