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Pupils mini project: Invasive plants in the surrounding area of our school

As a part of extra-curricular biology classes, 8th - grade pupils did a mini project on invasive plants in the surrounding area of our school during the school year 2014/2015. Throughout the project pupils learnt how to use GPS device, scientific literature and on-line data base, as well as to recognize different habitats, log the data and analyse it. Their project was presented at County Competition of Young Biologists. The project presented 20 invasive plants spotted in the school surrounding area. The analyses established that the most dominant were daisy family (Asteraceae) with 7 species (35%), grass family (Poaceae) and nightshades (Solanaceae) with two species each (10.0%). The plants are mainly of American origins, 14 species (70.0%), in somewhat lower percentage there are those originating from Asia, 6 species (30.0%). The most common way of seed dissemination is wind dispersal (anemochory) which occurs at 7 species (35.0%), ballistic dispersal (autochory) occurs at a bit lower percentage and dispersal by animals (epizoochory) occurs at 5 species (10.0%). There are 10 habitat types in the surrounding area of our school marked with 206 findings. The most common habitat type covered by invasive plants are houses with backyards, 110 findings (53.3%) ; followed by those in front yards and gardens, 31 findings (15.0%) ; as well as opentype buildings at the edges, 25 findings (12.1%). Negative effects on environment and human health of all these invasive plants have been noticed (they change habitat, are weed type plants, poisonous and allergen). Furthermore, there is almost no efficient way to control 12 plants (60.0%). The mini-project has made pupils aware of the existence of ecological issue of invasive plants in an area they are familiar with.

Pupils mini project, invasive plants

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