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| Privet 6/3/2012 |
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| Privet and Muscadine 6/3/2012 |
shooting the invasive forests.
When people think of the invasive species problem, they probably think of Kudzu in the Southeast or Boa Constrictors in Florida, maybe they know of the Pigface ice plant take-over of Southern California beaches. But I've found the Privet forests the most fearful. They are tangled and sticky. Kudzu is frightening to walk through because you can't see where you're stepping, but the Privet goes right for the eye. It completely surrounds you, and when fully developed swoops above the ground at about 3 feet so the twiggy baby privets can march out from the center. It's not unusual to find a clearing like the one above, strange places, uncomfortable and close. This is one situation where my small size helps.
I've been walking my dog at a trail called the Silver Comet for about a year now. We like to go off into the bushes and follow the deer paths to where they disappear. She used to really like it, but lately when we go there she starts shivering and cowering against me. I wonder why she does that. She doesn't react like that at our other walking spots. These photos were taken there earlier today.
Evolutionary Genetics of Invasive Species by Carol Eunmi Lee
Conclusions and future directions:
"Biological invasions are quintessential models for rapid evolution [2]."
