As part of a restoration ecology research project exploring methods to eliminate invasive reed canary grass, Mike Healy, a graduate student in land resources in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and Suzanne Kercher, assistant scientist in botany, spread prairie plant seeds in the Curtis Prairie of the UW Arboretum. The researchers have taken a section of prairie overrun with reed canary grass due to increased stormwater runoff, divided it into 48 test plots each two meters by four meters, and are testing a combination of treatments, including application of a grass-specific herbicide, and reseeding with a mix of native plants. Image credit: Michael Forster Rothbart Photo date: June 2005

An aerial view of the Curtis Prairie in the UW Arboretum shows a section where invasive reed canary grass has crowded out native prairie plants. The color boxes mark 48 restoration ecology test plots, each two meters by four meters, where researchers are testing a combination of treatments to elmininate the reed canary grass, including herbicide and reseeding with a mix of native species. Image credit: Mike Healy Photo date: June 2005

Ohio spiderwort is one of the many prairie plants growing at the edge of the Curtis Prairie in the UW Arboretum which has been crowded out by invasive reed canary grass. As part of a restoration ecology project exploring methods to eliminate invasive species, researchers have taken a section of prairie overrun with reed canary grass due to increased stormwater runoff, divided it into 48 test plots each two meters by four meters, and are testing a combination of treatments, including application of a grass-specific herbicide and reseeding with a mix of native plants. Image credit: Michael Forster Rothbart Photo date: June 2005

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