Invaders-Group5

“Alien species of plants and animals have invaded every continent. They have enormous powers; they spread disease; they devour our buildings. Some are destroying the very land under our feet. Think of them as the first wave of an assault that could drive the greatest mass extinction since the end of the dinosaurs. What is causing this invasion, and what can we do to stop the rising tide?”

[] [] · What is Buffelgrass? · When was Buffelgrass introduced and what was it used for? · What impact is it having on the Sonoran Desert? · How is Buffelgrass removed? · What is one of the dangers of Buffelgrass? · What was done recently at Tucson Mountain Park to remove Buffelgrass? []
 * //Group 5: Buffelgrass//**

1. Buffelgrass is an enveloping species that is hurting our Sonoran Desert. It is yellow and green. Buffelgrass can catch on fire if it is very hot outside.

2. Buffelgrass was introduced in the 1930s and in 40s for the forage for cattle.

3. The effect Buffelgrass has on the Sonoran Desert is that it can start a wildfire when it is dry outside. This can ruin habitats for animals that live there.

4. To remove Buffelgrass they need series of volunteers. Then they need to spray the Buffelgrass to kill it. Next they need to remove all the roots from the ground. This may not work, because seeds can spread during dust storms.

5. Buffelgrass can be dangerous on are native plants. It can spread very fast because of the seeds in the plant. If the weather is dry Buffelgrass can catch on fire by the heat. It can also start wildfires.

6. What was done recently at Tucson Mountain Park was that they started to spray the Buffelgrass. After two weeks the Buffelgrass was almost gone.

Here are some images of Buffelgrass from the http://www.orovalleyaz.gov/residents/volunteer_opportunities/Buffel_Busters.htm

Identifying Buffelgrass
Buffelgrass Seed (click to enlarge) Buffelgrass (click to enlarge) Dormant Buffelgrass (click to enlarge)

Good Job 75/75