Phragmites

Nonnative Phragmites is among the most invasive plants in the U.S. Atlantic coast tidal wetlands, whereas the native Phragmites has declined. Native and nonnative patches growing side by side provided an ideal setting for studying mechanisms that …

QuickBird multispectral satellite images taken in September 2002 (peak biomass) and April2003 (pre-growing season) were used to map emergent wetland vegetation communities, particularlyinvasive Phragmites australis and Typha spp., within a diked wetland at the western end of Lake Erie. Multiseason QuickBird imagery is promising fordistinguishing certain wetland plant species, but should be used with caution in highly managed areaswhere vegetation changes may reflect human alterations rather than phenological change.